The research project frames into the strategic research on marine ecosystems and the sustainable management of the North Sea with priority towards the theme ‘Evaluation of sedimentary systems and the development of new evaluation technologies within the view of a sustainable management of the Belgian exclusive economic zone (EEZ)’. An evaluation of sedimentary systems calls for the development of appropriate tools and strategies that are efficient and flexible enough to meet future needs regarding the exploitation of the EEZ. Within the concept of a ‘sustainable management’, the research proposal is relevant towards different uses of the sea such as marine aggregate extraction, dredging/dumping operations and the implantation of windmill farms, however, with the main emphasis on the sediments themselves.
- for more information go to projectwebsite
Towards a Spatial Structure Plan for Sustainable Management of the Sea (GAUFRE)
GAUFRE stands for "Towards a Spatial Structure Plan for Sustainable Management of the Sea". It brings together four partners in an attempt to introduce a first proposal for optimal space use planning for the Belgian part of the North Sea. Three research teams of the University of Gent (the Maritime Institute, the Center for Marine Geology and the Section of Marine Biology) worked together during two years (2003 and 2004) with the private company Ecolas nv. The GAUFRE-project fits within the framework of the SPSD-II research action of the Belgian Science Policy.
- Go to projectwebsite - see output section of the projectsite for a full version of the report, the publication 'A Flood of Space' and the generated maps
- watch a movie here
Balancing impacts of human activities in the Belgian part of the North Sea
- Go to BALANS projectwebsite
Higher trophic levels in the Southern North Sea (TROPHOS)
TROPHOS is a co-operation between five Belgian institutes (RUG-Marine Biology, KULeuven-Aquatic Ecology, Institute of Nature Conservation, MUMM and VLIZ) and one Dutch institute (NIOO-CEMO) and aims at a better understanding of processes structuring the higher trophic levels in the North Sea. As we will not ignore the link between ecosystem functioning and aquatic biodiversity, our results will also serve in aspects of sustainable management for those areas on the Belgian Continental Shelf (BCS) of the North Sea, which fulfil the criteria for protection status in marine reserves.
- for more information go to projectwebsite
