Lhyfe Oostende BV has submitted an application to obtain an environmental permit and a Natura 2000 permit for the construction, operation and dismantling of an offshore platform for the production of hydrogen, a pipeline to bring this hydrogen ashore and a high-voltage cable that transports electricity from land to the platform in the Belgian part of the North Sea. This application is subject to an environmental impact assessment procedure.
The application and the environmental impact assessment report can be consulted at the offices of MUMM (Management Unit of the Mathematical Model of the North Sea) in Brussels (Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels; mdevolder@naturalsciences.be; tel 02 627 43 52) or Ostend (3de en 23ste Linieregimentsplein, 8400 Ostend; jhaelters@naturalsciences.be; tel. 02 788 77 22), by appointment only and during office hours between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. The application can also be consulted at every coastal community, during office hours.
The documents can also be consulted electronically:
Saltmarshes are among nature’s best defenses against rising sea levels, acting as natural barriers that protect coastlines. New research shows that dense vegetation on saltmarshes makes them more vulnerable to sea level rise because the vegetation hinders sediment transport. A surprising twist, as it was believed that dense vegetation played a crucial role in helping these ecosystems survive.
Using advanced computer modeling, the research team, led by Olivier Gourgue and Jean-Philippe Belliard from the University of Antwerp (Global Change Ecology Centre, department Ecosphere) and the Institute of Natural Sciences, examined how saltmarsh landscapes evolve over time. They discovered that while dense plants do trap sediment near tidal channels, they also block its movement toward the interior of the marsh. This means that instead of spreading evenly across the marshland, much of the sediment stays concentrated near the edges. Over time, this can lead to lower elevation levels in the marsh interior, making it harder for the ecosystem to keep up with rising sea levels.
These findings challenge the long-held assumption that denser vegetation always improves a marsh’s ability to survive environmental changes. By revealing how plant density affects sediment transport, the study, published in Limnology and Oceanography Letters, highlights the complexity of nature’s balancing act.
A powerful numerical model called ‘Demeter’ was used to simulate 200 years of marsh development under different vegetation conditions. The model helped isolate the impact of plants on sediment movement, something difficult to observe in the field.
The computer predictions were later confirmed by real-world observations in China, where coastal areas with denser plant growth display the same uneven sediment patterns that increase vulnerability to rising seas. By combining their theoretical modelling with field observations published in Global Change Biology, Olivier Gourgue, Jean-Philippe Belliard and their collaborators provided a more complete picture of how marshes function over time.
Saltmarshes are critical for coastal protection, wildlife habitats and carbon storage. If they can’t maintain their elevation against rising seas, they may disappear. This would lead to increased coastal erosion, loss of biodiversity and reduced carbon sequestration.
This research suggests that conservation efforts need to consider more than just planting more vegetation. It’s about understanding the entire sediment transport system and ensuring that marshes receive enough material to grow at a healthy pace. This carries important implications for policymakers and conservationists.
As Olivier Gourgue points out: “Coastal restoration projects often focus on planting more vegetation to stabilize wetlands. However, our findings suggest that encouraging a mix of plant densities or even allowing natural processes to determine vegetation growth may be more effective in the long run.”
Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure that sediment supply is maintained. Human activities such as damming rivers and dredging waterways can reduce the amount of sediment reaching saltmarshes, further endangering their survival and functioning as coastal protection. By understanding the delicate balance between vegetation and sediment movement, we can better protect these vital ecosystems and the benefits they provide for both nature and people.
The study that was published in Limnology and Oceanography Letters was the result of a collaboration between researchers affiliated to the ECOSPHERE Research Group of the University of Antwerp (Belgium), the Department of Earth and Environment of Boston University (USA), the Operational Directorate Natural Environment of the Institute of Natural Sciences (Belgium) and the Department of Physical Geography of Utrecht University (The Netherlands). For the Global Change Biology paper, the Belgian researchers collaborated with colleagues of the State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation of Beijing Normal University, the Environmental Research Center of Duke Kunshan University and the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research of East China Normal University (China).
A new European Marine Board Future Science Brief led by Professor Dr Sylvia Sander of GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel warns that without better understanding of deep-sea ecosystems, sustainable management is impossible. The report, launched on 11 April 2025 via an online webinar, stresses the urgent need for targeted research and policy action to protect these critical but largely unexplored environments.
The deep sea, defined in this report as waters and seabed below 200 metres, makes up around 90% of the ocean’s volume. It plays a crucial role in biodiversity, climate regulation, and the global carbon cycle. Yet, this vast realm is increasingly threatened by oil extraction, fishing, mining, and climate change.
The European Marine Board’s Deep Sea and Ocean Health Working Group, comprising eleven researchers, presents ten key recommendations for sustainable governance and conservation. These include establishing an international scientific committee, improving environmental impact assessments, investing in long-term monitoring, enhancing education and technology transfer, and applying FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles.
“The ocean is a connected system,” says Prof. Sander. “The deep sea cannot be managed separately from the rest of the marine environment.”
Historically considered inhospitable, the deep sea is now known to host complex ecosystems, including hydrothermal vents and abyssal plains. However, much remains unexplored. It’s estimated that 90% of deep-sea organisms are still undescribed, and key scientific gaps persist across physical oceanography, marine geochemistry, and ecosystem functioning.
Challenges in technology also hinder data collection. Current monitoring systems are often not suited for extreme depths, limiting our ability to track the impacts of activities like deep-sea mining. Understanding these systems is critical to ensure decisions are science-based and support long-term sustainability.
Human activities are already disrupting the deep sea, with warming, acidification, and oxygen loss accelerating due to climate change. Overexploitation of marine resources adds further stress. As the ocean regulates CO₂, produces over half of Earth’s oxygen, and supports life, its degradation poses global risks.
The authors see 2025 as a pivotal moment for ocean health. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and curbing biodiversity loss now are essential to avoid irreversible impacts. “Climate change is one of the most alarming threats to life on Earth,” says Sander. “Combined with biodiversity loss, it could disrupt ocean systems permanently.”
Europe, the report suggests, has a unique opportunity to lead. Through strong international engagement and funding of transdisciplinary research, the EU can champion global deep-sea protection. This includes supporting underrepresented nations in research and recognising science as a human right.
Only through global collaboration and increased scientific investment can the deep sea, and the broader ocean, be preserved for future generations.
The Institute of Natural Sciences also focuses on research into the ecological structure and functioning of the deep sea. The assessment of the potential impact of human activities and the formulation of related policy advice are also given attention.
The Belgian Federal State is represented in the European Marine Board (EMB) by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and in the EMB Communication Panel by the Institute of Natural Sciences.
A new chapter in European marine research has begun with the official creation of Eurofleets AISBL, a pan-European research infrastructure designed to revolutionize access to marine research vessels. This groundbreaking initiative was formalized in Brussels with the signing of the constitutive act by representatives from Ireland, Italy, France, and Belgium. For Belgium it was Serge Scory from the Institute of Natural Sciences who did the honours.
Brussels, 26 March 2025. From left Aodhán Fitzgerald, (Marine Institute, Ireland), Giuseppe Magnifico (CNR, Italy), Olivier Lefort, (IFREMER, France) and Serge Scory (Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium)
Eurofleets AISBL is the result of over a decade of collaboration between Europe’s leading marine research institutions. Since 2009, naval operators have worked together to establish a framework that ensures researchers across Europe, and even beyond, can access state-of-the-art research vessels. By pooling resources and expertise, this initiative will make oceanographic research more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive.
Expanding scientific access to the oceans
Marine research plays a crucial role in understanding climate change, protecting biodiversity, and managing ocean resources. However, research vessels are expensive and not all countries have the resources to operate them. Eurofleets AISBL bridges this gap, enabling scientists from different nations to collaborate and gain access to high-tech research fleets, regardless of their home country’s maritime capabilities.
This initiative will help tackle some of the most pressing scientific challenges of our time, from mapping the ocean floor to studying the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. Through coordinated access to research vessels, scientists will be able to conduct large-scale studies that were previously out of reach for many research teams. Also the Belgian state-of-the-art research vessel RV Belgica has been part of the Eurofleets initiatives since the very beginning, and continues to be so.
A greener future for marine research
One of Eurofleets AISBL’s key goals is to drive the environmental transition of European research fleets. The initiative is committed to reducing CO2 emissions, improving energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable maritime operations. By 2030, research vessels will be expected to meet stricter environmental standards, ensuring that marine science itself does not contribute to the degradation of the ecosystems it seeks to study and protect.
Supporting the next generation of marine scientists
Beyond improving research infrastructure, Eurofleets AISBL is dedicated to training and career development. Young researchers will benefit from coordinated training programs across Europe, gaining valuable experience aboard world-class research vessels. Collaborations with universities and research organizations will further support early-career scientists, ensuring that the next generation is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to advance marine science.
A step towards a more unified European research landscape
By streamlining access to research vessels and fostering international collaboration, Eurofleets AISBL strengthens Europe’s position as a global leader in marine science. It ensures that scientific research is not limited by national borders and that Europe can respond collectively to the challenges facing our oceans.
As this ambitious initiative sets sail, it marks a turning point for European marine science. With increased accessibility, a strong focus on sustainability, and a commitment to fostering talent, Eurofleets AISBL is poised to shape the future of oceanographic research for years to come.
A team of researchers has extensively evaluated the state of the marine environment in our Belgian North Sea. The insights have been brought together in the revised Belgian Marine Strategy. It also underlines the need for measures to ensure the ecological health and economic sustainability of the area.
The Belgian North Sea is one of the most intensively used seas in the world. With a coastline of 67 kilometres and a surface area of only 3454 km², it is home to a surprisingly rich biodiversity and numerous economic activities such as shipping, fishing, offshore energy, sand extraction and tourism. However, the marine ecosystem is under pressure from pollution, climate change and overexploitation of natural resources.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) obliges all EU Member States to develop a marine strategy with the aim of achieving a Good Environmental Status. Every six years, a status report is submitted to the European Commission. In Good Environmental Status, the sea is healthy, clean and productive, and the negative effects of human activities are minimised.
“With the revision of the Belgian Marine Strategy, we are taking an important step in the protection and sustainable management of the North Sea,” says Minister of Justice and the North Sea Annelies Verlinden. “Through a combination of scientifically based policy, strict regulations and international cooperation, we are striving for a resilient marine ecosystem that benefits not only our living environment but also our economy.”
Key findings of the report
The Belgian Marine Strategy 2024 provides an overview of the current state of the Belgian North Sea in all its facets. The most striking findings can be summarized as follows:
Biodiversity and ecosystem health – Populations of harbour porpoises, seabirds and other marine species, including certain fish species, remain vulnerable to human disturbance and climate change. In addition, seabed disturbance is causing habitat loss and the decline of associated fauna. Excessive inputs of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), largely via rivers, continue to lead to seasonal algal blooms, disrupting ecosystems. New invasive alien species continue to be discovered. However, there are also positive developments. For example, the expansion of marine protected areas is contributing to the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems.
Chemical pollution – Although the concentrations of many pollutants are decreasing, mercury, tributyltin, PAHs and PCBs, among others, remain a serious threat to the marine ecosystem. Although oil pollution has decreased to the point that it hardly occurs anymore, the risk of accidents that can lead to oil pollution remains high due to the increasing shipping traffic. The construction of new infrastructure at sea (such as wind farms) is therefore a point of concern, partly because it leads to more shipping. Ship discharges of harmful substances other than oil are not decreasing and remain a point of attention.
Climate change and ocean acidification – Average sea temperatures continue to rise, impacting marine ecosystems and species distribution. In addition, the absorption of the greenhouse gas CO₂, whose global emissions are still increasing, is leading to ocean acidification. This endangers the growth and survival of calcifying organisms, such as shellfish and plankton. Extreme weather events and rising sea levels also increase the vulnerability of coastal areas and their ecosystems.
Marine litter and underwater noise – The amount of plastic waste in the North Sea remains a persistent problem, with potentially major consequences for marine animals and coastal ecosystems. In addition, underwater noise from shipping and industrial activities poses an increasing risk to marine mammals, such as harbour porpoises.
Sustainable use of marine resources – Although fisheries management has improved, overfishing remains a challenge for certain commercial fish species. The socio-economic analysis that is also part of the revised Belgian marine strategy underlines the need for sustainable exploitation of marine resources to balance economic growth and environmental protection. In addition, offshore wind energy is expanding rapidly and plays an important role in the energy transition, but this also has ecological impacts that need to be closely monitored.
A sustainable future for the North Sea requires a comprehensive approach with targeted measures to address the challenges. The expansion and better protection of marine protected areas, combined with strict regulation of human activities in ecologically vulnerable zones, is essential. In addition, tackling chemical pollution and plastic waste remains a priority. Here too, stricter regulation can play a role, together with innovative waste management strategies.
Underwater noise management also deserves attention, with new technologies and policies to limit noise pollution from shipping and the offshore industry. Sustainable fishing practices remain crucial, not only through catch quotas but also through spatial restrictions that help protect fish stocks. Furthermore, strengthening climate adaptation and mitigation is necessary, with research into the impact of climate change and measures to limit its consequences.
Finally, structural research and monitoring remain of great importance for all aspects covered in the Belgian implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This is the only way to ensure that policy measures are permanently aligned with the most recent scientific insights and that environmental standards can be set for new forms of human-induced disruption, such as new infrastructure and new pollutants.
Collaboration pays off
Because marine ecosystems, the distribution of species and the influence of human factors extend beyond the boundaries of national competences, the protection and sustainable management of the North Sea requires an integrated and cross-border approach. Belgium also works closely with its neighbouring countries for this purpose, not only in terms of policy (formulating objectives and measures) but also for defining the Good Environmental Status and evaluating the current situation in relation to the environmental objectives set. The new report therefore not only used national evaluations, but also relied on evaluations carried out in an international context, such as the OSPAR Quality Status Report and the assessments of fish stocks by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
Successful marine management also depends on policies implemented in other areas. For example, reducing the ever-increasing emission of greenhouse gases is crucial to halting the negative effects of climate change on the marine environment. The problem of excessive nutrient inputs via rivers cannot be solved without proper coordination with nitrogen policy on land, and therefore also with agricultural policy. Furthermore, the Common Fisheries Policy is also of great importance, not only for the sustainable management of commercially exploited species (fish, shellfish and crustaceans) but also for protecting the seabed from bottom-disturbing fishing.
In addition, the public sector plays a crucial role: policymakers, scientists, companies and citizens are encouraged to contribute to the protection of our North Sea. Initiatives such as public-private partnerships and educational campaigns will play an increasingly important role in raising environmental awareness.
The Department for the Marine Environment (Directorate-General for the Environment) of the Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment coordinates the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive for Belgium. The Institute of Natural Sciences (scientific service MUMM) is responsible for coordinating the monitoring and assessment of the status, and works closely with various government services and research institutions: the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC). The Continental Shelf Service of the Federal Public Service Economy and the Marine Biology Research Group of Ghent University, among others, also provided data for the assessment.
Early March, a passer-by found a dead dolphin washed ashore at the Scheldekaai in Burcht. The press attention for this exceptional find brought an even more remarkable fact to light: at the end of January, a ferryman had filmed a live dolphin further upstream in the Scheldt.
It was a strange surprise for Kobe Vercruyssen when he found a dead dolphin along the Scheldt in Burcht on 7 March 2025. The animal was lying about fifteen metres from the quay wall, and threatened to float back into the river with the rising tide. The news spread quickly via social media. Thanks to the quick response of Kobe and René Maes, who had rushed to the scene in the meantime, the carcass was tied to the quay wall with a rope so that it would not be lost.
After reporting to various authorities, the shelter ‘Wilde Dieren in Nood/Vogelopvangcentrum Brasschaat-Kapellen’ (VOC) eventually arrived on the scene to pick up the dolphin. The Antwerp fire brigade had to intervene to get the animal out of the water, after which the VOC brought the dolphin to the shed of the Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB) in Kalmthout for further examination.
Identification and cause of death
Analysis by ANB staff and the Mammal Working Group of Natuurpunt Antwerpen Noord & Kempen, in consultation with the Institute for Natural Sciences, determined that the animal was a young female with a length of 166 cm and an estimated weight of 70 to 80 kg. The skin was largely gone, making it difficult to determine what species it was. The teeth best match a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), but a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) could not be completely ruled out.
Because the carcass was already in an advanced state of decomposition, no exact cause of death could be determined. It was eventually taken away for destruction.
“The discovery and recovery of the Burcht dolphin was an example of rapid and efficient cooperation between citizens and various organisations, including Natuurpunt Waasland, Wilde Dieren in Nood/Vogelopvangcentrum Brasschaat-Kapellen, the Agency for Nature and Forests, the Institute of Natural Sciences and the Mammal Working Group of Natuurpunt Antwerpen Noord & Kempen. Despite the sad circumstances, this event offered a unique opportunity to study a rare marine mammal up close,” says Johan Neegers of the aforementioned mammal working group.
The press attention that followed brought to light an even stranger fact, if possible. The discovery of the dead dolphin in Burcht reminded ferryman Nils Verbeeck of a special encounter that had happened to him more than a month earlier on the Scheldt, a long way upstream from Burcht. It prompted him to contact the Institute of Natural Sciences about it.
Nils appeared to have seen nothing less than a living dolphin in Hamme on January 31, 2025, and made a short movie of it that proved this beyond doubt. From the images it could be concluded that it was a common dolphin. It is very likely that this was the same animal that was found dead in Burcht 35 days later.
Common – and striped – dolphins are not adapted to life in rivers. They are species with a pelagic lifestyle, which means that they prefer the open sea and generally stay far away from coasts. Initially, it was suspected that the dead animal from Burcht had been drifted into the Scheldt by the tides, but this had to be adjusted based on the observation in Hamme. Why this dolphin swam so far up the Scheldt is not known. On the other hand, it is less surprising that she did not survive her visit to the river.
Jan Haelters of the Institute of Natural Sciences explains how special the find is: “After the bottlenose dolphin and the white-beaked dolphin, the common dolphin is the most expected dolphin species in Belgian waters. Nevertheless, it remains a rare appearance here. In the past ten years, only a few cases of living common dolphins are known from our country, with an additional handful of observations where the identity could not be determined with certainty.”
Strandings of common dolphins are also rare in Belgium. On 22 December 2023, a recently deceased and therefore easily recognisable individual washed up in Ostend, but the other recent dolphins that possibly belonged to this species (one each in 2016, 2019 and 2020, and two more in 2023) were too decomposed to be assigned to this species with certainty. The common dolphin of Burcht and Hamme is not the first to be observed in the Scheldt, but as far as is known it is the one that swam the furthest up the river. In the Dutch part of the Scheldt, a common dolphin was observed near ‘s-Gravenpolder from the end of July to the beginning of September 2002. This animal was found dead in Saeftinghe on 8 April 2003.
The striped dolphin is even rarer in Belgian waters. This species has only been documented here with certainty twice: a stranding of a dead animal in 1981 and a sighting of a live animal from 15 to 19 May 2009. The latter also swam in the Scheldt (Doel and Verrebroek), did not survive this either and was found dead on 21 May of that year.
All persons and institutions involved are thanked for the smooth cooperation and flow of information. Forest rangers Bram Vereecken and Lucas Bergmans of the Agency for Nature and Forests respectively ensured the rapid internal reporting of the dolphin and the general coordination of the recovery and measurement of the carcass. Wilde Dieren in Nood/Vogelopvangcentrum Brasschaat-Kapellen ensured the transport to the ANB warehouse in Kalmthout.
Additional thanks go to Johan Neegers (Mammal Working Group Natuurpunt Antwerpen Noord & Kempen), René Maes (Natuurpunt Waasland), Jan Haelters (Institute of Natural Sciences) and Jaap van der Hiele (Stichting ReddingsTeam Zeediere, the Netherlands) for their cooperation on the text, and to Nils Verbeeck (Boottochten Jan Plezier), René Maes, Arlette Strubbe (Natuurpunt Waasland), Dafne Van Mieghem (Wilde Dieren in Nood/Vogelopvangcentrum Brasschaat-Kapellen) and Geert Steel (Mammal Working Group Natuurpunt Antwerpen Noord & Kempen) for providing the images.
On Wednesday 2 April 2025, the European Marine Board (EMB) will host its 9th Forum on ‘Addressing coastal and water resilience on the land-sea interface’.
EMB’s open Fora provide an opportunity to bring together the marine science and policy communities to jointly discuss important issues.
The 9th EMB Forum will discuss ‘Addressing coastal and water resilience on the land-sea interface’. This one day event will consider aspects such as policy and governance for the land-sea interface, pollution crossing the land-sea interface, and coastal adaptation and livability on the land-sea interface.
A draft agenda for this event can be found here. Please note that some speakers are still TBC and will be confirmed in due course.
Registration for this event is open for both in person and online attendance. You can register here. Please note that in-person registration will close on Tuesday 25 March.
If you have any qustions about the event or your participation, please contact info@marineboard.eu
The Belgian Federal State is represented in the EMB by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and in the EMB Communication Panel by the Institute of Natural Sciences.
The increasing noise of ships crossing the North Sea is changing the marine environment. A new large-scale study analyzing aerial observations of marine mammals and shipping data has shown that harbour porpoises avoid areas with heavy shipping traffic. This avoidance could disrupt their feeding patterns and social behavior.
Researchers combined aerial observations of marine mammals with data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) of vessels to map the impact of shipping on the distribution of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Shipping intensity was used as a measure of noise intensity. Underwater noise can disturb harbour porpoises and make their environment less suitable as a habitat.
Between 2015 and 2022, researchers in Belgium and neighboring countries recorded 6,511 groups of harbour porpoises. The study compared different variables, such as ship noise, ship proximity, and frequency of ship passages, to determine which factor best explained the presence, or absence, of harbour porpoises in certain areas. The international research team was led by Rémi Pigeault of the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Germany), with contributions from Jan Haelters of the Institute for Natural Sciences.
The results show a correlation between high ship density and the reduced presence of harbour porpoises. The further from shipping routes, the less porpoises were affected but the impact remained noticeable up to 9 kilometers away. The study, published in Marine Pollution Bulletinin November 2024, confirms the increasing impact of underwater noise on marine ecosystems.
The impact of maritime traffic
The North Sea is one of the busiest maritime regions in the world, and shipping traffic is expected to increase further due to the expansion of offshore industries such as wind farms and oil and gas installations. Shipping generates underwater noise that travels over long distances, affecting marine life.
Harbour porpoises rely on echolocation to hunt, navigate, and communicate. Their extremely sensitive hearing makes them vulnerable to noise pollution. Previous studies have shown that loud ship noises cause porpoises to exhibit avoidance behaviors, such as rapid diving, increased swimming effort and interrupted feeding.
The results indicated that models incorporating real ship movements predicted porpoise distribution more accurately than those based solely on theoretical noise levels. “The ‘forced’ displacement of porpoises due to shipping can limit their ability to search for food”, explains Jan Haelters.
Implications for conservation and policy
The study highlights the need to consider the impact of shipping on marine life and to take measures where possible. As Rémi Pigeault states: “With increasing ship traffic and the expansion of offshore industries, it is essential to implement measures that minimize noise pollution and protect important porpoise habitats before the disturbance becomes irreversible.”
One potential solution is the designation of marine protected areas where shipping activities are restricted to safeguard vulnerable species. Another approach involves developing technologies that produce less underwater noise pollution. Seasonal restrictions on shipping or other noise-intensive human activities in crucial feeding and breeding areas for porpoises could also be an effective measure.
This research provides valuable insights that can contribute to sustainable marine planning, ensuring that harbour porpoises and other marine species in the North Sea continue to thrive.
Cetacean surveys conducted in the North Sea between March 2015 and March 2022 (red lines) and average vessel density in 2022 (see scale). Orange lines bound the study area.
On Monday the 17th of February, a fin whale was spotted at the C-Power wind farm in Belgian waters. This is the first confirmed sighting, backed by images, of a live individual of this species in Belgium in recent times.
It must have been quite a surprise when an employee of the C-Power wind farm noticed a large cetacean in the wind farm on Monday the 17th of February, several dozen kilometers off the Belgian coast. The animal was filmed, and the footage was sent to the Institute of Natural Sciences, which coordinates the monitoring of the effects of offshore wind farms on the marine environment. The images allowed experts to identify the animal as a fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), appearing to be a thin individual.
All fin whales previously seen in Belgium and confirmed to be fin whales were dead specimens. A sighting of a fin whale at the C-Power wind farm is therefore highly exceptional. This is the first documented case, with images, of a living individual in Belgian waters.
In the 20th century, three strandings of fin whales were recorded along the Belgian coast. Severely decomposed specimens washed ashore in 1939 and 1978, followed by the stranding of a recently deceased whale in November 1997 (Ostend). A piece of stranded skin in September 1994 (also in Ostend) could not be definitively identified as belonging to a fin whale.
Although six Belgian cases have been recorded in the 21st century, they all involved dead whales. Four were fin whales struck by large ships. The first was observed only at sea (June 7, 2004), while the remaining three were found when ships entered ports (September 22 2009, Antwerp; November 9 2015, Ghent; August 29 2023, Antwerp).
A carcass spotted at sea on October 24, 2018, washed ashore in De Haan on October 25 under controlled conditions. Another dead whale drifted along the Belgian coast on September 30, 2022, before washing up in the Dutch town of Westkapelle on October 2.
An ocean giant with asymmetrical coloring
Reaching up to 27 meters in length, the fin whale is the second-largest whale species and thus the second-largest animal on Earth, surpassed only by the blue whale. It has a brownish-gray back and a white underside. A distinctive feature is its asymmetrical head coloring: the lower left jaw is dark, while the lower right jaw is white or light gray. The white right lower jaw is just visible in the footage taken at the C-Power wind farm.
Like many other large whales, the fin whale is a cosmopolitan species, meaning it is found in all major oceans, from polar to tropical waters. It feeds on krill, schools of fish and squid. The shallow North Sea does not provide an ideal habitat for the species. While fin whales generally migrate to northern feeding grounds in summer and southern breeding areas in winter, their migration patterns in the Atlantic Ocean are not well understood. Some individuals even remain in higher latitudes year-round.
Increase in Belgian cases
The population of fin whales in the North Atlantic is slowly recovering from the historical decline caused by whaling. Only Japan, Norway, and Iceland still allow whaling. A growing number of fin whales in deeper Atlantic waters increases the likelihood of a stray individual ending up in the shallow North Sea.
Additionally, the rising number of ships at sea has led to an increase in incidents involving large marine mammals. A significant portion of the fin whales that have ended up in Belgian waters died due to collisions with large ships, likely outside Belgian waters.
Finally, the chance of reporting unusual marine fauna – whether dead or alive – has greatly increased in recent decades due to the higher number of people at sea and the ease with which sightings, photos, and videos can now be shared.
The deep sea, defined in this report as waters and seabed below 200 metres, makes up around 90% of the ocean’s volume. It plays a crucial role in biodiversity, climate regulation, and the global carbon cycle. Yet, this vast realm is increasingly threatened by oil extraction, fishing, mining, and climate change.
EMB’s open Fora provide an opportunity to bring together the marine science and policy communities to jointly discuss important issues.
