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Eurofleets AISBL: A new era for marine science in Europe

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.

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Marine Strategy for a sustainable and resilient North Sea

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.

Northern Fulmar (© Institute of Natural Sciences / K. Moreau)

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.

Washed up living Yoldia limatula, a new exotic in Belgium. (© Aäron Fabrice de Kisangani)

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.

Zooplankton from the Belgian part of the North Sea (© VLIZ)

Measures and policy objectives

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.

For more information and the full report (available in Dutch and French), visit the Belgian MSFD website.

 

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.

 

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Dolphin surfaces in the Scheldt, but does not survive

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.

Common dolphin, Burcht, 7 March 2025 (© René Maes)

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.

Common dolphin, Burcht, 7 March 2025 (© René Maes)

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.

Common dolphin, Kalmthout, 8 March 2025 (© Geert Steel)

A surprising twist

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.

Common dolphin, Hamme, 31 January 2025 (© Nils Verbeeck)

Rare appearance

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.

Kobe Vercruyssen, René Maes and Lenn Gommers secire the carcass of the common dolphin. Burcht, 7 March 2025 (© Arlette Strubbe)
Common dolphin ready for transport from Burcht to Kalmthout, 7 March 2025 (© Dafne Van Mieghem)

 

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.

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9th EMB Forum on ‘Addressing coastal and water resilience on the land-sea interface’

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

This event is being co-hosted by the Institute of Natural Sciences. This event is endorsed as being in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. It is also a recognised action in support of the EU Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters.

 

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.

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Harbour porpoises avoid shipping

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.

Harbour porpoises, Zeebrugge, 15 August 2024 (© Filip De Ruwe)

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 Bulletin in 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.
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First living fin whale in Belgian waters

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.

Fin whale in C-Power wind farm on February 17, 2025 (© C-Power)

How rare?

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.

Fin whale in C-Power wind farm on February 17, 2025 (© C-Power)
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Three European Marine Board publications from 2024

In June 2024, the European Marine Board (EMB) published its Future Science Brief No. 11 ‘Marine habitat mapping’ during a ‘Brown bag lunch’ event hosted by DG Environment in Brussels. This document highlights current methods and future trends in the acquisition of data from the seabed and water column, discusses combining data to produce maps using modelling approaches and presents recommendations for adopting fit-for-purpose habitat classification schemes. It also provides an overview of what has been mapped within the European sea-basins, highlights the need to increase the quality and resolution of marine habitat maps, identifies critical gaps in habitat types and geographic extent, and describes the need to improve the assessment and communication of uncertainty and confidence in maps.

In October 2024, EMB launched its flagship foresight publication Navigating the Future VI “Placing the Ocean within the wider Earth system” in a dedicated event in Brussels. This document explores the critical role of the Ocean in relation to global climate, biodiversity, fresh water, and people, offering strategic direction regarding the future of marine research and policy. You can rewatch a recording of the event here and access the EMB slides here.

In December 2024, EMB published its Policy Brief No. 12 ‘Requirements for Coastal Resilience in Europe’. This Policy Brief presents key policy, scientific and community recommendations for building coastal resilience and enhancing the capacity to cope with impacts from coastal pressures, summarising the main messages and recommendations from the EMB Position Paper No. 27 “Building Coastal Resilience in Europe”. The recommendations from this document will be further discussed at the 9th EMB Forum on ‘Addressing coastal and water resilience on the land-sea interface‘ to be held on 2 April 2025 at the Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels.

The way in which EMB publications and their high-quality science-policy recommendations contribute to the Ocean Decade and its Challenges are highlighted inside each individual document.

More EMB publications can be found here.

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.

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Public consultation: Applications for an environmental permit for sand and gravel extraction

TV Zeezand Exploitatie, Dranaco NV, Charles Kesteleyn NV en Satic NV have applied on December 13th, 2024 for the prolongation and/or extension of their concession for sand and gravel extraction in the Belgian part of the North Sea. These applications are subject to an environmental impact assessment procedure. The applications and the environmental impact assessment report, including a design of appropriate assessment, can be downloaded below.

© Institute of Natural Sciences/K. Moreau

Applications

Environmental impact assessment report

Additional information

Study day sea sand 2021

Study day sea sand 2021

Workshops

Results of the consultations

 

The public consultation runs from 31 January until 2 March 2025.

Any interested party can submit its views, comments and objections to MUMM by letter or email until 17 March 2025.

MUMM

Attn. Patrick Roose
Vautierstraat 29
1000 Brussels
bmm@naturalsciences.be

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northseabelgium.be bundles news about Belgian North Sea policy

Anyone who is concerned with the sustainable management of the Belgian part of the North Sea or wants to stay informed about the North Sea policy can now visit northseabelgium.be. The website summarises the latest developments in policy and scientific research, and is an initiative of the Minister of the North Sea and the federal government services that are active around our eleventh province.

With an area of 3,452 km² and a coastline of 67 kilometers, the Belgian part of the North Sea is a small marine area, but one with big ambitions. It is our 11th province and essential for the future of our country.

Among other things, Belgium is pioneer in marine spatial planning, with its efforts to generate sustainable energy at sea and to reduce the environmental impact of shipping, and actively works to integrate opportunities for nature restoration and development within all human activities at sea. We have a lot to be proud of and can rightly call ourselves a Blue Leader.

In developing the Belgian North Sea policy, several federal government services and their various partners are involved. They each report on their activities and achievements via their own websites and other communication channels, whereby the overview for interested parties and those involved is often lost.

At the initiative of and in collaboration with the Minister of the North Sea, the Scientific Service ‘Management Unit of the Mathematical Model of the North Sea (MUMM, Institute of Natural Sciences), the Marine Environment Service (Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment) and the Directorate-General for Shipping (Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport) developed the joint website northseabelgium.be. This website provides clear information on the latest news regarding Belgian North Sea policy and scientific research, and on the services and activities of the services involved.

Three blue themes

The news, services and activities are organized within three themes: Blue Nature, Blue Shipping and Blue Economy.

Blue Nature – Our Belgian North Sea is our country’s largest nature reserve, home to a vibrant and rich biodiversity of animal and plant species, and the unique underwater landscape of the Flemish Banks. The sustainable management and protection of marine blue nature is essential for the prosperity and well-being of both present and future generations. We are fully committed to the conservation, restoration and development of blue nature at national, European and international level. Attention is paid to nature in protected areas as well as within the concession zones for various human activities.

Blue Shipping – The Belgian part of the North Sea is on the approach route to our own and foreign seaports, making it one of the busiest sea areas in the world. Within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), we take an ambitious position on reducing shipping emissions. However, Blue Shipping stands for much more, as we also work around waste management, essential resources on board, seafarers’ welfare and working conditions, safety at sea, maritime security, regulations for workboats and fishing vessels, and the sustainability of fisheries, among others. Pleasure boating also receives due attention.

Blue Economy – Energy production, fishing, aquaculture, sand and gravel extraction, disposal of dredge spoil, … the Belgian North Sea has many other functions and users besides nature conservation and shipping! The marine spatial plan 2020-2026 determines which activities can be developed safely and with respect for nature, in which location and under what conditions, and where activities can be combined. The protection of underwater heritage (e.g. shipwrecks) and the installation of various measuring infrastructure (buoys, measuring poles, radars) also receive attention, military training areas are provided, and the management and clearance of the Paardenmarkt ammunition dump is examined.

North Sea: small sea, big ambitions

The launch of northseabelgium.be emphasises the power of cooperation between various federal North Sea services and is an important step in strengthening public awareness of the Belgian North Sea policy. The platform is an invitation to everyone – from policy makers to citizens, from companies to scientists – to be part of the sustainable future of our North Sea. In addition, digital information packages are also offered for secondary school pupils, to make young people aware of the importance of our North Sea. Visit the website and discover how we are building a balanced, innovative and sustainable future for our 11th province together.

Minister of the North Sea Paul Van Tigchelt: “Our North Sea is an invaluable source of nature, energy and innovation. Belgium is a global leader in the field of nature conservation, blue shipping and the blue economy. This success is due to close cooperation and information sharing between the services involved in North Sea policy, which is essential for achieving our ambitious goals. With northseabelgium.be we are taking an important step in strengthening transparency and cooperation, and we are demonstrating our leadership role in the sustainable development of the North Sea.”