After a year of working around two themes: 'Living with climate change' and 'Working with nature', the Think Tank North Sea presents its first vision texts. The vision texts are a synthesis of various meetings between representatives from policy, industry, science and citizens (quadruple helix) and contain recommendations and core principles that stakeholders can work with today to ensure a well-managed, sustainable North Sea by 2050.
Every year, within the framework of the Compendium for Coast and Sea, the compendium secretariat of VLIZ reports in the form of a policy information brief (PIB) on the current state of marine research in Flanders and Belgium. The brief (only available in Dutch) maps out the research capacity as well as the scientific output of Belgian marine research groups, and examines in more detail the international collaborations, the geographical focus of the research and the use of research vessels (methodology see PIB). The inventory shows that Belgian marine research is growing in numbers and geographically and becomes all the more accessible.
The 20th edition of the VLIZ Marine Science Day promises to be a special one. In 2020, VLIZ celebrates its 20th anniversary with the central theme being “VLIZ breaks boundaries”. For this 20th edition we expect even more participants and are moving with the #VMSD20 to another location: CC De Grote Post in Ostend. The program also receives a thorough makeover. For the first time, we supplement the plenary program with various parallel break-out sessions. More than ever #VMSD20 will be an unmissable feast for the marine professional and student, full of opportunities to interact with like-minded and the ideal opportunity to expand your network.
Lead is a heavy metal that, because of its favourable physical properties, is used in many applications, including (recreational) fishing. However, lead is a persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic element (PBT) whose emissions and losses must be reduced as much as possible. To this end, VLIZ publishes a new Policy Information Brief (BIN) that zooms in on the lead issue with regard to fishing products but also identifies opportunities regarding the use of lead-free alternatives.
The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) turns 20! On Thursday 28 November, the Versluys Arena in Ostend kicked off the festive year 2020. A new VLIZ video and an audio exhibition with stories from 20 privileged witnesses were also launched. In order to celebrate the anniversary with its extensive network, VLIZ organises various activities throughout the festive year 2020 with the central theme 'VLIZ breaks boundaries'.
The Belgian-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (CCBP) organised an event on Tuesday 19 November with leading Belgian/Flemish and Portuguese companies, members of the European Commission and Parliament, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), NGOs and scientific partners, to discuss further cooperation on offshore energy and the blue economy.
The European Marine Board (EMB), in collaboration with European Research Vessel Operators (ERVO), is launching a new Position Paper on European research vessels. The paper provides an extensive overview of the current European research fleet and updates the findings and recommendations of the 2007 EMB Position Paper 10 on "European Ocean Research Fleets - Towards a Common Strategy and Enhanced Use". It is the result of the activities of the EMB Working Group on Research Vessels.
On Thursday 21 November, VLIZ is co-organizing the G-STIC 2019 OCEANS day. The theme day is part of the G-Stic 2019 event, the networking event for companies, policymakers and experts in Brussels Expo. At this conference, marine and maritime actors are invited to help conceive ways in which new technologies and sustainable solutions can be put to the market more quickly.
VLIZ launches yearly a call for ‘Brilliant Marine Research Ideas’ intended to inspire and enable PhD students to execute a brilliant idea during their PhD within the frame of their research. For the call 2020 VLIZ invites, for the first time, companies from the Blue Economy to sponsor as well a BMRI grant.
On 23 October 2019, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and the Province of West Flanders launched the brand new 'CoastalINsight2019- The CoastalINsight2019 is a handy pocket book that bundles area-specific figures and analyses about the Belgian coastal zone. This publication is aimed at local policymakers and authorities to inform them in a neutral and objective way about the unique and diverse regional processes and phenomena.
The Dr. Edouard Delcroix Prize is a triennial international scientific prize (EUR 25.000) awarded to a researcher or research group to reward scientific research in the broad context of oceans and human health. For the second time, an Encouragement Prize Dr. Edouard Delcroix, worth 2.500 EUR, will be awarded to a young scientist who is at the start of his/her research career. Deadline is 31 December 2019.
et het nieuwe Marine Robotics Centre toont het Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee haar ambitie om uit te groeien tot een internationale kennishub voor mariene robotica. Het centrum is ingebed in het VLIZ, dat als het centrale aanspreekpunt voor zeewetenschappen in Vlaanderen de aangewezen instelling is om deze gespecialiseerde infrastructuur te beheren en in te zetten.
De eerste resultaten van AQUA-LIT, verzameld tijdens de eerste maanden van het project, zijn nu beschikbaar. De resultaten geven een blik op de huidige aquacultuurpraktijken in de drie verschillende Europese zeebekkens, de soorten zwerfvuil in de mariene aquacultuur en de hoeveelheden die ervan op de Europese stranden en zeeën worden aangetroffen. Daarnaast is een overzicht opgesteld van de bestaande regionale, nationale, Europese en mondiale aanpak en beleidsmaatregelen ter bestrijding van zwerfvuil op zee door de aquacultuur. Deze opgedane kennis zal de basis vormen voor de "AQUA-LIT Learning Labs" die zich zullen richten op het vinden van tastbare oplossingen en instrumenten voor de aanpak van zwerfvuil op zee.
Are you interested in the Blue Economy and how science can help Ostend marine life or do you want to convert your idea into a business case? Within the framework of the European project BluAct, which connects and stimulates several European port cities to focus on the Blue Economy, the city of Ostend is introducing the 'SeaZone' competition.
Flemish Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Koen Van den Heuvel prohibits pulse fishing in the Belgian twelve-mile zone. The ban came into force on 14 August of this year, and Belgium, like France, is thus issuing the European regulation that will come into force on 1 July 2021 ahead of schedule.
The 22nd edition of the world's largest cluster conference, TCI2019, will take place this year in Antwerp from 8-10 October. TCI 2019 is aimed at prominent figures from the government, business and academia. The theme chosen is 'strategic clusters for sustainable growth - new trends and practices'. On the first day of the conference there a 'Coastal Marine Tour' in Ostend is scheduled.
From 9-20 September 2019 UGent Campus Oostende organizes the newest edition of the UGent Blue Growth Summer School. The programme includes extensive interdisciplinary training with both maritime and marine modules on innovative Blue Economy themes such as wind and wave energy, aquaculture, blue biotechnology, ecosystems, marine spatial planning, etc., combined with practical exercises and excursions. The course is aimed at engineers, bio-engineers, geologists, marine biologists and other "young marine professionals" of a master or PhD level. Interested candidates can register until 19 August 2019.
How can we give our coast the resilience it needs to withstand a changing climate? This research question was central to the project CREST - what stands for Climate Resilient Coast - which over a period of four years tried to deepen the Flemish expertise with regard to coastal processes by means of field measurements, laboratory tests and numerical modelling. The findings will be presented at the CREST final conference on Thursday 26 September 2019 in Greenbridge Ostend. Registration is free of charge, but is compulsory before 19 September. Language of the conference: English.
The FWO launches a first call for joint exchange projects with researchers from the State of São Paulo (Brazil) on the 30th of July 2019.
