News

JPI Water, JPI Oceans and JPI Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are launching a joint trans-national call for research and innovation projects aimed at investigating the risks to human health and the environment of pollutants and pathogens in water.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.