🚀 Want to make your research data truly FAIR? Join the 3rd edition of the EMBRC FAIR Training (27–29 May, online) and learn how to make your data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable & Reusable. 🎓 Hands-on | 🌍 Online | 📅 Register by 18 May 👉 www.embrc.eu/fair-trainin... #FAIRdata #ugent

Congratulations to Ilias Semmouri & Elias De Craene on receiving the Dr Delcroix Research Grant & Incentive Award '26. 👏Presented by Hydro vzw and The Sea as a Good Cause (VLIZ), the Dr Delcroix grants celebrate innovative research into the link between the ocean & human health🔗 tinyurl.com/5camrza6

THE marine science communication event, the CommOcean Conference, returns this year! It will take place from 2-3 September 2026 in Bergen, Norway. The call for abstracts is now open until 1 May 2026 - find out more and submit yours here: www.uib.no/en/ocean/181... #scicomm #marscicomm

🐚 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝗻 188.000 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗷𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 9de 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗮𝗴 🐚 3800 burgers telden en identificeerden over de volledige Belgische en Nederlandse kust, en op 2 stranden in Noord-Frankrijk, 188.542 schelpen van in totaal 86 verschillende soorten. Lees meer 👉🔗 tinyurl.com/4db2c2bv

Congratulations Frederik Van Daele & Sofia Knoch (UGent) for winning the Brilliant Marine Research Idea (BMRI) grants 2026. The BMRI grants are awarded by The Sea as a Good Cause – VLIZ's charitable initiative – a Grant Making Facility for @unoceandecade.bsky.social.🔗https://tinyurl.com/msskjzub

We take an important step in international collaboration for the ocean. We have signed a cooperation agreement with the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) @vliz.be from Belgium 🇧🇪 A partnership connecting science, training, and ocean commitment at a global scale #OceanLiteracy #OceanScience

🪸🪼🦈 Happy Taxonomist Appreciation Day! 🐋🐙🐚 @marinespecies.bsky.social celebrates this day by releasing its annual WoRMS Top-10 Marine Species. In 2025 alone, almost 2600 new marine species were described. Find out the top-10 of newly described species in 2025 👉 🔗 www.vliz.be/en/news/ten-...

A rare beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) has been spotted off the Belgian coast. It was seen today at 4pm near the Strekdam in Ostend. Belugas are normally found in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. This one appears to have strayed off. www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=... @marinespecies.bsky.social

We are very proud and honored to present the keynote speakers of #WCMB2026. The keynote speakers have been nominated by the Scientific Committee of WCMB2026. We will introduce each keynote speaker to you in the coming weeks. wcmb2026.org/keynote-spea... @unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be

Very proud to be part of the Ocean Thematic Centre (OTC) of the European Integrated Carbon Observation System @icos-ri.eu. With the RV Simon Stevin and the Thorton buoy, VLIZ hosts two certified ICOS-stations measuring greenhouse gases at sea. #ICOS #SOCAT #ClimateResearch

We are proud to announce the formal signing of a MoU between @vliz.be and Fundación San Ignacio del Huinay fjord field station (University of Valparaiso), in the presence of HE Christian de Lannoy, ambassador of Belgium in Chile. @unoceandecade.bsky.social @janmees.bsky.social

On Wednesday 4 March, the VLIZ Marine Science Day #VMSD26 took place in Ostend. With 520 participants, it was the most attended edition ever. Missed VMSD26? Don’t worry – Relive the event now on 👉 www.vliz.be/en/news/reli... @unoceandecade.bsky.social

🏆Doctoral researcher Gladys Mwaka Holeh (#VLIZ #UGent) has been selected as a Blue Food Futures Fellow. Her research examines how artisanal seaweed aquaculture can support nutrition, climate resilience & coastal livelihoods along the Kenyan coast 🇰🇪. tinyurl.com/347w9jre @oceansolutions.stanford.edu

Next up are interviews with the winners of the Brilliant Marine Research Idea grants 2025: Sofie Peeters (ugent), Nada Nasri (UAntwerpen, Université de Tunis El Manar), Rodgee Mae Guden (ugent), Wenxin Liu (ugent), Tuan-Anh Bui (ugent, ILVO), Arida Fauziyah (VUB). #VMSD26

Another 5 enthusiastic predoctoral researchers accepted the challenge to pitch their research in 5-minute orals. From impacts of offshore windfarms to marine heatwaves #VMSD26

We start the afternoon session of #VMSD26 with our second keynote speaker Piet Opstaele, CEO of Blue Cluster. Piet talks about his experiences in life and the blue economy #VMSD26

During lunchtime, you can visit the interactive demo booths about internationalisation in marine science, divided in three clusters: ocean observation, climate and biodiversity #VMSD26

Very proud the #VMSD26 is recognised as an action in the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development @unoceandecade.bsky.social #SDGs

Second batch of predoctoral researchers is presenting their work in 5-minute talks, covering topics from low-impact fisheries to gambling in seaside resorts. #VMSD26

Interested in the complete overview of talks, pitches, and posters of #VMSD26? Download the Book of Abstracts here: www.vliz.be/vmsd/en/book...

Are you a young marine scientist? Get to know the Early Career Ocean Professional Programme (ECOP) and learn how to get involved in the Belgium node 🇧🇪 🤝 Next information session is at 3pm in room Dactylo. @unoceandecade.bsky.social

Throughout the day, 20 enthusiastic predoctoral researchers present their ongoing work in 5 min talks. A nice and quick overview of the diversity of marine research in Flanders. #VMSD26

Dr. Joanna Post, Director of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and head of the IOC Ocean Observation and Services Section, is the first keynote speaker of today. “We have to look after our ocean because that’s what connects us” #VMSD26 @iodeoostende.bsky.social @unesco.bsky.social

President of VLIZ and governor of West Flanders Carl Decaluwé & VLIZ General Director Jan Mees @jmeesvliz officially kick-off the 25th edition of the VMSD. #VMSD26

You couldn’t make it to the Belgian coast today, or you simply forgot to subscribe? No worries, follow the livestream of #VMSD26 on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcqt...

Ready for today’s VLIZ Marine Science Day 2026. A day full of interesting and inspiring talks on marine science, networking, and award ceremonies! This year, #VMSD26 is all about internationalisation. #VMSD26 #StadOostene

Looking forward to tomorrow's VLIZ Marine Science Day #VMSD26 in Ostend. With 520 participants, the 25th edition is fully booked! Check the programme here: www.vliz.be/vmsd/en/prog.... See you tomorrow in @DeGrotePost @StadaanZee.

Are you a student with a passion for the sea? VLIZ is looking for a few highly motivated student workers to join our team and support activities within marine research projects. Apply before March 29th🔗https://www.vliz.be/en/who-we-are/working-vliz/jobstudenten

The ticket sale for the public event at #WCMB2026 on Wednesday 18 November is now open. "How Deep is Your Love" is a feature documentary that takes you to the mysterious deep sea, the last wilderness on Earth. www.wcmb2026.org/social-progr... @unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be

𝐕𝐋𝐈𝐙 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬: 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 📈 Become the administrative & financial heart of our projects and contribute to marine research with global impact. Are you analytical, structured & eager to learn? Apply no later than 23 March 2026. 🔗 www.vliz.be/en/jobs/vliz...

This week #VLIZ is well represented at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. #OSM26 is the flagship conference for the ocean sciences and the wider ocean-connected community. See the full overview of VLIZ contributions 👉 www.vliz.be/en/news/stro...

The #WCMB2026 organising committee is proud to announce that several initiatives are offering participation grants for conference participants. wcmb2026.org/participatio... With thanks to @vliz.be and The secretariat of the National Decade Committee for Belgium @unoceandecade.bsky.social

Project #MareGraph completed!🎉 Together with #CNR, Digital Flanders & #IMEC, we strengthened semantic links between #WoRMS, #MarineRegions & #EurOBIS 🌊🔗 🔎 Results: www.maregraph.eu/KER/ 📅 Webinar March 3: www.maregraph.eu/post_annoucm...

🐚🌊 Big Seashell Survey on 21 March 2026! Join thousands of beachcombers along the coast of The Netherlands, Belgium and France & contribute to marine science! 👉 www.vliz.be/en/events/bi... @vliz.be | @naturalis.bsky.social | @CPIE Flandre Maritime

🌍 Join us on 4 March 2026 for the VLIZ Marine Science Day #VMSD26 in Ostend: marine science through an international lens 🌊 A full day of science, pitches, posters & networking. ✅ Free registration for marine scientists, students, policymakers, blue economy & press. 👉 www.vliz.be/vmsd/en @vliz.be

🎓👏 Hisham Shaikh defended his PhD, Uncovering the diversity & ecology of North Sea viruses on 13 February at VLIZ, from Ghent University. Supervisors: Anne Willems (UG), Maarten De Rijcke (VLIZ) and Corina Brussaard (NIOZ). Read more 👉 www.vliz.be/en/news/unco...

We were pleased to welcome rector UGent @petradesutter.bsky.social to @vliz.be in Ostend. A valuable exchange on strengthening our long-standing partnership with UGent & MarineAtUGent in marine sciences. #Collaboration #MarineResearch #OceanScience #BlueScience @janmees.bsky.social

🌊 Project MareGraph: results webinar Join the public results webinar with a live demo of linked marine data from @eurobis.bsky.social, @marinespecies.bsky.social & @marineregions.bsky.social and see how the results can be reused beyond the project. 3 March - 14:00–15:30 maregraph.pulse.ly/sp6x7tkzyg

Today, during a visit to Ostend, we had the honour of welcoming H.E. Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes, Ambassador of France, to the VLIZ facilities to learn more about our collaboration with France. 🤝🌊

🌊 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐕𝐋𝐈𝐙 𝐏𝐡𝐃 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐮𝐦 2026 at the InnovOcean Campus in Oostende: 18 PhD researchers share inspiring work across ocean science, technology & management. Great discussions, strong collaborations, and valuable connections throughout the day. Thanks to everyone who joined!

📊🌊 Over 350 citizen scientists, data experts & innovators gathered in Ostend and online this week to launch the Marine Citizen Science Data Network (MCSDN).🔗 The EU-funded #CSMACH1 project will help make marine citizen science data more #FAIR and support trusted flows into services like EMODnet.🛰️

📍VLIZ is pleased to host the 𝐂𝐒-𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐇1 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 (3–4 Feb). ‼️ Join us online 👉 bit.ly/3Z4oZpZ For marine citizen science project leaders, cost-effective tech/app developers, data manager/aggregators, scientists 🤝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭: [email protected] #CitizenScience #MarineData

🫱🧬🫲𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐃𝐍𝐀? We invite you to share 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 through our 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 on proposed actions to help refine them and move toward a more optimal eDNA digital environment. 🌅 Up until 12 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 2026 👉 bit.ly/4rbc41j @ednaquaplan.bsky.social #eDNA @embrc-eu.bsky.social

A VLIZ delegation is visiting Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Mombasa, Kenya to meet director Dr Paul Swage Orina & team. The visit highlights a strong Kenya-Belgium marine science legacy and explores renewed VLIZ-KMFRI collaboration ahead of #OurOceanConference2026. #SDG14

Leandro Ponsoni (PI, Marine Robotics Centre) and Steven Dauwe (Science Officer, Policy Information Division) joined the “AMOC in Focus” First Author Writing Workshop ✍️ as part of the JPI Climate & JPI Oceans AMOC assessment. 🌊 Proud to contribute! 🤝🌍 #AMOC #OceanScience #ClimateAction

🌊𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫⚡ Proud to coordinate #ClayTectonics at @vliz.be. Delivering key data & insights on disturbed clay layers to support safer offshore wind construction & #BlueEconomy 🎥 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 youtu.be/GvyhSawgCxI?... OWI_Lab@VUB, RCMG@ugent, BlauweCluster,VLAIO

⛵️ New paper by #MPI-M, @uni-hamburg.de, geomarkiel.bsky.social & @vliz.be: data from sailing boats #TeamMalizia fills in blind spots @socatco2.bsky.social, improving estimates marine carbon sink. Calibration & more observations remain crucial. 👉 bit.ly/45f7qHj #ClimateScience #CitizenScience

🌊 VLIZ underwater robots reveal how bottom currents continue to reshape seafloor of the Belgica Mound Drift off Ireland — from past formation to present-day dynamics. PhD research by Alice Matossian (UGent) using VLIZ #ROVzonnebloem, #AUVbarabas and #gliderYoko, 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/45FE1pH

✨A warm start to the new year at #VLIZ ✨ Team moments, an inspiring New Year’s address by Director Jan Mees, and a potluck with local specialties – connecting colleagues, sharing ideas, and looking ahead together. 🤝✨ 🌊

VLIZ is hiring: a Fish Behavioral Ecology Researcher 🐟 Ready to make an impact on healthy fish populations and marine biodiversity? Join our vibrant research team and work on cutting-edge European projects. 👉 Apply no later than 25 January. More info viahttps://vliz.pulse.ly/dfkavmwxh1