• Theme

    Offshore energy production

    Looking for renewable energy Renewable energy has become an important issue. There are some evident reasons for this: • no emission of CO2 that helps to achieve the Kyoto...
  • Theme

    Sand and gravel extraction

    Should it still be sand? The sand and gravel exploitation in the Belgian part of the North Sea started in 1976 as an alternative to the extraction of sand and gravel on land. The...
  • Theme

    Number of cetaceans: an alarming decline

    In recent centuries, there has been a drastic drop in the number of cetaceans due to human activities. It is estimated that over 90 % of the population of large whales has...
  • Theme

    Scientific research

    Measuring is knowing! The Belgian part of the North Sea is one of the most minutely studied seas. Right from the beginning of the 19th century, different research areas were...
  • Theme

    Regional and global cooperation

    Because the environmental problems are international in nature - the environment knows no borders - there is a need for an international environmental policy. There are a number...
  • Theme

    Eutrophication

    What is eutrophication? Eutrophication occurs when too many nutrients - such as phosphates and nitrates - end up in the environment as a result of human activities. Primarily,...
  • Theme

    Invasive species

    The problem A number of species did not occur naturally in the Belgian part of the North Sea, but were intentionally or unintentionally introduced by man. Some of these species...
  • Theme

    Ocean acidification

    What is ocean acidification? The increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is a result of the burning of fossil fuels. This not only has an effect on the climate but also on...
  • Theme

    Pollution and litter

    Many types of pollution Pollution of the marine environment occurs in different forms such as: • Oil pollution • chemical substances • litter, particularly...
  • Theme

    Climate change

    Global warming The average temperature of the earth has been rising gently over the last decades. This climate change is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels whereby much...