• 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...
  • Theme

    Overfishing and bycatch

    Overfishing Improved fishing techniques, bigger ships, a rising demand for fish, ... imply that steadily increasing volumes of fish are being hauled up. When more is caught than...
  • Theme

    Loss of biodiversity

    The problem The sea and its biodiversity have been impacted adversely. It is not only the loss of biodiversity due to the decrease in the density and distribution of many...
  • Theme

    Whaling

    Hunting is the most familiar threat known to the general public. It is practised by different countries and is often highly controversial. There are different types of whaling...
  • Theme

    Noise disturbance

    It is not silent under the water! Shipping, piling works for the installation of wind turbines, seismic research, military exercises and the detonation of old munitions cause...
  • Theme

    Working in an international framework

    The Belgian part of the North Sea forms just 0.5% of the North Sea and thus covers a very small part of the world's seas. It hence goes without saying that the federal marine...
  • Theme

    Marine Strategy Framework Directive

    A marine strategy for the European seas The marine environment is a precious heritage that must be protected, conserved and wherever possible, restored. The ultimate goal is the...
  • Theme

    Birds and Habitats Directive

    The Birds Directive (2009/147/EG) of 30 November 2009 concerning the conservation of bird population and the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) of 21 May 1992 concerning the...
  • Theme

    Species policy - the protection of the species living in the wild in the Belgian part of the North Sea

    A number of species, which previously occurred commonly in our seas are now endangered. Through the implementation of the Habitat and Birds Directives, but also other...