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Last week, the very last negotiations aimed at adopting an international Convention for the protection of high seas biodiversity took place in New York. The agreement was reached after 17 years of intense discussions and negotiations at the United Nations. Belgium played an active role in drafting and finalising this treaty. Among other things, it will now become possible to create natural areas on the high seas - outside territorial waters.

The latest policy informing brief by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) highlights the concept of carbon accounting within the marine context. What are the main challenges and opportunities? What is the potential climatic importance of sediment-bound organic carbon in shallow seas, such as the North Sea? What role can the Oceans Network of the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) play in promoting workable and reliable marine carbon accounting practices? You can read all about it in this publication, downloadable from the VLIZ website.

Reuzenhoge tsunami’s en monstergolven op zee spreken al millenia lang tot de verbeelding van de mens. Dat dergelijke golven soms de harde realiteit vormen, wordt pijnlijk uit nieuwsberichten: grote vrachtsschepen die door toedoen van monstergolven in twee breken, verwoestende tsunami’s die in luttele seconden ganse kustgebieden verwoesten ... In een nieuwe beleidsinformerende nota van het VLIZ wordt gekeken in welke mate dit soort potentieel verwoestende golven – zoals tsunami’s – kunnen voorkomen in de zuidelijke Noordzee.

From 27 June to 1 July, the United Nations Ocean Conference runs in Lisbon. This major ocean conference hopes to boost the development of science and innovative solutions to global ocean threats. The Flemish marine research community also participates and is represented by VLIZ.

Ostend (2022.03.02) – During the VLIZ Marine Science Day (2 March 2022), hundreds of early-career marine researchers were presented with an ambitious vision of the future. With the increasing importance of the sea for our society - for example in the context of the Blue Economy - excellent marine research is more important than ever. Minister Crevits is calling for our growing knowledge to be converted even more into responsible and sustainable use of the sea and is counting on everyone's efforts to that end.

Within the framework of an economic mission of Flemish minister-president Jan Jambon in Northern Spain, VLIZ has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Basque marine research and technology centre AZTI.

In its 10^th edition of the Flemish Aquaculture Symposium, the Flemish Aquaculture Platform (VAP) takes a look at the sustainability of the sector. The event will physically take place on the Bluebridge site in the Ostend Science Park on 29 October. Participation is free of charge, but registration is necessary.

On 1 December, the European Marine Board will host its eighth EMB Open Forum. The theme of this edition is "Supporting the Ocean Decade in Europe" and the aim of the forum is to facilitate discussion among stakeholders in the European Ocean Decade, including the scientific community and policy makers. The event can be attended both on-site at BluePoint Brussels and online.