In January 1997 the Programme "Sustainable Management of the North Sea" was launched in the framework of the first Scientific Support Plan for a Sustainable Development Policy (SPSD-I). The overall budget of this programme was 10,3 MEURO.
In the context of the "International Conferences on the Protection of the North Sea" and with a view to cooperating with other North Sea coastal states, this programme aimed to contribute to the management and sustainable development of the North Sea and its natural resources.
To this end the authorities need:
a better understanding of the structure and functioning of the North Sea ecosystem;
a better understanding of the impact of human activities on the North Sea ecosystem:
to gain a better objective understanding of the notion of 'how the North Sea can be sustainably exploited to ensure that those living on its banks can maintain a high standard of living';
to gain a better understanding of the socioeconomic consequences which accompany the negative impact of human activities on the North Sea ecosystem;
to translate properly founded scientific information and opinions from the research community into a policy designed to establish the most favourable balance possible between the various forms of exploitation of the North Sea and inform the public.
19 projects were financed in total.
Degraer, S.; Van Lancker, V.; Moerkerke, G.; Vincx, M.; Jacobs, P.; Henriet, J. P. (2002). Intensive evaluation of the evolution of a protected benthic habitat: HABITAT. Scientific Support Plan for a Sustainable Development Policy (SPSD I): Programme "Sustainable Management of the North Sea" = Plan voor wetenschappelijke ondersteuning van een beleid gericht op duurzame ontwikkeling (PODO I): Programma "Duurzaam beheer van de Noordzee". Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid = Belgian Science Policy = Politique Scientifique Fédérale: Brussel. 124 pp., meer
Scientific Support Plan for a Sustainable Development Policy (SPSD I): Programme "Sustainable Management of the North Sea" = Plan voor wetenschappelijke ondersteuning van een beleid gericht op duurzame ontwikkeling (PODO I): Programma "Duurzaam beheer van de Noordzee". Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid = Belgian Science Policy = Politique Scientifique Fédérale: Brussel, meer
(S.d.). Sustainable management of the North Sea: project descriptions. DWTC/SSTC: Brussel. 20 sheets pp., meer
Van Loen, H.; Houziaux, J.-S. (2002). The collection of Gustave Gilson as a reference framework for the Belgian marine fauna: feasibility study. Final report. Research Contract MN/36/94. Scientific Support Plan for a Sustainable Development Policy (SPSD I): Programme "Sustainable Management of the North Sea" = Plan voor wetenschappelijke ondersteuning van een beleid gericht op duurzame ontwikkeling (PODO I): Programma "Duurzaam beheer van de Noordzee". Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid = Belgian Science Policy = Politique Scientifique Fédérale: Brussel. 41 + annexes pp., meer
