Marine Ecology and Management (MARECO)

The Institute of Natural Sciences has a long tradition of scientific research in the North Sea with scientists from the former MUMM (Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models) (since 1976), which is now a part of OD Nature.

Although the North Sea can seem like a small shallow pool when compared to other oceans, it is rich in life. The water and sediment are home to a large variety of animals and plants. The North Sea is also a sensitive ecosystem that is under heavy pressure from intense human activities such as fishing, sand and gravel extraction, shipping, oil and gas drilling, tourism and industry. The Belgian section of the North Sea covers about 3500 km², about the size of a Belgian province. 

It is very important for scientific research to be carried out in our marine terratories. The more we learn about the sea, the better we can protect it and make predictions for the near and more distant future. 

Our marine research concentrates on the following subjects: 

• Marine mammals
• Exotic species
• Jellyfish
• Sea birds and bats
• Hard substrates
• Underwater noise
• Hydrodynamic models
• Sediment transport models
• Ecological models
• Remote sensing
• Marine geology
• Marine chemistry
• Antarctica