This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 10, criterion 2. This dataset presents data on microplastics in seabed sediment along a coastal-offshore transect in the Belgian Part of the North Sea (BPNS) in 2020, during 2 cruises on board the RV Belgica. Samples were collected using a Reineck box corer or a Van Veen grab, and the top 5cm was collected for analysis. The samples were preserved and analyzed in the laboratory. This dataset also presents data on microplastics in seawater along the same coastal-offshore transect in the BPNS in 2020-2021, during 3 cruises on board the RV Belgica. Subsurface seawater was collected through the vessel's continuous seawater inlet located below the surface (-3m). The samples were preserved and analyzed in the laboratory.

This datasets is a summary of the CTD profiles measured with the RV Belgica. It provides general meta-information such as the campaign code, the date of measurement and the geographical information. An important information is the profile quality flag that describes the validity of the data. A quality flag = 2 means the data is generally good although some outliers can still be present. A quality flag = 4 means the data should not be trusted. 1 meter binned data can be download on the SeaDataNet CDI portal (enter the cruise_id in the search bar) ONLY for the good quality profiles. Full acquisition frequency datasets are available on request to BMDC.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 6, criterion 4. This dataset describes and maps the areal extent of EUNIS level 2 broad-scale habitat types and gravel beds in the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS), to assess whether the spatial extent of these habitats fluctuates beyond the accuracy margin of the current distribution maps.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 10, criterion 1. The seafloor dataset describes the litter gathered between 2012 and 2014 during beam trawl (BTS) fishery surveys in the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS). It provides the date, location and haul information, type of litter found and information on the size of the items. Additionally the ship name and cruise references are reported. The data is recorded following ICES guidelines allowing future inclusion in the ICES online database DATRAS (Database of Trawl Surveys). The sludge dataset describes the litter found between 2013 and 2016 on dredge disposal sites located in the coastal area of the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS). It provides the date, location, amount and type of litter as well as methodological information (e.g. mesh size). Additionally, the ship name and cruise references are reported. The beach litter dataset contains information on beach litter for the period 2016-2021, washed ashore on reference beaches (Oostende Halve Maan, Oostende Raversijde and, from 2020 onwards, Nieuwpoort Lombardsijde). 17 surveys (100m transects) have been executed until Spring 2021. Monitoring & data recording has been done according to the OSPAR Guideline for Monitoring Marine Litter on the beaches in the OSPAR maritime area (OSPAR, 2010). Besides the number of litter items, the category is also noted. The dataset is characterized by a high variation in the number of items. The data are under consideration to be reported to the OSPAR beach litter database, under the condition that the data cannot be used for trend analyses, because of the nature of the data.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 7, criterion 1. This dataset describes the zones that are subject to noticeable permanent alteration of the hydrographic conditions due to human activities and man-made infrastructures for the time period 1992-2022. The data format is shapefiles and includes the zone area (m²) as attribute.

This dataset presents findings from an environmental impact assessment conducted along three gradients extending northeastward, southeastward, and southwestward from the Princess Elisabeth Energy Island. Samples were collected at 20 locations in 2024, and 8 locations in 2025 in triplicate, using a 0.1 m² Van Veen Grab, assessing sediment grain size distribution and total organic carbon content. Macrobenthos samples were preserved, stained, and analyzed in the laboratory.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 2, criterion 1. This dataset lists the newly-introduced species encountered in the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS) between 2016 and 2021, combining dedicated non-indigenous species (NIS) surveys of artificial hard substrates with incidental NIS records collected during the soft-sediment and epibenthos monitoring programmes.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 8, criterion 4. This dataset reports the proportion of oiled Common Guillemots (Uria aalge) among stranded seabirds along the Belgian coast, as an indicator of acute oil pollution (environmental target: average proportion of oiled guillemots below 10% of the total found dead or dying on the beaches).

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 1, criterion 6. This dataset reports on phytoplankton and zooplankton communities in the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS), including community composition, diversity, biomass and abundance, as an indicator of pelagic habitat condition.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 1, criterion 1. It reports the mortality rate of marine mammals, in particular harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), from incidental bycatch in the Belgian part of the North Sea, combining strandings investigations, reported incidental catches and aerial abundance surveys.