UNDER EMBARGO - This dataset contains seasonal physiological measurements from controlled laboratory experiments on two dominant suspension-feeding species expected to colonise floating offshore structures: the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis; AphiaID 140480) and the wrinkled barnacle (Balanus crenatus; AphiaID 106215). The measured parameters include clearance rates, respiration rates, faecal pellet production rates, and faecal pellet sinking velocities. Mussels were collected from an aquaculture longline at the Westdiep SeaFarm, while barnacles were manually retrieved from the intertidal beachhead at Raversijde (Oostende, Belgium). All experiments were conducted using natural seawater collected from offshore sites in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Measurements were repeated across multiple seasons to capture temporal variability in physiological performance. The dataset was produced within the SWiM and EcoMPV projects and is suitable for reuse in ecosystem and biogeochemical modelling, including simulations of phytoplankton dynamics associated with large-scale offshore marine photovoltaic (MPV) developments.

This dataset represents the location of the Princess Elizabeth zone in the Belgian Part of the North Sea as described in the Royal Decree of May 22th, 2019, establishing a marine spatial plan for the period 2020-2026. Art. 8. § 3.

This dataset represents the exact location of disused telecommunication cables installed in the Belgian Part of the North Sea.

This dataset is part of the Belgian submission for the 2018 Marine Strategic Framework Directive (MSFD) and reports on descriptor 1, criterion 6. This dataset describes the soft benthos analysis performed in the Belgian part of the North Sea between 2010 and 2016. Information on the location, date and procedure used for the sediment sampling is povided as well as the description of the species found in the samples. Based on this dataset, the Belgian MSFD reporting concluded that the benthic habitat quality is clearly lower in areas where a certain activity interferes with the environment in an intensive way.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 6 measuring poles: Measuring pole MOW.0 (Art. 21§2), Measuring pole MOW.1 (Art. 21§2), Measuring pole MOW.2 (Art. 21§2), Measuring pole MOW.3 (Art. 21§2), Measuring pole MOW.4 (Art. 21§2), Measuring pole Westhinder (Art. 21§2). It replaces the 2014 Marine Spatial Plan, which is included for completeness. The Royal Decree of 20 March 2014 establishing a marine spatial plan defines in its Art. 15. §3, one set of measuring pole locations. These locations are made available digitally in the resource described by this metadata document. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette (\"Moniteur belge/Belgisch Staatsblad\") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 6 energy, cable and pipeline zones: Area 1 for renewable energy (Eastern zone) (Art. 8§1), Area 2 for renewable energy (Noordhinder North) (Art. 8§2), Area 3 for renewable energy (Noordhinder Zuid) (Art. 8§3), Area for renewable energy - zone 4 (Fairybank) (Art. 8§3), Modular offshore grid for transmission of energy (Art. 8§5), Pipelines and cables corridor (Art. 9§1). It replaces the 2014 Marine Spatial Plan, which is included for completeness. The Royal Decree of 20 March 2014 establishing a marine spatial plan defines in its Art. 8., five energy, cables and pipelines zones: one zone for domain concessions to construct and exploit installations for the production of electricity from water, currents or wind (Area for renewable energy (initially wind farms), Art. 8. § 1), one zone for domain concessions to construct and exploit installations for the transport of electricity (Plug at sea, Art. 8. § 3), two zones for installations for energy storage (Energy atoll 1, Art. 8. § 5 zone 1 and Energy atoll 2, Art. 8. § 5 zone 2) and one zone to construct and exploit pipelines and cables (Pipelines and cables corridor, Art. 8. § 7). These zones are made available digitally in the resource described by this metadata document. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette (\"Moniteur belge/Belgisch Staatsblad\") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 1 radar tower: Radar Oostdyck (Art. 21§3). Please refer to the Belgian official gazette (\"Moniteur belge/Belgisch Staatsblad\") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 7 fishery management zones: Professional fisheries (Art. 13), Passive fisheries area (Noordhinder Noord) (Art. 14§4), Passive fisheries area (Noordhinder Zuid) (Art. 14§4), Passive fisheries (Fairybank) (Art. 14§4), Search area 1 for fisheries techniques (Art. 6§1), Search area 2 for fisheries techniques (Art. 6§1), Search area 3 for fisheries techniques (Art. 6§1). It replaces the 2014 Marine Spatial Plan, which is included for completeness. The Royal Decree of 20 March 2014 establishing a marine spatial plan defines in its Art. 6, six fisheries management areas: Regular regime, Art. 6 § 1; Fisheries management area 1, Art. 6 § 1.1°; Fisheries management area 2, Art. 6 § 1.2°; Fisheries management area 3, Art. 6 § 1.3°; Fisheries management area 4, Art. 6 § 1.4°; Fisheries management area 5, Art. 6 § 3. These zones are made available digitally in the resource described by this metadata document. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette (\"Moniteur belge/Belgisch Staatsblad\") for official reference information.

This dataset is part of the 2018 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 2, criterion 1. This dataset lists the newly-introduced species encountered on buoys and in epibenthic and Van Veen grab samples taken in the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS) between 2011 and 2016.

This dataset represents the location of the windfarms concessions in the Belgian Part of the North Sea.