The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 1 coastal protection experiments zone: Coastal protection belt (Art. 20§2). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 1 coastal protection experiments zone: Zone for coastal protection experiments (Art. 16§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. 12. §1 one zone for coastal protection experiments. This zone is 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 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 8 scientific research and recreation zones: Thorntonbank monitoring area (Art. 23§10.1°), Gootebank monitoring area (Art. 23§10.2°), Scientific research zone (Art. 23§3), Search area for scientific research reserve (Art. 23§6), Zone with prohibition of additional fixed structures (Art. 23§7.4°), Zone accessible for scientific research 1 (Art. 23§8.1°), Zone accessible for scientific research 2 (Art. 23§8.1°), Reference area for calibration and quality assessment of measuring instruments (Art. 23§9). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 3 aquaculture zones: Fisheries research zone (Art. 17§2), Zone accessible to aquaculture and passive fisheries (Art. 18), Zone accessible to aquaculture (Art. 18§1). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 12 sand and gravel extraction zones: Sand and gravel exploitation sector 1a (Thorntonbank) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 2br (Buiten Ratel) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 2kb (Kwintebank) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 2od (Oostdyck) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 3a (Sierra Ventana) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 3b (Sierra Ventana) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 4a (Noordhinder) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 4b (Oosthinder-noord) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 4c (Oosthinder-zuid) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 4d (Westhinder) (Art. 15§1), Sand and gravel exploitation sector 5 (Blighbank) (Art. 15§1), Zone for research of the potential of the exploration and exploitation of sand and gravel (Art. 15§4). 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. 11., eleven Management zones with regards to sand and gravel extraction: ten sand and gravel exploitation zones (Thorntonbank, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 1a, Kwintebank, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 2kb, Buiten Ratel, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 2br, Oostdyck, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 2od, Sierra Ventana, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 3a, Sierra Ventana, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 3b, Noord Hinder, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 4a, Oosthinder-noord, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 4b, Oosthinder-zuid, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 4c, Westhinder, Art. 11 § 1 Sector 4d) and one reference zone for monitoring impact of windmills and sand exploitation (Art. 11 § 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.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 13 dredging zones: Dredge spoil disposal zone S1 (Art. 15§1.1°), Dredge spoil disposal zone S2 (Art. 15§1.2°), Dredge spoil disposal zone "Public Works Ostend" (Art. 15§1.3°), Dredge spoil disposal zone "Public Works Zeebrugge East" (Art. 15§1.4°), Dredge spoil disposal zone "Public Works Zeebrugge West" (Art. 15§1.5°), Dredge spoil disposal site "Public Works Nieuwpoort" (Art. 15§1.6°), Dredge spoil disposal zone "Zeebrugge Erosion Pit" (Art. 15§1.7°), Zone 1 for future replacement of dredge spoil zone S1 (Art. 15§4.1°), Zone 2 for future replacement of dredge spoil zone S1 (Art. 15§4.2°), Search zone 1 for future replacement of Zeebrugge East and West (Art. 15§6), Search zone 2 for future replacement of Zeebrugge East and West (Art. 15§6), Search zone 3 for future replacement of Zeebrugge East and West (Art. 15§6), Dredge spoil disposal zone for future replacement "Public Works Nieuwpoort" (Art. 15§8). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 5 nature conservation areas: Special area for conservation 'The Flemish Banks' (Art. 7§1), Special area for conservation 'Vlakte van de Raan' (Art. 7§3), Special protection area for birds - SPA 1 (Art. 7§5.1°), Special protection area for birds - SPA 2 (Art. 7§5.2°), Special protection area for birds - SPA 3 (Art. 7§5.3°). 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. 7., six nature conservation sites: two special areas for conservation (Art. 7. §1, Special area for conservation 'Vlaamse Banken' and Art. 7. §3, Special area for conservation 'Trapegeer stroombank'), three special protection zones for birds (Art7§4.1°, SBZ1, Art7§4.2°, SBZ2, Art7§4.3°, SBZ3), and one marine reserve (Art7§8, Marine reserve 'Baai van Heist'). 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 4 aquaculture zones: Zone 1 for aquaculture (Eastern zone) (Art. 14§1), Zone 2 for aquaculture (Noordhinder Noord) (Art. 14§2), Zone 3 for aquaculture (Noordhinder Zuid) (Art. 14§3), Zone 4 for aquaculture (Fairybank) (Art. 14§3). 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. 10, two zones for sustainable aquaculture: Zone 1 for sustainable aquaculture, Art. 10 § 2 Zone 1; Zone 2 for sustainable aquaculture, Art. 10 § 2 Zone 2. 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 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 5 fishery management zones: Zone with prohibition of active bottom-disturbing commercial fishing (Art. 10§2), Zone with prohibition of bottom-disturbing commercial fishing (Art. 10§2), Fisheries research zone (Art. 17§2), Zone accessible to aquaculture and passive fisheries (Art. 18), Zone with prohibition of bottom-disturbing recreational fishing (Art. 24§2). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 2 potential seaport expansion zones: Potential harbour extension Oostende (Art. 12§2), Potential harbour extension Zeebrugge (Art. 12§3). 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. 9. § 10, two zones (Art. 9 §10 zone 1, Ostend, Art. 9 §10 zone 2, Zeebrugge) for the potential extension of the sea ports of Ostend en Zeebrugge. 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.