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 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 10, criterion 3. This dataset reports the amount of plastic ingested (stomach contents) by Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) beached along the Belgian coast (environmental target: fewer than 10% of fulmars contain more than 0.1g of plastic in their stomach).

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 12 sand and gravel extraction zones: Sand and gravel extraction sector 1a (Thorntonbank) (Art. 19§1.1°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 4d (Art. 19§1.10°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 5 (Blighbank) (Art. 19§1.11°), Sand extraction sector 2kb (Kwintebank) (Art. 19§1.2°), Sand extraction sector 2br (Buiten Ratel) (Art. 19§1.3°), Sand extraction sector 2od (Oostdyck) (Art. 19§1.4°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 3a (Sierra Ventana) (Art. 19§1.5°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 3b (Sierra Ventana) (Art. 19§1.6°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 4a (Noordhinder) (Art. 19§1.7°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 4b (Oosthinder North) (Art. 19§1.8°), Sand and gravel extraction sector 4c (Oosthinder South) (Art. 19§1.9°), Extraction search zone (Art. 19§4). It replaces the 2020 Marine Spatial Plan. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette ("Moniteur belgeBelgisch Staatsblad") for official reference information.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 6, criterion 5. It reports on the condition of benthic habitats in the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS), combining soft-sediment macrobenthos monitoring (in the framework of dredge disposal/sand extraction impact assessment, and offshore wind farm monitoring) with natural hard-substrate benthos monitoring, to evaluate adverse effects on the biotic and abiotic structure and function of benthic habitat types.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 8, criterion 3. This dataset gives an overview of the observed slicks during aerial survey operations of the Belgian part of the North Sea (2016-2021). Besides this, all observations of illegal discharges of MARPOL annex I and II substances are included as an additional dataset.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 8, criterion 2. This dataset reports the prevalence of external fish diseases in dab (Limanda limanda) in the Belgian part of the North Sea, as an indicator of the adverse effects of contaminants.

This dataset is part of the 2024 Belgian submission for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) linked to descriptor 3, criteria 1, 2 and 3. It provides the fishing mortality rate, spawning stock biomass and population age/size distribution of commercially-exploited fish and shellfish in the Belgian part of the North Sea, combining fishery-independent survey data (Beam Trawl Survey and Demersal Young Fish Survey) with fishery-dependent observer-at-sea data collected under the Common Fisheries Policy Data Collection Framework. ICES provides the resulting scientific advice to the governments and international regulatory bodies that manage the North Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas.

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.

The Royal Decree of 20 March 2026 establishing the marine spatial plan for the period 2026 to 2034 in the Belgian marine areas defines 2 potential seaport expansion zones: Potential expansion of the Port of Ostend (Art. 16§2), Potential expansion of the Port of Zeebrugge (Art. 16§3). 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 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.