Noise pollution in the North Sea
Underwater Noise

Noise pollution in the North Sea

The North Sea is one of the busiest seas in the world. All this human activity creates a lot of noise underwater. This can have harmful consequences for marine mammals and other organisms in our sea. Fortunately, measures exist to limit noise pollution. The Marine Environment Service (FOD Public Health) and DG Shipping (FOD Mobility), with the support of LifeWatch VLIZ, collaborated on a campaign to raise awareness about underwater noise pollution among the wider public.
First ETN datasets available through GBIF
ETN

First ETN datasets available through GBIF

The first datasets from the Permanent Belgian Acoustic Receiver Network are now available via GBIF. Over 507,000 fish tracking records from Belgian waters offer new insights into species movement and biodiversity.
To settle or not to settle? Oyster larvae settlement cues investigated
oysters

To settle or not to settle? Oyster larvae settlement cues investigated

The inclusion of ecosystem engineers in coastal planning is an approach being considered to mitigate coastal erosion in different environments worldwide. Oysters are reef building and can alter and improve their habitat acting as a barrier for coastal protection by sediment stabilization and wave...

How Atlantic cod behave to seismic sound exposure - a joint industry project
cods

How Atlantic cod behave to seismic sound exposure - a joint industry project

Within the framework of the PCAD4COD project, an integrated set of studies were performed to understand the impact of airgun sounds on fish. This was done through modelling the energy-flow, individual behaviour and population dynamics as well as collecting field data on behaviour, physiology, growth...

Tracking the fish trails
school of fish

Tracking the fish trails

Understanding the importance of estuarine and coastal areas for the migration of fish and recovery of populations requires tracking a fish’s movement. For this purpose, Pieterjan Verhelst analyses the tracks of tagged Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and European eel (Anguilla anguilla), detected on the...

Tuning in on porpoise FM
Porpoise

Tuning in on porpoise FM

Long-term data series of cetacean presence in the Belgian Part of the North Sea (BPNS) are essential to understand their habitat use and conservation needs. The prospects and predicaments of the cetacean passive acoustic sensor network of the Belgian LifeWatch observatory were therefore investigated...

The LifeWatch ERIC BEeS: abstract book, video recordings and more!
The LifeWatch ERIC BEeS: abstract book, video recordings and more!

The LifeWatch ERIC BEeS: abstract book, video recordings and more!

The LifeWatch ERIC family met again, for the first time in four years, at the "BEeS" Biodiversity & Ecosystem eScience Conference. It took place in Seville from 22 - 24 May, on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity. Explore the abstract book, watch the video of the live-streamed round table, and download the presentations!
Calling in our Corals: citizens helping to recognise underwater sounds
Calling in our Corals: citizens helping to recognise underwater sounds

Calling in our Corals: citizens helping to recognise underwater sounds

Anyone with 3 minutes time and an internet connection can assist coral researchers, and help to restore coral reefs around the world. Google Arts & Culture is launching the unique experiment 'Calling in our Corals', and you all can contribute!