Old cockles and record number of shells at the eighth edition of the Big Seashell Survey

Old cockles and record number of shells at the eighth edition of the Big Seashell Survey

The eighth edition of the Big Seashell Survey was a record-breaking event. No fewer than 3,500 participants scoured 400 km of coastline in northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, collecting and identifying nearly 150,000 shells from 72 different species. This year, the differences between the three countries were less pronounced, with the cut trough shell ranking as the most frequently found species across all regions. The Atlantic jackknife clam, the banded wedge shell, and the common cockle consistently appeared in the top five. A one-time focus on the cockle in Belgium revealed that most of these shells originated in a distant past, with only a handful of live populations remaining in the shallow continental North Sea.
WoRMS press release: Ten remarkable new marine species from 2024
WoRMS press release: Ten remarkable new marine species from 2024

WoRMS press release: Ten remarkable new marine species from 2024

As for previous years, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) has again released its annual list of the top-ten marine species described by researchers during the past year to coincide with World Taxonomist Appreciation Day on March 19th!
Call for taxonomy projects to describe deep-sea species - One Thousand Reasons Edition 2025
Call for taxonomy projects to describe deep-sea species - One Thousand Reasons Edition 2025

Call for taxonomy projects to describe deep-sea species - One Thousand Reasons Edition 2025

The "One Thousand Reasons" campaign just launched its second open call (Edition 2025) for taxonomy projects to describe deep-sea species.The ultimate goal of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is to generate a lasting legacy in deep ocean sciences: the description of at least 1,000 species new to science in areas beyond national jurisdictions by 2030. Expressions of interest can be submitted by 15 April 2025.
WoRMS Philanthropy Grants 2024
WoRMS Philanthropy Grants 2024

WoRMS Philanthropy Grants 2024

In 2024, the VLIZ Philanthropy program awarded four grants to help WoRMS editors enhance the completeness of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). These efforts led to nearly 9,000 edits and additions to WoRMS and its sub-registers.
Return of the twaite shad to the Scheldt River After a Century-Long Absence
twaite

Return of the twaite shad to the Scheldt River After a Century-Long Absence

The twaite shad, a migratory fish that once disappeared from the Scheldt River due to pollution, has made a remarkable return in the past decade. Known locally as the “May fish,” the twaite shadspawns in the river between late April and early May. Researchers from the Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) have been studying the species since its return in 2014, using LifeWatch Belgium acoustic telemetry and data loggers to track the fish’s movements and habits.
Call for nominations for the WoRMS Top-Ten Marine Species of 2024
Call for nominations for the WoRMS Top-Ten Marine Species of 2024

Call for nominations for the WoRMS Top-Ten Marine Species of 2024

Once again taxonomists have continued to publish many wonderful new species throughout the last year. As we approach the end of 2024 it is time to think about nominations for The WoRMS Top Ten Marine Species of 2024!
Forum for Science, Doubt & Art
GUM

Forum for Science, Doubt & Art

The GUM (Ghent University Museum & Botanical Garden) is the first officially recognized university museum in Flanders. Located in the heart of the University’s Botanical Garden, a green gem in the city of Ghent, the museum and garden form a unified entity. Together, the GUM and the Botanical Garden...