MarineRegions.org launches update register worldwide maritime borders and names

The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has been investing for more than 10 years in an open source system for making maritime borders available and names underwater locations worldwide: MarineRegions.org. The download of shapefiles (polygons or polylines) and checklists of maritime and underwater locations is free for academic and educational users*. In the latest version of Marine Regions (v10), new treaties were added and the disputes known from the earlier version addressed to us were addressed.

New release: version 10 of the Maritime Boundaries

MarineRegions.org is proud to launch version 10 of the Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase.

Expanding MolluscaBase – welcoming freshwater and terrestrial editors during a WoRMS-LifeWatch workshop

In the week of 5-9 February, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) – host of Aphia, the online platform behind WoRMS and its many subregisters – welcomed Mollusca-experts for 4 days, to expand the content of MolluscaBase with their freshwater and terrestrial representatives and to document species traits.

Nemys: saying goodbye to its chief editor and major plans to move forward

Katja Guilini is passing on her chief editor responsibilities after leading Nemys since 2015. Meanwhile, the register will evolve towards a fully global initiative, soon to include freshwater and terrestrial representatives.

LifeWatch Belgium: from DNA Barcoding for forensics to long-term observations of harbour porpoises

On January 25th-26th 2018, the LifeWatch.be Users & Stakeholders meeting was organized at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend.

European Marine Biology Symposium 53 - Call for Abstracts

From 17 till 21 September 2018, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and LifeWatch Belgium will be organizing the 53rd edition of the European Marine Biology Symposium (EMBS53) in Ostend, Belgium.

Publication based on WoRMS: Improving nomenclatural consistency - a decade of experience in WoRMS

Just before the end of 2017, an Open Access Opinion Paper was published in the European Journal of Taxonomy by the WoRMS Steering Committee, on the importance of nomenclatural consistency and how this is being dealt with in WoRMS, based on its 10-year experience. This paper also frames within the 10 year anniversary celebration of WoRMS.

Bio-ORACLE v2.0 is released

Extending marine data layers for bioclimatic modelling

Reshaping biodiversity & ecosystem research

At the occasion of "Ecology across Borders", BES, GFÖ, NecoV and EEF joint annual meeting (Ghent, 11-14 December 2017), LifeWatch-ERIC presented itself to the wide European ecological community.

WoRMS celebrates its 10th anniversary!

The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) can blow out 10 candles this year… Since its launch in 2007, WoRMS has evolved tremendously – including the technology behind it -, and we are celebrating this with a complete make-over of the website.