Jan Mees

We were pleased to welcome rector UGent @petradesutter.bsky.social to @vliz.be in Ostend. A valuable exchange on strengthening our long-standing partnership with UGent & MarineAtUGent in marine sciences.
#Collaboration #MarineResearch #OceanScience #BlueScience @janmees.bsky.social

A VLIZ delegation is visiting Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Mombasa, Kenya to meet director Dr Paul Swage Orina & team. The visit highlights a strong Kenya-Belgium marine science legacy and explores renewed VLIZ-KMFRI collaboration ahead of #OurOceanConference2026. #SDG14

✨A warm start to the new year at #VLIZ ✨
Team moments, an inspiring New Year’s address by Director Jan Mees, and a potluck with local specialties – connecting colleagues, sharing ideas, and looking ahead together. 🤝✨ 🌊

VLIZ recruits: Fish Behavioral Ecology Researcher | Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee www.vliz.be/en/jobs/vliz...

VLIZ-onderzoeker Gert Everaert bekroond met prestigieuze KVAB-prijs als Laureaat van de Academie www.vliz.be/nl/news/vliz...

Proud to have contributed to this paper!

Today, H.E. Ambassador Bitange Ndemo & a delegation of the Kenya Embassy 🇰🇪 in Brussels visited VLIZ in the presence of Carl Decaluwé, Jan Mees, Colin Janssen and Ann-Katrien Lescrauwaut. They discussed the marine science cooperation between Kenya and Flanders/Belgium.

The Indian Ocean disaster is a climate tragedy — and needs more attention A region unused to tropical cyclones has had three in a week. The world needs to ask why this happened, not look away.

Via @janmees.bsky.social - The Indian Ocean disaster is a climate tragedy — and needs more attention - @rochmyaningsih.bsky.social @nature.com

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Another PhD defence in Oostende today. Congratulations Dr Leone!

🇧🇪🌊 Belgium has officially submitted its candidacy to host the #BBNJ Secretariat in Brussels.

Belgium stands ready to provide a home for the Secretariat in Brussels, a global hub of diplomacy, science and multilateral cooperation.

Wrapping up #30DayMapChallenge with a bonus map: a cartogram where countries are resized by their EEZs! 🎁

Shout-out to Clipperton Island, which has the largest EEZ/land ratio: its EEZ is over 200.000 its land area 🤯

We have opened our new call for two EMB Ambassadors! Are you an #ECOP #PhD #PostDoc at an EMB member? Keen to work with us on #marine #science #policy, the EMB ECOP Network, communications and more? Find out more on how to apply here: www.marineboard.eu/emb-seeks-tw... Deadline 1 February 2026

Ons tweede boek "Het vreemde leven in de oceaan. Van diepzeemonsters tot microben" verschijnt in het voorjaar. Er er is een webpagina met meer informatie: academiapress.be/nl/het-vreem.... Gebruik kortingscode "oceaan10" voor 10% korting!

New @emarineboard.bsky.social report shows current marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (#mCDR) methods are not yet ready for large-scale deployment – cutting CO₂ emissions remains essential and MRV frameworks developed. Proud that Peter Landschützer (#VLIZ) contributed.👇
www.vliz.be/en/news/mari...

VLIZ is hiring: PhD researcher "Immune effects of sea air". Join the VLIZ research group Life's Roots & Rates and unravel the mechanistic links between marine microbial diversity, endotoxin composition & human immune responses. Apply no later than Tuesday, December 9th 🔗 www.vliz.be/en/jobs/vliz...

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!

Start your countdown; #WCMB2026 is happening exactly one year from now!

Register here: wcmb2026.org/registration

@unoceandecade.bsky.social @vliz.be #marinebiodiversity

Peter Landschützer – #VLIZ research director and author of next @ipcc.bsky.social report – contributed to #GlobalCarbonProject 2025: mainly collaborating to insights on role of #ocean in global carbon budget & impact #ClimateChange on extent carbon absorption by ocean.
📎 www.vliz.be/en/news/glob...

CO2-uitstoot uit fossiele brandstoffen was nooit hoger www.vliz.be/testerep/nl/...

Deep-sea mining discharge can disrupt midwater food webs - Nature Communications Deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone may release waste into midwaters that support diverse marine life. This study finds such discharges could dilute key food particles and disrupt trophic l...

Deep-sea mining discharge can disrupt midwater food webs www.nature.com/articles/s41...

#VLIZ is hosting a North Seas Energy Cooperation meeting @InnovOcean Campus. We’re honoured to contribute to the grow of renewable energy. Mathieu Bihet: ‘Holding this meeting in Ostend, Belgium’s main offshore hub, shows our country’s central role in the NSEC’ @fodeconomie.bsky.social @ec.europa.eu

National implementation of the European Union policy framework for monitoring introduced non-indigenous species in marine and brackish waters: a Belgian case study based on an updated species inventor... Based on a thorough literature review and expert consultation, this study provides an inventory of all introduced non-indigenous species (iNIS) reported for Belgian marine and brackish waters. The dat...

New paper: National implementation of the European Union policy framework for monitoring introduced non-indigenous species in marine and brackish waters: a Belgian case study based on an updated species inventory neobiota.pensoft.net/articles.php...

Brazil Strengthens Coastal Monitoring Network with 18 Stations by 2026. “Real-time monitoring and metadata are managed through the Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility, hosted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)” unes.co/9hxbth

🌊🏺The 8th International Congress for Underwater Archaeology #IKUWA8 takes place in Ostend this week. With 400+ participants from all over the world (>50 countries from 6 continents), it's the largest congress in the history of IKUWA. A week full exciting tales telling our past! 🤝

🎓 Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Schmidlin (#VLIZ #ugent) on the successful defence of her PhD on oyster larval settlement. 🦪 Her research reveals how larvae use different cues to select the best location for settlement & metamorphosis. 📘 Read more 🔗 www.vliz.be/en/news/PhD-... @wurmarine.bsky.social

Today, VLIZ has the honor of welcoming the Australian Ambassador and his delegation to Ostend. Together we look forward to stronger Flemish–Australian ties in marine research, innovation, biodiversity & tackling climate change. 🌊 @unoceandecade.bsky.social @janmees.bsky.social

VLIZ is hiring: Team Lead and Project Manager to head the Geospatial and Data Products (GD&P) team of the VLIZ Marine Data Centre. 🗺️ Apply no later than Sunday, November 2nd. #JobsatVLIZ #VLIZrecruits www.vliz.be/en/jobs/vliz...

VLIZ recruits: a PhD researcher "Sports and Human Health in Belgian Seaside Resorts". Apply no later than Sunday, November 9th 👇 www.vliz.be/en/jobs/vliz... #jobasatvliz #VLIZrecruits #ugent

Thanks, I’m a fan myself 😎

…and the daughter of a biologist.

This was a wonderful 2-week experiment in our Marine Station #Oostende. With VLIZ' Thanos Gkritzalis, Steve Jones, Peter Landschützer and Hannelore Theetaert as co-authors.