The Directorate Natural Environment (OD Nature) of Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences has a long tradition of scientific research in the North Sea and is first in line to provide scientific advice to the Belgian managerial administrations. OD Nature is responsible for the follow-up of several legal obligations for the management of sea, such as environmental impact assessments and monitoring of the quality of the sea in the framework of European Directives (e.g. MSFD).

Within OD Nature, the Marine Ecosystem and Management (MARECO) group has broad expertise in marine mammals, seabirds, non-indigenous species, underwater noise, and the ecology of artificial hard substrate fauna embedded in an ecosystem management context. The focus is therefore on the effects of the installation of offshore windfarms on the ecology of coastal marine ecosystems. The ECODAM research group focuses on physical oceanography and modeling, sediment transport and marine morphodynamic processes, and aquatic optics and satellite remote sensing. Integrated research between the two research teams aims at coupling “biological research” (i.e. molecular techniques) with oceanographic models. The final aim is to actively contribute to the science-policy nexus by delivering science-based services in support of federal, regional and European administrations.