The coast guard keeps an eye on the sea

Coast guard

FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment - Marine Environment Division

The Marine Environment Department (part of the Environment Directorate-General of the Federal Public Service of Public Health) is responsible for the policy on the protection and sustainable use of the marine environment. The department also monitors compliance with environmental regulations in Belgium's busy sea areas.

Originally, the Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models (MUMM) coordinated the various aspects of environmental legislation for the Belgian part of the North Sea. The Belgian part covers an area of 3,454 km2, roughly the size of an average Belgian province. This is only 5% of the total area of the North Sea, but due to its location close to the English Channel, it is one of the most "used" sea areas in the world. Shipping, tourism, fishing, windmills, sand extraction and recreation all have their impact on the environment.

Our North Sea is a unique environment, both above and below water. It is rich in biodiversity and provides a number of important ecosystem services. However, the marine environment is under increasing pressure from many human activities. The Marine Environment Department was set up in 2004 to ensure that the many facets of the marine environment remain as balanced as possible.

As one of the Coast Guard’s partners, the Marine Environment Department performs various enforcement tasks at sea, in cooperation with BMM, the Maritime Police, the Ministry of Defence, Customs, Civil Protection, the Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK), and so on.

The Marine Environment Department monitors marine pollution from ships and identifies violations. It manages and monitors not only activities in marine protected areas, but also activities at sea that require an environmental permit or authorisation.

The Marine Environment Department also manages and stocks various anti-pollution tools and systems in a warehouse of about 6,500 m2 in Zandvoorde, which can be used immediately in emergencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to clean up spills at sea and prevent further pollution of our beaches.

The department is also responsible for training the people who use these tools.

All to keep the North Sea clean.