The biodiversity in the North Sea is under threat due to overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction. Intensive fishing practices have depleted fish stocks and damaged the seabed. Pollution from agricultural runoff and industrial activities has led to water quality degradation. Additionally, infrastructure projects disrupt marine habitats, further impacting marine life. We need to rethink how infrastructure projects are carried out, and consider how to design them more in harmony with nature. Our collaborative effort with Deme Group & Artes, and MDK (Maritime Services and Coast Agency) aims to transform Blankenberge’s harbor dam into a model of sustainable, nature-inclusive infrastructure. The new harbor dam will be built not only with the traditional concrete Haro blocks but also with 40 nature-inclusive Haro blocks. These nature-inclusive units meet marine-grade concrete standards and are designed to promote ecological responsibility by fostering marine life. They support a diverse range of marine species, improve water quality, and stimulate carbon storage. The technology transforms marine concrete into habitable surfaces, promoting the growth of calcific organisms such as oysters, tubeworms, corals, and algae, which filter water, sequester carbon, and create a habitat for a variety of other marine life. The goal of Go Ocean is to gain support for 40 eco units. The units are installed in 2025. When proven successful, the project can be expanded for large-scale application along the Belgian coastline and beyond. To ensure the ecological benefits are realized and documented, we adhere to a comprehensive monitoring plan. The monitoring scope includes: • Diversity indices: We will measure biodiversity, species richness, and species abundance between the eco Haro units and the traditional concrete blocks (A/B). • Successional stages: Differences in biogenic buildup and successional stages will be recorded. • Biological accumulation: We will assess the biological productivity and ecological value of the breakwater. Nice to know: because the eco units can be customized with numbers and company logos, we can provide transparency, personal ecological monitoring, and unique branding opportunities.

Before 1850, European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) reefs were a dominant structural and ecological feature of the North Sea. Due to human impact and the spread of a persistent oyster parasite, these reefs have now nearly disappeared. Yet oyster reefs remain vital ecosystems. Often referred to as "ecosystem engineers", they provide habitats that support a wide array of marine life. The government, industry and science join forces to tackle the challenges of restoring oyster reefs, a complex operation that requires both innovation and interdisciplinary expertise. The logistical complexity, coupled with the sensitivity of oysters to disturbance—during seeding of hard reef substrates with oyster larvae, as well as their subsequent transport and installation at sea— requires in-depth knowledge across multiple fields of expertise. The BELREEFS project, commissioned by the Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment as part of the action T4.8 of the LIFE Belgium for Biodiversity programme (101069526), exemplifies this collaborative spirit. It brings together Jan De Nul Group, the Institute of Natural Sciences, Shells & Valves, and Mantis Consulting, with guidance from the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA) and additional support from Go Ocean. BELREEFS consists of three phases: identifying suitable sites in existing gravel beds for kick-starting new oyster reefs, deploying substrates seeded with oyster larvae, and guiding the development of self-sustaining reefs that attract and support other marine species—thereby enhancing biodiversity. These reefs provide essential shelter, feeding and breeding grounds for a wide variety of marine flora and fauna. To maximize reef survival and reproduction, BELREEFS identified locations with the most suitable seabed and environmental conditions, as well as natural protection from damage. Detailed seabed mapping, led by the Institute of Natural Sciences, informed decisions regarding the reef deployment location. Furthermore, the project builds on key innovations—such as developing reef installation methods and refining ‘remote setting’ techniques, whereby oyster larvae produced elsewhere settle on reef substrates in laboratory conditions before being deployed at sea. Once deployed, the new oyster reefs will be closely monitored for several years to assess their development and ecological impact. "The European flat oyster has always been an important core species in our North Sea, but it has today nearly disappeared. The active restoration of these oyster populations is therefore a priority for us. The fact that we can collaborate on this scale with scientists and industry is truly unique". - FPS Public Health, Marine Environment Department Timing: Summer 2025 - 1st installation of oyster reef substrates Summer 2026 - 2nd installation of oyster reef substrates (including the first 1082 Go Ocean oyster batches). Summer 2027 - 3rd installation of oyster reef substrates (only Go Ocean oysters, with 1836 batches as the goal).