Deneudt, K.

Laporta, L.

Vanden Eede, S.

Vincx, M.

Open Marine Archive

71 
 
MARINE BIOLOGICAL VALUATION MAPS AS A TOOL FOR 
VALUATION OF THE BELGIAN COASTLINE 
Vanden Eede Sarah1*, Laporta Lia1 , Deneudt Klaas2 and Vincx Magda1 
1 Ghent University, Biology Department, Marine Biology Section, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000 Gent, 
Belgium 
E-mail: sarahl.vandeneede@ugent.be, lialaporta@gmail.com, magda.vincx@ugent.be 
²  Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee vzw, Flanders Marine Institute, Vismijn, Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 
Oostende, Belgium  
E-mail: klaas.deneudt@vliz.be 
 
Increased anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment and multiple use conflicts 
have led to a worldwide interest in spatial planning with particular emphasis placed upon 
innovative, holistic approaches to management such as Ecosystem-Based Marine Spatial 
Planning (EB-MSP). It is important to remember that we can only plan and manage human 
activities in marine areas, not marine ecosystems or ecosystem components (Ehler & 
Douvere, 2009). Solid and meaningful biological and ecological information is as such 
needed to inform and underpin sustainable management approaches. Coastal planners 
and marine resource managers have used various tools for assessing the biological value 
of the marine environment in the past. These approaches vary in information content, 
scientific rigor and the level of technology used (Derous et al., 2007a & b).  
The present work aims at establishing a spatial biological valuation of the Belgian coastal 
zone, using the marine biological valuation method (Derous et al., 2007b). The Belgian 
coastal zone hosts a complex of space- and resource-use activities with a myriad of 
pressures impairing environmental conditions both on the coastline and on coastal waters 
(Willekens & Maes, 2008; De Smet et al., 2010). Specifically at the beach zone, predictions 
on sea-level rise and flood risk for the North Sea have led to action plans and future 
coastal defense projects for strengthening the Belgian coastline (Roode et al., 2008). 
Among these plans, the soft engineering solution known as beach nourishment has been 
the most widely accepted for its lower ecological impacts (Greene 2002; Hamm et al. 
2002; Hanson et al. 2002) and clear benefits to the tourism industry (Phillips & Jones 
2006), which alone represents 2.8% of Belgium's gross domestic product (WTTC 2003). 
The word ‘nourishment’ means supplying a beach with sand because its sand has either 
flown away with the wind or got washed off with the waves. If implemented without good 
ecological practice (Speybroeck et al., 2006) and in combination with other recreational 
and management activities, beach nourishment potentially threatens habitats which are 
valuable to several beach-dependent organisms (Speybroeck, 2007). There is a clear need 
for integrative and ecosystem-based strategies to sustainably manage ongoing space-use 
activities at the Belgian coast. Therefore, a scientifically sound and spatially-based 
biological valuation of the Belgian coast would potentially assist local decision-makers 
and allow for the integration of “nature” at an early stage of policy implementation, for 
example through the Provincial Spatial Implementations Plans (PRUPs) (Maes & Bogaert, 
2008). For practical purposes, two main scenarios of space-use conflict at the Belgian 
coast are investigated: beach nourishment and nature conservation. This bottom-up 
approach is an important step towards cross-sectoral, integrative and ecosystem-based 
management policies for the Belgian coast.  
 
References 
 
Bogaert DCM and Maes F (2008) Who rules the coast? Policy processes in Belgian MPAs and beach 
spatial planning. Maklu: Antwerpen: 187 
De Smet L, Volckaert A and others (2010) Inventory of the socio-economic activities affecting the 
Belgian marine waters and the related developments within the European Marine Strategy 
Framework Directive 2008/56/EC: Final report 
72 
 
Derous S, Verfaillie E, Van Lancker V, Courtens W, Stienen EWM, Hostens K, Moulaert I, Hilewaert H, 
Mees J, Deneudt K, Deckers P, Cuvelier D, Vincx M, Degraer S (2007a) A biological valuation 
map for the Belgian part of the North Sea: BWZee. Final report SPSD II, Belgian Science Policy, 
Brussels, Belgium: 99 (+ Annexes) 
Derous S, Agardy T, Hillewaert H, Hostens K, Jamieson G, Lieberknecht L, Mees J, Moulaert I, Olenin 
S, Paelinckx D, Rabaut M, Rachor E, Roff J, Stienen EWM, Van der Wal JT, Van Lancker V, 
Verfaillie E, Vincx M, Weslawski JM, Degraer S (2007b) A concept for biological valuation in the 
marine environment. Oceanologia 49 (1): 99-128  
Ehler C, Douvere F (2009) Marine Spatial Planning: a step-by-step approach toward ecosystem-based 
management. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Man and the Biosphere 
Program.  IOC Manual and Guides 53, ICAM Dossier 6. Paris: UNESCO. Sorbe JC 1983 
Greene K (2002). Beach nourishment: a review of the biological and physical impacts. ASMFC 
Habitat Management Series 7 
Hamm L, Capobianco M, Dette H, Lechuga A, Spanhoff R, Stive M (2002) A summary of European 
experience with shore nourishment. Coastal Engineering 47:237–264 
Hanson H, Brampton A, Capobianco M, Dette H, Hamm L, Laustrup C, Lechuga A, Spanhoff R (2002) 
Beach nourishment projects, practices, and objectives—a European overview. Coastal 
Engineering 47:81–111 
Maes F, Bogaert D (2008) Who rules the coast? Policy Processes in Belgian MPAs and Beach Spatial 
Planning. Maklu 
Roode N, Baarse G, Ash J, Salado R and others (2008) Coastal flood risk and trends for the future in 
the North Sea region: results and recommendations of Project Safecoast: Synthesis report 
Speybroeck J., Degraer S. & Vincx M. (2006b) Beach nourishment: an ecologically sound coastal 
defence alternative? A review. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and FreshwaterEcosystems 16: 
419-435 
Speybroeck J (2007) Ecology of Macrobenthos as a baseline for an ecological adjustment of Beach 
Nourishment. Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of 
Doctor in Sciences: Biology, Universiteit Gent 
Willekens M, Maes F (2008) Case Study: The Belgian coast. Report under the IMCORE Project 
WTTC (2003) Belgium Travel & Tourism: A World of Opportunity. The 2003 Travel & Tourism 
Economic Research, World Travel & Tourism, UK 
  


Marine biological valuation maps as a tool for valuation of the Belgian coastline

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Open Marine Archive