International cooperation

Belgium has designated MUMM the 'National Oceanographic Data Centre ' for the UNESCO International Oceanographic Commission.

MUMM is part of the Sea-Search network that brings together 33 instiutes and/or national oceanographic data centres from 30 European countries. The main aim of Sea-Search is to provide a general view of and access to oceanographic data via the European web site. A number of major catalogues can be consulted on line. MUMM provides descriptions of the assignments, the research projects and the datasets relating to the marine environment for Belgium.

Amongst the obligations arising from the ratification by Belgium of the OSPAR Convention, is the obligation of regular marine environmental monitoring campaigns. Results obtained from these measures at sea are reported every year to ICES where they rejoin contribution by other riparian states of the North-East Atlantic. This set of informations allows to elaborate marine environmental protection policies on the base of regularly updated situation assessments.

MUMM is part of the ICES Working Group on Marine Data Management which plays an active part in the promotion of good data management activities for the marine community.