Secretary of State Philip De Backer, the Federal Public Service for the Environment, the Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, WWF and Natuurpunt will join forces and turn 2018 into the "Year of the North Sea". Every month will get a specific theme (ex: marine litter) and we will make a dedicated short film about every theme.

The activities and actions of each month will be dedicated to that theme. The goal is to raise awareness in Belgium and to increase ocean literacy. Our aim is that at the end of the year, virtually everyone will be able to answer the basic question: "What do we want to protect in the Belgian part of the North Sea and on the Belgian coast and why?". The focus will be on positive messages, advantages from nature to humankind and the link to terrestrial natural values.