Socio-Economic Value of the Human Activities in the Marine Environment: The Belgian Case

Abstract

The Belgian Part of the North Sea (BPNS) is approximately 3,600 square km and comprises a territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles and a continental shelf, an exclusive economic zone and a fishery zone covering an area of 2,017 square km. The BPNS is the smallest part under jurisdiction of a coastal state bordering the North Sea, approximately 0.5 % of the North Sea. Although small in size, the BPNS has a high degree of activity and exploitation. Sustainable development has become a central theme within the management of the marine environment. In recent years the concept has been introduced in various international agreements.