Modeling the natural connectivity between the Dutch and Belgian waters

We explored the natural connectivity between Belgium and the Netherlands sea waters by simulating the dispersal of invasive species in a virtual environment that replicates the sea currents of the North Sea, because Belgium and the Netherlands wanted to invesigate the idea of a Same Risk Area (SRA) between their territorial waters. According to maritime rules, ships travelling within an SRA don't have to clean their ballast water. Ballast water is water carried in ships to help with stability, but it can also carry harmful species like invasive plants or animals. The term 'Same Risk Area' implies that the risk of invasion is considered the same throughout the connected zones, regardless of whether ships clean their ballast water or not. This means that even if ships clean their ballast water in an SRA (which is expensive and time consuming), the connected nature of these areas allows invasive species to potentially spread across the entire region.