Belgians will count shells

The Belgian coast next Saturday is the setting for the first Grote Schelpenteldag.

The intention is that each participant collects one hundred shells and, with the help of experts and reference material, seeks out which species are involved. The data is put in a database, after which researchers can get started.

Nobody now keeps track of which shells are washing up and how many there are, according to the Flanders Marine Institute, one of the organizations behind the so-called citizens' science initiative. The institute wonders 'which shell may soon become an absolute winner. '

Teleposts are set up in each of the ten coastal municipalities. Activities for children are also organized.