Since 2000, Eric Stienen coordinates the seabird group of the Research Institute of Nature and Forest (INBO). This team monitors the occurrence of seabirds in Belgian marine waters and studies the impact of anthropogenic activities like wind turbines, oil pollution and plastics on the seabird communities at sea. Furthermore, the seabird group studies the populations of seabirds breeding along the coast, in particular gulls and terns. These studies focus on the feeding ecology, habitat use and population dynamics of these species.