D1.2

1.1

1.2

1.3

D1-M

D1C4

D1C2

D1C3

• Belgian Part of the North Sea (ANS-BE-MS-1)

Conform the Directive, GES and the environmental targets for the Belgian marine waters are defined on the basis of the eleven qualitative descriptors listed in Annex I of the Directive. The definition of GES is expressed in a qualitative description of what GES would look like when achieved for each of the descriptors. This is then underpinned by a set of more detailed quantitative environmental targets based on established environmental thresholds/limits for state, pressure or impact (Art. 10). Where quantitative environmental thresholds could not be set, trend-based or qualitative thresholds were used. The complete package of GES and environmental targets needs to give a complete and balanced overview.

The 5 year running mean species density is not below the long-term mean annual population size for 5 consecutive years for minimally half of the non-scavenging seabird species.

1) Good conditions according to the Water Framework Directive (i.e. good ecological status), Habitats and Birds Directives (i.e. favourable conservation status) and OSPAR (i.e. ecological quality objectives) are attained. Rare and threatened habitat types and species, included in existing legislation and conventions, are protected to the level envisaged by that legislation or convention. 2) The habitat types and constituting species’ populations extent, distribution and condition minimally reflect the conditions described in the Initial Assessment of Belgian waters (2012). 3) Diversity within the different ecosystem components (i.e. plankton, benthos, fish, seabirds and marine mammals) is maintained.

1) Good conditions according to the Water Framework Directive (i.e. good ecological status), Habitats and Birds Directives (i.e. favourable conservation status) and OSPAR (i.e. ecological quality objectives) are attained. Rare and threatened habitat types and species, included in existing legislation and conventions, are protected to the level envisaged by that legislation or convention. 2) The habitat types and constituting species’ populations extent, distribution and condition minimally reflect the conditions described in the Initial Assessment of Belgian waters (2012). 3) The habitat types are structurally and functionally diverse and productive. 4) Diversity within the different ecosystem components (i.e. plankton, benthos, fish, seabirds and marine mammals) is maintained.

1) Good conditions according to the Water Framework Directive (i.e. good ecological status), Habitats and Birds Directives (i.e. favourable conservation status) and OSPAR (i.e. ecological quality objectives) are attained. Rare and threatened habitat types and species, included in existing legislation and conventions, are protected to the level envisaged by that legislation or convention. 2) The habitat types and constituting species’ populations extent, distribution and condition minimally reflect the conditions described in the Initial Assessment of Belgian waters (2012). 3) Diversity within the different ecosystem components (i.e. plankton, benthos, fish, seabirds and marine mammals) is maintained.

TargetReferencePoint

100

16

ship-based bird counts

benthos sampling

ship-based bird counts

benthos sampling

fully operational (in 2012)

further development needed (by 2018)

State

2020-12

GES

OSPAR EcoQO. Assessment area is Greater North Sea.

OSPAR EcoQO. Assessment area is Greater North Sea.

• SeabedHabitatsAll

• SeabedHabitatsAll