MS/Art13/2022/D1-P/Belgium/NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Member State report / Art13 / 2022 / D1-P / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type	Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article	Art. 13 Programme of measures (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due	2022-10-15
GES Descriptor	D1 Pelagic habitats
Member State	Belgium
Region/subregion	NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Reported by	FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment
Report date	2022-03-21
Report access	363

Simplified table

Marine reporting units	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1
RegionSubregion	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea
Measure code	ANSBE-M022	ANSBE-M053
Measure old code
Measure name	Exploration for the designation of a marine reserve at sea	Preparation of the cumulative impact assessment methodology
Measure description	This measure goes a step further than the previous measure on the definition and establishment of soil protection zone (s) and looks at the possible designation of a marine reserve at sea, where all anthropogenic pressures are excluded. Given that BNZ is characterised by a large number of users within a relatively limited area, an offshore marine reserve will require considerable preparatory work. As a first step, efforts could be made to match opportunities with the various sectors, knowledge institutions, policy-makers, etc., with a focus on the support of the various stakeholders. At a later stage, it will be possible to identify possible options for the location. It is important to use the results of scientific monitoring and studies (see also section Description measure 1a) in order to maximise the contribution to GES.	Developing a standard methodology for and carrying out a cumulative impact assessment of activities taking place within BNZ (holistic approach)
Update type	Measure new in 2021 PoM	Measure new in 2021 PoM
Measure category	Category 2.b	Category 2.b
Policy conventions
Policy national
Responsible competent authority	Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, Dienst Marien Milieu	Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, Dienst Marien Milieu
Responsible organisation
Coordination level	National	National
Regional cooperation countries
CEA	Yes	Yes
CEA reference	see supporting documents	see supporting documents
CBA	Yes	Yes
CBA reference	see supporting documents	see supporting documents
Financing	Nationale financiering (dienst Marien Milieu)	Nationale financiering
Spatial scope	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar)
Measure purpose	Directly prevent further inputs of a pressure (e.g. by managing the source activity)	Indirectly prevent further inputs of a pressure (e.g. by governance mechanisms, financial incentives, awareness campaigns)
Pressures	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities) Impulsive sound in water Physical disturbance to seabed Physical loss of the seabed PrevEnvAdvEffectsSppHab	Contaminants - UPBT substances Contaminants - non UPBT substances Continuous low frequency sound Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence Eutrophication Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities) Hydrographical changes Impulsive sound in water Litter in the environment Newly-introduced non-indigenous species Physical disturbance to seabed Physical loss of the seabed PrevEnvAdvEffectsSppHab
Relevant KTMs	MSFD27 Measures to address the introduction of microbial pathogens Measures to reduce biological disturbances in the marine environment from the extraction of species including incidental non-target catches Measures to reduce inputs of energy to the marine environment Measures to reduce other types of biological disturbance Measures to reduce physical loss of seabed habitats in the marine environment (beyond WFD coastal waters) Measures to reduce the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species in the marine environment and for their control	MSFD27 Measures to adapt to climate change impacts on the marine environment Measures to reduce biological disturbances in the marine environment from the extraction of species including incidental non-target catches Measures to reduce contamination by hazardous substances (synthetic substances Measures to reduce inputs of energy to the marine environment Measures to reduce interferences with hydrological processes in the marine environment (beyond WFD Coastal waters) Measures to reduce nutrient and organic matter inputs to the marine environment from sea-based or air-based sources Measures to reduce physical loss of seabed habitats in the marine environment (beyond WFD coastal waters) Measures to reduce the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species in the marine environment and for their control
Relevant targets	D1.T1 D1.T2 D1.T3 D1.T4 D1.T5 D11.T1 D11.T2 D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 D6.T1 D6.T10 D6.T2 D6.T3 D6.T4 D6.T5 D6.T6 D6.T7 D6.T8 D6.T9	D1.T1 D1.T2 D1.T3 D1.T4 D1.T5 D10.T1 D10.T2 D10.T3 D10.T4 D11.T1 D11.T2 D2.T1 D5.T1 D5.T2 D5.T3 D6.T1 D6.T10 D6.T2 D6.T3 D6.T4 D6.T5 D6.T6 D6.T7 D6.T8 D6.T9 D7.T1 D7.T2 D8.T1 D8.T2 D8.T3 D8.T4 D8.T5 D8.T6 D8.T7 D8.T8
Related indicator	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: the Common Conceptual Approach Extent of Physical Damage to Predominant and Special Habitats Marine Bird Breeding Success or Failure Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates Underwater sound Marine Bird Abundance Habitats distribution and ratio hard/soft Physical loss and disturbance of the seabed Concentrations of contaminants in the environment	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates Composition and Spatial Distribution of Litter on the Seafloor Underwater sound Marine Bird Abundance Newly introduced species Chlorophyll a concentration Nutrient concentration Habitats distribution and ratio hard/soft Physical loss and disturbance of the seabed Hydrographical changes Concentrations of contaminants in the environment
GEScomponent	D1-B D1-F D1-M D1-P D11C1 Anthropogenic impulsive sound (11.1, 11.1.1) D3 D4 D6	D1-B D1-F D1-M D1-P D10 D11 D2 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8
Feature	Benthic broad habitats Benthic-feeding birds CharaPhyHydro Coastal ecosystem Coastal fish Commercially exploited fish and shellfish Continuous low frequency sound Demersal shelf fish Extraction of minerals (rock, metal ores, gravel, sand, shell) Fish and shellfish harvesting (professional, recreational) Grazing birds Impulsive sound in water Pelagic broad habitats Pelagic shelf fish Pelagic-feeding birds Physical disturbance to seabed Physical loss of the seabed PrevEnvAdvEffectsSppHab Seals Shelf ecosystem Small toothed cetaceans Surface-feeding birds Wading birds	Aquaculture - marine, including infrastructure Contaminants - UPBT substances Contaminants - non UPBT substances Continuous low frequency sound Eutrophication Extraction of minerals (rock, metal ores, gravel, sand, shell) Fish and shellfish harvesting (professional, recreational) Hydrographical changes Impulsive sound in water Litter in the environment Military operations (subject to Article 2(2)) Newly-introduced non-indigenous species Offshore structures (other than for oil/gas/renewables) Physical disturbance to seabed Physical loss of the seabed PrevEnvAdvEffectsSppHab Renewable energy generation (wind, wave and tidal power), including infrastructure Research, survey and educational activities Restructuring of seabed morphology, including dredging and depositing of materials Tourism and leisure activities Transport - shipping
Element
Temporal scope
Implementation status	Implementation not started	Implementation not started
Implementation delay
Implementation reason
Progress description
Reason description