MS/Art8-2024/2024/D1-P/Belgium/NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Member State report / Art8-2024 / 2024 / D1-P / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type	Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article	Art8
Report due	2024-10-15
GES Descriptor	D1 Pelagic habitats
Member State	Belgium
Region/subregion	NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Report date	2026-01-13 14:08:15

ANS-BE-AA-SCHPM1

Simplified table

Regional assessment area
Component MRUs
GES component	D1P	D1P	D1P	D1P	D1P	D1P
Feature	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats
Element	Coastal pelagic habitat	Coastal pelagic habitat	Coastal pelagic habitat	Coastal pelagic habitat	Coastal pelagic habitat	Coastal pelagic habitat
Element extent
Trend element
Element 2	Phytoplankton communities	Phytoplankton communities	Phytoplankton communities	Zooplankton communities	Zooplankton communities	Zooplankton communities
Element source
Criterion	D1C6	D1C6	D1C6	D1C6	D1C6	D1C6
Parameter	ABU-REL	Biomass	DIV	ABU-REL	ABU-REL	DIV
Threshold value upper
Threshold value lower
Threshold value operator
Threshold qualitative
Threshold value source
Value achieved upper					0.74
Value achieved lower
Value unit	Proportion				Proportion
Proportion threshold value
Proportion value achieved
Proportion threshold value unit
Trend parameter	Not assessed	Deteriorating	Not assessed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Parameter achieved	Not assessed	No	Not assessed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Description parameter	Abundance of diatoms versus dinoflagellates. Plankton Community Index (PCI): The value of the PCI is the proportion of new points that fall between the inner and outer envelopes of the baseline condition. A value of 1.0 would indicate no change, and a value of zero would show complete change.	Total phytoplankton biomass. For the Scheldt Plume 1: increasing biomass (ρ=0,90; p-value<0,01) over the assessment period (2015-2020) but no significant difference in trends; state is unsatisfactory in relation to eutrophication, i.e. bad status in the SCHPM1 region (Prins and Enserink 2022)	Local Contribution to Diversity (LCBD) index. For the Scheldt Plume 1 and the Southern North Sea: increasing and decreasing abundance (shift in 2017-2018); state could be unsatisfactory in relation to increasing SST (Semmouri et al. 2023) but the link to pressure indicators needs to be investigated to assess this more accurately, status unknown at the moment.	Abundance zooplankton. For the Scheldt Plume 1 and the Southern North Sea: increasing and decreasing abundance (shift in 2017-2018); state could be unsatisfactory in relation to increasing SST (Semmouri et al. 2023) but the link to pressure indicators needs to be investigated to assess this more accurately, status unknown at the moment	Ratio holoplankton/meroplankton. Plankton Community Index (PCI): The value of the PCI is the proportion of new points that fall between the inner and outer envelopes of the baseline condition. A value of 1.0 would indicate no change, and a value of zero would show complete change. PCI-value of 0,74 (p < 0,01);	Local Contribution to Diversity (LCBD) index. For the Scheldt Plume 1 and the Southern North Sea: increasing and decreasing abundance (shift in 2017-2018); state could be unsatisfactory in relation to increasing SST (Semmouri et al. 2023) but the link to pressure indicators needs to be investigated to assess this more accurately, status unknown at the moment.
Related indicator	ANS-BE-PH1-PCI-2024	ANS-BE-PH2-MASS-ABU-2024	ANS-BE-PH3-DIV-2024	ANS-BE-PH2-MASS-ABU-2024	ANS-BE-PH1-PCI-2024	ANS-BE-PH3-DIV-2024
Criteria status	Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Description criteria	Only PH2 assessed (not good), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	Only PH2 assessed (not good), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	Only PH2 assessed (not good), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: "Unknown"	PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: "Unknown"	PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: "Unknown"
Element status	Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Description element	One Criteria (D1C6), Only PH2 assessed (not good), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	One Criteria (D1C6), Only PH2 assessed (not good), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	One Criteria (D1C6), Only PH2 assessed (not good), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	One Criteria (D1C6), PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown	One Criteria (D1C6), PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown	One Criteria (D1C6), PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown
Source assessment feature	National	National	National	National	National	National
Reporting method feature	Type D	Type D	Type D	Type D	Type D	Type D
Trend feature	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Integration rule type parameter
Integration rule description parameter
Integration rule type criteria
Integration rule description criteria
GES extent threshold
GES extent achieved
GES extent unit
GES achieved	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Description overall status	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.
Assessments period
Related pressures	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence
Related targets	D1.13	D1.13	D1.13	D1.13	D1.13	D1.13
Test TV	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Test results	Correct	False	Correct	Correct	Correct	Correct

ANS-BE-AA-SNS

Simplified table

Regional assessment area
Component MRUs
GES component	D1P	D1P	D1P	D1P	D1P	D1P
Feature	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats	Pelagic broad habitats
Element	Shelf pelagic habitat	Shelf pelagic habitat	Shelf pelagic habitat	Shelf pelagic habitat	Shelf pelagic habitat	Shelf pelagic habitat
Element extent
Trend element
Element 2	Phytoplankton communities	Phytoplankton communities	Phytoplankton communities	Zooplankton communities	Zooplankton communities	Zooplankton communities
Element source
Criterion	D1C6	D1C6	D1C6	D1C6	D1C6	D1C6
Parameter	ABU-REL	Biomass	DIV	ABU-REL	ABU-REL	DIV
Threshold value upper
Threshold value lower
Threshold value operator
Threshold qualitative
Threshold value source
Value achieved upper					0.8
Value achieved lower
Value unit	Proportion				Proportion
Proportion threshold value
Proportion value achieved
Proportion threshold value unit
Trend parameter	Not assessed	Unknown	Not assessed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Parameter achieved	Not assessed	Unknown	Not assessed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Description parameter	Abundance of diatoms versus dinoflagellates. Plankton Community Index (PCI): The value of the PCI is the proportion of new points that fall between the inner and outer envelopes of the baseline condition. A value of 1.0 would indicate no change, and a value of zero would show complete change.	Total phytoplankton biomass. For Southern North Sea: decreasing biomass (ρ=-0,85; p-value<0,01) over the assessment period but the observed trends between the reference and the assessment period were not statistically different.	Local Contribution to Diversity (LCBD) index. For the Scheldt Plume 1 and the Southern North Sea: increasing and decreasing abundance (shift in 2017-2018); state could be unsatisfactory in relation to increasing SST (Semmouri et al. 2023) but the link to pressure indicators needs to be investigated to assess this more accurately, status unknown at the moment.	Abundance zooplankton. For the Scheldt Plume 1 and the Southern North Sea: increasing and decreasing abundance (shift in 2017-2018); state could be unsatisfactory in relation to increasing SST (Semmouri et al. 2023) but the link to pressure indicators needs to be investigated to assess this more accurately, status unknown at the moment	Ratio holoplankton/meroplankton. Plankton Community Index (PCI): The value of the PCI is the proportion of new points that fall between the inner and outer envelopes of the baseline condition. A value of 1.0 would indicate no change, and a value of zero would show complete change. PCI-value of 0,8 (p < 0,05);	Local Contribution to Diversity (LCBD) index. For the Scheldt Plume 1 and the Southern North Sea: increasing and decreasing abundance (shift in 2017-2018); state could be unsatisfactory in relation to increasing SST (Semmouri et al. 2023) but the link to pressure indicators needs to be investigated to assess this more accurately, status unknown at the moment.
Related indicator	ANS-BE-PH1-PCI-2024	ANS-BE-PH2-MASS-ABU-2024	ANS-BE-PH3-DIV-2024	ANS-BE-PH2-MASS-ABU-2024	ANS-BE-PH1-PCI-2024	ANS-BE-PH3-DIV-2024
Criteria status	Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Description criteria	Only PH2 assessed (Unknown), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	Only PH2 assessed (Unknown), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	Only PH2 assessed (Unknown), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown	PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown	PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown
Element status	Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Description element	One Criteria (D1C6), Only PH2 assessed (Unknown), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	One Criteria (D1C6), Only PH2 assessed (Unknown), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	One Criteria (D1C6), Only PH2 assessed (Unknown), PH1 and PH3 not assessed, so “Unknown” (not enough criteria assessed).	One Criteria (D1C6), PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown	One Criteria (D1C6), PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown	One Criteria (D1C6), PH1 levensvorm, PH2 biomassa and PH3 diversiteit: Unknown
Source assessment feature	National	National	National	National	National	National
Reporting method feature	Type D	Type D	Type D	Type D	Type D	Type D
Trend feature	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Integration rule type parameter
Integration rule description parameter
Integration rule type criteria
Integration rule description criteria
GES extent threshold
GES extent achieved
GES extent unit
GES achieved	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Description overall status	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.	Since long-term monitoring only started in 2014 and 2017 for zooplankton and phytoplankton respectively in the Belgian Part of the North Sea, it is not yet possible to assess a robust trend. The OSPAR methodology is followed. Furthermore, the level describing the desired status has not yet been determined at regional level, which currently makes it challenging to interpret the results.
Assessments period
Related pressures	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence
Related targets	D1.13	D1.13	D1.13	D1.13	D1.13	D1.13
Test TV	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Test results	Correct	Correct	Correct	Correct	Correct	Correct