Member State report / Art11 / 2014-2020 / D10 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2014-10-15; 2020-10-15
GES Descriptor D10 Litter
Member State Belgium
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Reported by Reporter not found
Report date Date not found; 2020-10-29
Report access
2014 data
2020 data
Monitoring programme Monitoring programme name
MP_D10
MP_D10
MP_D10
Monitoring programme Reference existing programme
Monitoring programme Marine Unit ID
Q4e - Programme ID
ANSBE-D10 Litter
ANSBE-D10 Litter
ANSBE-D10 Litter
Q4f - Programme description
The Belgian MSFD monitoring programme ‘Contaminants in seafood’ aims at assessing the following ETs: • ET 45 – Negative trend in the annual evolution of the quantities of stranded litter, following the guideline for Monitoring Marine Litter on the Beaches in the OSPAR maritime area (2010) • ET 46 – Negative trend in the annual evolution of the quantities of litter collected at sea • ET 47 – Overall reduction in the total number of visible litter items on coastlines by 2020 (e.g. based on a five year moving average) • ET 48 – Less than 10 % of the northern fulmars (Noordse stormvogel - Fulmarus glacialis) contain more than 0,1 g plastic in their stomach Three sub-programmes can be discerned: • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP26 (delivering data to assess ET45 and 47), targeting the quantification of litter from two selected Belgian reference beaches • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP27 (delivering data to assess ET46), targeting quantification of marine litter accidentally being dredged in fishing nets • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP28 (delivering data to assess ET48), targeting the presence of plastics in the stomachs of beached Northern Fulmars
The Belgian MSFD monitoring programme ‘Contaminants in seafood’ aims at assessing the following ETs: • ET 45 – Negative trend in the annual evolution of the quantities of stranded litter, following the guideline for Monitoring Marine Litter on the Beaches in the OSPAR maritime area (2010) • ET 46 – Negative trend in the annual evolution of the quantities of litter collected at sea • ET 47 – Overall reduction in the total number of visible litter items on coastlines by 2020 (e.g. based on a five year moving average) • ET 48 – Less than 10 % of the northern fulmars (Noordse stormvogel - Fulmarus glacialis) contain more than 0,1 g plastic in their stomach Three sub-programmes can be discerned: • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP26 (delivering data to assess ET45 and 47), targeting the quantification of litter from two selected Belgian reference beaches • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP27 (delivering data to assess ET46), targeting quantification of marine litter accidentally being dredged in fishing nets • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP28 (delivering data to assess ET48), targeting the presence of plastics in the stomachs of beached Northern Fulmars
The Belgian MSFD monitoring programme ‘Contaminants in seafood’ aims at assessing the following ETs: • ET 45 – Negative trend in the annual evolution of the quantities of stranded litter, following the guideline for Monitoring Marine Litter on the Beaches in the OSPAR maritime area (2010) • ET 46 – Negative trend in the annual evolution of the quantities of litter collected at sea • ET 47 – Overall reduction in the total number of visible litter items on coastlines by 2020 (e.g. based on a five year moving average) • ET 48 – Less than 10 % of the northern fulmars (Noordse stormvogel - Fulmarus glacialis) contain more than 0,1 g plastic in their stomach Three sub-programmes can be discerned: • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP26 (delivering data to assess ET45 and 47), targeting the quantification of litter from two selected Belgian reference beaches • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP27 (delivering data to assess ET46), targeting quantification of marine litter accidentally being dredged in fishing nets • ANSBE-D10 Litter-SP28 (delivering data to assess ET48), targeting the presence of plastics in the stomachs of beached Northern Fulmars
Q5e - Natural variability
  • ExpertOpinion
  • Quantiative
  • ExpertOpinion
  • Quantiative
  • ExpertOpinion
  • Quantiative
Q5d - Adequacy for assessment of GES Q5d - Adequate data
Y
Y
Y
Q5d - Adequacy for assessment of GES Q5d - Established methods
Y
Y
Y
Q5d - Adequacy for assessment of GES Q5d - Adequate understanding of GES
Y
Y
Y
Q5d - Adequacy for assessment of GES Q5d - Adequate capacity
Y
Y
Y
Q5f - Description of programme for GES assessment
Q5g - Gap-filling date for GES assessment
By2014
By2014
By2014
Q5h - Plans to implement monitoring for GES assessment
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
Q6a -Relevant targets Q6a - Environmental target
Target 45 Target 46 Target 47 Target 48
Target 45 Target 46 Target 47 Target 48
Target 45 Target 46 Target 47 Target 48
Q6a -Relevant targets Q6a - Associated indicator
Target 45 Target 46 Target 47 Target 48
Target 45 Target 46 Target 47 Target 48
Target 45 Target 46 Target 47 Target 48
Q6b - Adequacy for assessment of targets Q6b_SuitableData
Y
Y
Y
Q6b - Adequacy for assessment of targets Q6b_EstablishedMethods
Y
Y
Y
Q6b - Adequacy for assessment of targets Q6d_AdequateCapacity
Y
Y
Y
Q6c - Target updating
N
N
N
Q6d - Description of programme for targets assessment
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
Q6e - Gap-filling date for targets assessment
By2014
By2014
By2014
Q6f - Plans to implement monitoring for targets assessment
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
Q7a - Relevant activities
Q7b - Description of monitoring of activities
Q7c - Relevant measures
Q7e - Adequacy for assessment of measures Q7d - Adequate data
Q7e - Adequacy for assessment of measures Q7d - Established methods
Q7e - Adequacy for assessment of measures Q7d - Adequate understanding of GES
Q7e - Adequacy for assessment of measures Q7d - Adequate capacity
Q7e - Adequacy for assessment of measures Q7d - Addresses activities and pressures
Q7e - Adequacy for assessment of measures Q7d - Addresses effectiveness of measures
Q7d - Description of monitoring for measures
Q7f - Gap-filling date for activities and measures
By2014
By2014
By2014
Q8a - Links to existing Monitoring Programmes
  • OSPAR
  • OSPAR
  • OSPAR
Reference sub-programme Sub-programme ID
Reference sub-programme Sub-programme name
Litter - characteristics and abundance/volume
Litter - characteristics and abundance/volume
Litter - characteristics and abundance/volume
Q4g - Sub-programmes Sub-programme ID
Q4g - Sub-programmes Sub-programme name
Litter - characteristics and abundance/volume
Litter - characteristics and abundance/volume
Litter - characteristics and abundance/volume
Q4k - Monitoring purpose
Q4l - Links of monitoring programmes of other Directives and Conventions
Q5c - Features Q5c - Habitats
Q5c - Features Q5c - Species list
Q5c - Features Q5c - Physical/Chemical features
Q5c - Features Q5c - Pressures
  • Litter
  • Litter
  • Litter
Q9a - Elements
Q5a - GES criteria Relevant GES criteria
  • 10.1
  • 10.2
  • 10.1
  • 10.2
  • 10.1
  • 10.2
Q5b - GES indicators Relevant GES indicators
  • 10.1.1
  • 10.1.2
  • 10.2.1
  • 10.1.1
  • 10.1.2
  • 10.2.1
  • 10.1.1
  • 10.1.2
  • 10.2.1
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Species distribution
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Species population size
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Species population characteristics
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Species impacts
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Habitat distribution
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Habitat extent
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Habitat condition (physical-chemical)
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Habitat condition (biological)
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Habitat impacts
Q9b - Parameters monitored (pressures) Pressure input
Q9b - Parameters monitored (pressures) Pressure output
Q9b - Parameters monitored (activity) Activity
Q9b Parameters monitored (other) Other
Q41 Spatial scope
Q4j - Description of spatial scope
Marine Unit IDs
  • ANS-BE-MS-1
  • ANS-BE-MS-1
  • ANS-BE-MS-1
Q4h - Temporal scope Start date- End date
-
-
-
Q9h - Temporal resolution of sampling
Q9c - Monitoring method
Q9d - Description of alteration to method
Q9e - Quality assurance
Q9f - Quality control
Q9g - Spatial resolution of sampling Q9g - Proportion of area covered %
Q9g - Spatial resolution of sampling Q9g - No. of samples
Q9i - Description of sample representivity
Q10a - Scale for aggregation of data
Q10b - Other scale for aggregation of data
Q10c - Access to monitoring data Q10c - Data type
Q10c - Access to monitoring data Q10c - Data access mechanism
Q10c - Access to monitoring data Q10c - Data access rights
Q10c - Access to monitoring data Q10c - INSPIRE standard
Q10c - Access to monitoring data Q10c Date data are available
Q10c - Access to monitoring data Q10c - Data update frequency
Q10d - Description of data access
Descriptor
D10
D10
D10
Monitoring strategy description
The amount of litter in the marine environment is monitored at the seafloor, in the stomach of Northern Fulmars and along the coastline, all in accordance with the OSPAR guidelines. Seafloor litter is collected during beam trawl surveys, while ingested litter is derived from the specimen collected during the beached seabird surveys. The registration of litter types contributes to the identification of the input sources. Evolution over time will show whether progress in achieving GES is made. However, due to changed conditions on the reference beach, a new location had to been chosen and a new time series will be started with regards to litter on the coastline. The suitability of this new beach - Nieuwpoort Lombardsijde - is currently being evaluated.
The amount of litter in the marine environment is monitored at the seafloor, in the stomach of Northern Fulmars and along the coastline, all in accordance with the OSPAR guidelines. Seafloor litter is collected during beam trawl surveys, while ingested litter is derived from the specimen collected during the beached seabird surveys. The registration of litter types contributes to the identification of the input sources. Evolution over time will show whether progress in achieving GES is made. However, due to changed conditions on the reference beach, a new location had to been chosen and a new time series will be started with regards to litter on the coastline. The suitability of this new beach - Nieuwpoort Lombardsijde - is currently being evaluated.
The amount of litter in the marine environment is monitored at the seafloor, in the stomach of Northern Fulmars and along the coastline, all in accordance with the OSPAR guidelines. Seafloor litter is collected during beam trawl surveys, while ingested litter is derived from the specimen collected during the beached seabird surveys. The registration of litter types contributes to the identification of the input sources. Evolution over time will show whether progress in achieving GES is made. However, due to changed conditions on the reference beach, a new location had to been chosen and a new time series will be started with regards to litter on the coastline. The suitability of this new beach - Nieuwpoort Lombardsijde - is currently being evaluated.
Coverage of GES criteria
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024
Gaps and plans
A project is ongoing to establish a monitoring plan and methodological protocol for the amount of microlitter in the water column and seabed sediment. A baseline for micro-litter in water and sediment as well as in biota for the Belgian part of the North Sea, will become available. The elaboration of a monitoring programme that will gather knowledge on the composition, amount and geographical distribution of microplastics on the long term is needed. Budget request for this monitoring programme is foreseen, the programme is thus dependent upon budget availability and approval.
A project is ongoing to establish a monitoring plan and methodological protocol for the amount of microlitter in the water column and seabed sediment. A baseline for micro-litter in water and sediment as well as in biota for the Belgian part of the North Sea, will become available. The elaboration of a monitoring programme that will gather knowledge on the composition, amount and geographical distribution of microplastics on the long term is needed. Budget request for this monitoring programme is foreseen, the programme is thus dependent upon budget availability and approval.
A project is ongoing to establish a monitoring plan and methodological protocol for the amount of microlitter in the water column and seabed sediment. A baseline for micro-litter in water and sediment as well as in biota for the Belgian part of the North Sea, will become available. The elaboration of a monitoring programme that will gather knowledge on the composition, amount and geographical distribution of microplastics on the long term is needed. Budget request for this monitoring programme is foreseen, the programme is thus dependent upon budget availability and approval.
Related targets
  • D10.T1
  • D10.T2
  • D10.T3
  • D10.T4
  • D10.T1
  • D10.T2
  • D10.T3
  • D10.T4
  • D10.T1
  • D10.T2
  • D10.T3
  • D10.T4
Coverage of targets
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Related measures
  • 1 - 'Report on Environmental Impacts (REI) and Adapted Evaluation (AE)'
  • 15 - 'Measures associated with the land (policies and Directives): Waste Directive, Water Framework Directive, Urban Wastewater Directive, Packaging Framework Directive, policy plan of the Flemish region, policy on waste from coastal municipalities'
  • 16 - 'Land-related measures (raising awareness): awareness campaigns of the OVAM, Clean Beach actions'
  • 19A - 'Installation of port reception facilities(waste collection MARPOL Annex I and V)'
  • 19B - 'Waste management plans for harbours'
  • 21 - 'Monitoring of marine litter conference OSPAR (also considered within the follow-up programme of the MSFD)'
  • 22 - 'Fishing for litter'
  • 28B - 'Raising awareness about waste management in marinas'
  • 29A - 'Improving the system and regulation of waste release from fishing ships'
  • 29B - 'Studying and raising awareness about recycling, deposit, tagging of fishing nets'
  • 29C - 'Study and promotion of alternatives to 'dolly ropes''
  • 1 - 'Report on Environmental Impacts (REI) and Adapted Evaluation (AE)'
  • 15 - 'Measures associated with the land (policies and Directives): Waste Directive, Water Framework Directive, Urban Wastewater Directive, Packaging Framework Directive, policy plan of the Flemish region, policy on waste from coastal municipalities'
  • 16 - 'Land-related measures (raising awareness): awareness campaigns of the OVAM, Clean Beach actions'
  • 19A - 'Installation of port reception facilities(waste collection MARPOL Annex I and V)'
  • 19B - 'Waste management plans for harbours'
  • 21 - 'Monitoring of marine litter conference OSPAR (also considered within the follow-up programme of the MSFD)'
  • 22 - 'Fishing for litter'
  • 28B - 'Raising awareness about waste management in marinas'
  • 29A - 'Improving the system and regulation of waste release from fishing ships'
  • 29B - 'Studying and raising awareness about recycling, deposit, tagging of fishing nets'
  • 29C - 'Study and promotion of alternatives to 'dolly ropes''
  • 1 - 'Report on Environmental Impacts (REI) and Adapted Evaluation (AE)'
  • 15 - 'Measures associated with the land (policies and Directives): Waste Directive, Water Framework Directive, Urban Wastewater Directive, Packaging Framework Directive, policy plan of the Flemish region, policy on waste from coastal municipalities'
  • 16 - 'Land-related measures (raising awareness): awareness campaigns of the OVAM, Clean Beach actions'
  • 19A - 'Installation of port reception facilities(waste collection MARPOL Annex I and V)'
  • 19B - 'Waste management plans for harbours'
  • 21 - 'Monitoring of marine litter conference OSPAR (also considered within the follow-up programme of the MSFD)'
  • 22 - 'Fishing for litter'
  • 28B - 'Raising awareness about waste management in marinas'
  • 29A - 'Improving the system and regulation of waste release from fishing ships'
  • 29B - 'Studying and raising awareness about recycling, deposit, tagging of fishing nets'
  • 29C - 'Study and promotion of alternatives to 'dolly ropes''
Coverage of measures
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Related monitoring programmes
  • ANSBE-P25-Litter-1-beach
  • ANSBE-P26-Litter-2-seafloor
  • ANSBE-P27-Litter-3-Ingested
  • ANSBE-P25-Litter-1-beach
  • ANSBE-P26-Litter-2-seafloor
  • ANSBE-P27-Litter-3-Ingested
  • ANSBE-P25-Litter-1-beach
  • ANSBE-P26-Litter-2-seafloor
  • ANSBE-P27-Litter-3-Ingested
Programme code
ANSBE-P25-Litter-1-beach
ANSBE-P26-Litter-2-seafloor
ANSBE-P27-Litter-3-Ingested
Programme name
Beach litter monitoring
Seafloor litter
Monitoring plastics in Northern Fulmars
Update type
Modified from 2014
New programme
Modified from 2014
Old programme codes
  • ANSBE-D10-Litter-SP26
  • ANSBE-D10-Litter-SP28
Programme description
Belgian reference beaches are searched four times a year (seasonally) for litter items of which the numbers are noted on monitoring sheets with pre-defined categories following the internationally agreed Guideline for Monitoring Marine Litter on the Beaches in the OSPAR maritime area (2010). Since 2017, monitoring of the two reference beaches is not representative anymore due to the high frequency of beach cleaning. Starting from 2020, a new reference beach at Lombardsijde, which is closed for the public, will be monitored and evaluated. This monitoring contributes to the evaluation of the environmental targets D10.1 and D10.2.
This programme aims to monitor litter contamination at the seafloor of the BPNS. Data is collected within the beam trawl survey, see ANSBE-P3-Fish-1-populationfor more details. This programme contributes to environmental target D10.3.
Since 2002 INBO determines the presence of plastics in the stomachs of beached Northern Fulmars. The specimens are collected during monthly wintersurveys of beached seabirds along the entire Belgian coast. Dissection takes place during international workshops organized by IMARES-Texel or in Belgium under the auspices of trained INBO-personnel. INBO also performs the actual analyses of stomach contents. The data will be used to evaluate the environmental target D10.4: Less than 10 % of the northern fulmars (Noordse stormvogel - Fulmarus glacialis) contain more than 0,1 g plastic in their stomach. (Former programme ANSBE-D10-Litter-SP28)
Monitoring purpose
  • Pressures in the marine environment
  • Pressures in the marine environment
  • Environmental state and impacts
  • Pressures in the marine environment
Other policies and conventions
  • OSPAR Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme
  • OSPAR Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme
  • OSPAR Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme
Regional cooperation - coordinating body
  • OSPAR
  • Other
  • OSPAR
Regional cooperation - countries involved
BE,DE,DK,FR,NL,PL,SE,UK
Regional cooperation - implementation level
Coordinated data collection
Coordinated data collection
Coordinated data collection
Monitoring details
Existing monitoring between 2002 - 2006 during the summer; restarted 2012 (spring). Monitoring at a new location from 2020 onwards.
Yearly monitoring since 2011, 5 locations per year at the BPNS.
Yearly sample size of useful specimens of northern fulmars may highly differ (eg. varied between 1 and 97 between 2001 and 2006). Yearly plastic loads will be reported at the level of OSPAR regions. Van Franeker, J.A.; Blaize, C.; Danielsen, J.; Fairclough, K.; Gollan, J.; Guse, N.; Hansen, P.-L.; Heubeck, M.; Jensen, J.-K.; Le Guillou, G.; Olsen, B.; Olsen, K.-O.; Pedersen, J.; Stienen, E.W.M.; Turner, D.M. (2011). Monitoring plastic ingestion by the northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis in the North Sea. Environmental Pollution 159: 2609-2615. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.06.008
Features
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Litter in the environment
Elements
  • Litter in the environment
  • Macrolitter (all)
  • Macrolitter (all)
GES criteria
D10C1
D10C1
D10C3
Parameters
  • Amount on coastline
  • Amount on seabed
  • Amount in biota (ingested)
Parameter Other
Spatial scope
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • EEZ (or similar)
  • Territorial waters
  • Terrestrial part of MS
Marine reporting units
  • ANS-BE-MS-1
  • ANS-BE-MS-1
  • ANS-BE-MS-1
Temporal scope (start date - end date)
2012-9999
2011-9999
2002-9999
Monitoring frequency
3-monthly
Yearly
Monthly
Monitoring type
  • In-situ sampling land/beach
  • In-situ sampling coastal
  • In-situ sampling offshore
  • In-situ sampling land/beach
Monitoring method
  • Other monitoring method
  • OSPAR CEMP Guidelines on Litter on the Seafloor
  • Other monitoring method
Monitoring method other
Counting the number of marine litter items on a selected stretch of beach following the Guideline for monitoring marine litter on the beaches in the OSPAR Maritime Area. http://www.ospar.org/documents/dbase/decrecs/agreements/10-02e_beachlitter%20guideline_english%20only.pdf
Following OSPAR-EcoQO guidelines (http://qsr2010.ospar.org/media/assessments/EcoQO/EcoQO_P01-16_complete.pdf)
Quality control
DelayedValidation
Unknown
Unknown
Data management
The data is reported to OSPAR and transmitted through BMDC's Data Tracking System, which makes it publicly accessible through RBINS' metadata catalogue (http://metadata.naturalsciences.be).
Currently, all data are stored at ILVO (Smartfish). The data are uploaded to DATRAS, the survey database hosted by ICES, on a yearly basis. This database is an open access source and can be consulted through the website (www.datras.ices.dk).
The data is transmitted annually through BMDC's Data Tracking System, which makes it publicly accessible through RBINS' metadata catalogue (http://metadata.naturalsciences.be).
Data access
Related indicator/name
Contact
Francis Kerckhof, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (RBINS)
Bavo De Witte, Els Torreele, Institute for Agriculture, Fishery and Food research (ILVO)
Eric Stienen, Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
References