Member State report / Art8 / 2012 / D10 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
| Report type | Member State report to Commission |
| MSFD Article | Art. 8 Initial assessment (and Art. 17 updates) |
| Report due | 2012-10-15 |
| GES Descriptor | D10 Litter |
| Member State | Belgium |
| Region/subregion | NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea |
| Reported by | FPS Health, Food Chain safety and Environment - Service Marine environment |
| Report date | 2012-08-16 |
| Report access | MSFD8bPressures_20130514.xml |
Belgian Part of the North Sea
GES component |
GESOther: OSPAR beach litter monitoring |
GESOther: OSPAR recommendation monitoring at sea |
GESOther: OSPAR recommendation monitoring at sea |
GESOther: OSPAR EcoQO |
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Feature |
LevelPressureShore |
LevelPressureWater |
LevelPressureSeabed |
ImpactPressureWaterColumn |
ImpactPressureSeabedHabitats |
ImpactPressureFunctionalGroup |
Assessment Topic |
LitterShores10_1
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LitterWaterColumnSurface10_1
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LitterSeabed10_1
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LitterFunctionalGroups10_2
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Element |
MarineCoast, MarineShelf |
LitSed |
BirdsOffshoreSurface |
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Element 2 |
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ThresholdValue |
1) Negative trend in annual evolution of quantities of stranded litter; 2) Overall reduction in total number of visible litter items on coastlines by 2020 (e.g. based on 5 year moving average) |
Negative trend in the annual evolution of the quantities of litter collected at sea. (OSPAR recommendation 2010/19) |
Negative trend in the annual evolution of the quantities of litter collected at sea. (OSPAR recommendation 2010/19) |
Less than 10 % of the northern fulmars (Noordse stormvogel - Fulmarus glacialis) contain more than 0,1 g plastic in their stomach. (OSPAR EcoQO) |
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Threshold value/Value unit |
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Proportion threshold value |
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Status of criteria/indicator |
NotAssessed |
NotAssessed |
NotAssessed |
OtherStatus |
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Status trend |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
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Status confidence |
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Description (status of criteria/indicator) |
Insufficient data
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Insufficient data
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Insufficient data
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OSPAR EcoQO on litter in fulmar stomachs: exceeds target level |
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Limitations |
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Assessment period |
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Description |
The OSPAR method was used to inventory marine litter washed ashore during period 2002-2006 at two beaches. On average 1000 items/ km were found. Main sources are sea-based (shipping, fisheries), but also tourism is important. Main items: nets, plastic packaging (but also fire works, cigarette butts) |
Main sources are sea-based (shipping, fisheries), but also cargo loss occurs. From 2011 Belgium will support the Waste Free Ocean Project. |
The Fishing for Litter Initiative was supported by Belgium (up to 2011) and provides information on waste picked up from the seabed by fishermen participating in the scheme. In 2011 31 tonnes of waste was brought to shore. |
The beaches lose their attraction for coastal tourism. |
A considerable number of species suffer adverse consequences from waste, particularly plastic. For instance, a Dutch study carried out in 2003 showed that 98% of stranded Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) have plastic waste in their stomachs (Holm 2004). |
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Input load |
North Sea: 20.000 ton/yr; 75% plastic
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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in 2011: 31 ton of waste brought to shore (FFL)
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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Load unit |
ton/year
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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ton
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NotRelevant
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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Confidence |
High
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Non related GES component
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High
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Non related GES component
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Non related GES component
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Non related GES component
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Trends (recent) |
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Trends (future) |
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Description (activities) |
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Activity type |
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Information gaps |