MS/Art13/2022/D11/Belgium/NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Member State report / Art13 / 2022 / D11 / 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	D11 Energy, incl. underwater noise
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	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1
RegionSubregion	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea	NEA Greater North Sea
Measure code	1	3E	3F	ANSBE-M018	ANSBE-M019	ANSBE-M022	ANSBE-M026	ANSBE-M047	ANSBE-M053	ANSBE-M059
Measure old code	1	3E	3F	ANSBE-M018	ANSBE-M019
Measure name	Report on Environmental Impacts (REI) and Adapted Evaluation (AE)	Authorisation conditions: reducing the level of underwater noise during construction	Follow-up during the construction and operation (hard substrates introduction, sub-marine noise, benthos, etc.)	Implementatie niet-technische maatregelen ter beperking van verstoring van zeezoogdieren tgv militaire activiteiten	Overleg en sensibilisering omtrent maatregelen binnen scheepvaart ter beperking onderwatergeluidseffecten op walvisachtigen	Exploration for the designation of a marine reserve at sea	Onderzoek naar de impact van elektromagnetische velden op grindbedden en geassocieerde fauna	Optimalisatie aanvaarroutes offshore infrastructuur	Preparation of the cumulative impact assessment methodology	UxO vernietiging
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.	Vanuit het voorzorgsprincipe onderzoek uitvoeren naar mogelijke effecten van elektromagnetische velden (EMV) op kwetsbare habitats (grindbedden) en geassocieerde soorten binnen het BNZ.	Optimalisatie aanvaarroutes werkzaamheden/onderhoud bij de bouw van nieuwe windparken of andere offshore infrastructuur in functie van het vermijden van de meest kwetsbare gebieden zoals grindbedden, die een functie hebben als biodiversiteit hotspot, paai- en kraamkamers voor o.a. haring, haaien en roggen.	Developing a standard methodology for and carrying out a cumulative impact assessment of activities taking place within BNZ (holistic approach)	In samenwerking met Defensie de mogelijkheden naar milieuvriendelijkere manieren voor detonaties van niet ontplofte munitie (Unexploded Ordnance of UxO) op zee onderzoeken
Update type	Measure same as in 2015 PoM	Measure same as in 2015 PoM	Measure same as in 2015 PoM	Measure same as in 2015 PoM	Measure same as in 2015 PoM	Measure new in 2021 PoM	Measure new in 2021 PoM	Measure new in 2021 PoM	Measure new in 2021 PoM	Measure new in 2021 PoM
Measure category	Category 1.a	Category 1.a	Category 1.a	Category 2.b	Category 2.b	Category 2.b	Category 2.b	Category 2.b	Category 2.b	Category 2.b
Policy conventions
Policy national		Vergunningsvoorwaarden windparken en kabels	Vergunningsvoorwaarden windparken en kabels
Responsible competent authority				FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu – Directoraat-generaal Leefmilieu – Dienst Marien Milieu en Defensie	FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu – Directoraat-generaal Leefmilieu – Dienst Marien Milieu en DG Scheepvaart	Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, Dienst Marien Milieu	Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, Dienst Marien Milieu	Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, Dienst Marien Milieu	Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, Dienst Marien Milieu	Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, Dienst Marien Milieu ; Defensie
Responsible organisation
Coordination level				National	National	National	National	National	National	National
Regional cooperation countries
CEA				Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
CEA reference				Belgische Staat, 2016	Belgische Staat, 2016	see supporting documents	see supporting documents	see supporting documents	see supporting documents	see supporting documents
CBA				Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
CBA reference				Belgische Staat, 2016	Belgische Staat, 2016	see supporting documents	see supporting documents	see supporting documents	see supporting documents	see supporting documents
Financing				De kost voor overleg met de militaire sector wordt niet in rekening gebracht dergelijk overleg vindt reeds plaats. Bijgevolg wordt aangenomen dat het overleg uitgevoerd wordt binnen het huidige werkingsbudget.	Evenement in 2018 en webinar in 2021 georganiseerd en betaald door Dienst Marien Milieu	Nationale financiering (dienst Marien Milieu)	Nationale financiering (dienst Marien Milieu)	Nationale financiering	Nationale financiering	Nationale financiering
Spatial scope	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar) Territorial waters	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar)	EEZ (or similar)
Measure purpose						Directly prevent further inputs of a pressure (e.g. by managing the source activity)	Improve knowledge base (e.g. by research or one-off surveys)	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)	Directly prevent further inputs of a pressure (e.g. by managing the source activity)
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	Input of other forms of energy (including electromagnetic fields, light and heat)	Continuous low frequency sound Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence 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	Impulsive sound in water
Relevant KTMs	MSFD27 Measures to adapt to climate change impacts on the marine environment 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 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 marine litter Measures to reduce nutrient and organic matter inputs to the marine environment from sea-based or air-based sources 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 sea-based accidental pollution Measures to reduce the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species in the marine environment and for their control	Measures to reduce inputs of energy to the marine environment	MSFD27 Measures to adapt to climate change impacts on the marine environment Measures to reduce inputs of energy to the marine environment Measures to reduce marine litter Measures to reduce physical loss of seabed habitats in the marine environment (beyond WFD coastal waters)	Measures to reduce inputs of energy to 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 inputs of energy to the marine environment	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	Measures to reduce inputs of energy to 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 inputs of energy to the marine environment	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	Measures to reduce inputs of energy to the marine environment
Relevant targets	D1.T1 D1.T2 D1.T3 D1.T4 D1.T5 D10.T1 D10.T2 D10.T3 D10.T4 D11.T1 D11.T2 D2.T1 D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 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 D9.T1 D9.T2	D11.T1	D11.T1 D2.T1 D6.T2 D8.T1 D8.T2 D8.T3	D11.T1	D11.T2	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	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3	D6.T10 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	D11.T1
Related indicator				Underwater sound	Underwater sound	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	Underwater sound	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates Physical loss and disturbance of the seabed	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	Underwater sound
GEScomponent	D1-B D1-F D1-M D10 D11 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D6C1 Physical loss of the seabed (6.1) D6C2 Physical disturbance to the seabed (6.1) D6C3 Adverse effects from physical disturbance (6.1.2) D6C4 Benthic habitat extent (1.4, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.5, 1.5.1, 6.1.1) D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4) D7 D8 D9	D11	D1-B D11 D2 D4 D6	D11	D11	D1-B D1-F D1-M D1-P D11C1 Anthropogenic impulsive sound (11.1, 11.1.1) D3 D4 D6	D11	D11C2 Anthropogenic continuous low-frequency sound (11.2, 11.2.1) D6	D1-B D1-F D1-M D1-P D10 D11 D2 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8	D1-M D11C1 Anthropogenic impulsive sound (11.1, 11.1.1)
Feature	Acute pollution events Benthic broad habitats Benthic-feeding birds CharaChem CharaPhyHydro Coastal ecosystem Coastal fish Commercially exploited fish and shellfish Contaminants - UPBT substances Contaminants - in seafood Contaminants - non UPBT substances Continuous low frequency sound Demersal shelf fish Eutrophication Extraction of minerals (rock, metal ores, gravel, sand, shell) Fish and shellfish harvesting (professional, recreational) Grazing birds Hydrographical changes Impulsive sound in water Litter and micro-litter in species Litter in the environment Newly-introduced non-indigenous species 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	Impulsive sound in water	Benthic broad habitats Contaminants - UPBT substances Contaminants - non UPBT substances Newly-introduced non-indigenous species Physical loss of the seabed	Impulsive sound in water Military operations (subject to Article 2(2)) Seals Small toothed cetaceans	Continuous low frequency sound Seals Small toothed cetaceans	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	Transmission of electricity and communications (cables)	Benthic broad habitats Transport - shipping	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	Military operations (subject to Article 2(2)) Seals Small toothed cetaceans
Element
Temporal scope				2015-2021	2015-2021
Implementation status	Measure implemented	Measure implemented	Measure implemented	Measure implemented	Measure implemented	Implementation not started	Implementation not started	Implementation not started	Implementation not started	Implementation not started
Implementation delay	0	0	0	0	0
Implementation reason
Progress description				Een overkoepelend samenwerkingsprotocol werd ontwikkeld en wordt vanaf 2022 uitgevoerd.	Op 19 september organiseerden de FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu en het International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) een evenement over walvissen en walvisachtigen: « All on Board : exchanges on noise, ship strikes and pollution for the improvement of cetaceans’ survival ». Het evenement bracht wetenschappers, vertegenwoordigers van ngo’s en leden van sectoren die afhangen van de zee samen. De film « Sonic Sea », gemaakt door het IFAW en de NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), toonde hoe geluid de stille onderwaterwereld is binnengeslopen en een nieuwe bedreiging voor de walvissen en walvisachtigen vormt. Vervolgens was er een interactief debat met internationale experten over maatregelen om botsingen met schepen te beperken, de geluidshinder op zee te verminderen en de mariene vervuiling beter aan te pakken.
Reason description