Member State report / Art8 / 2012 / D2 / 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 | D2 Non-indigenous species |
| 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: See ThresholdValue |
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Feature |
LevelPressureEnvironment |
ImpactPressureWaterColumn |
ImpactPressureSeabedHabitats |
ImpactPressureFunctionalGroup |
Assessment Topic |
NIS2_1
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Element |
MarineCoast, MarineShelf |
ShallSand |
NotRelevant |
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Element 2 |
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ThresholdValue |
Introduction of new human induced non-indigenous species of macrofauna and macroflora (>1 mm) in relation to the 2012 baseline is prevented. |
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Threshold value/Value unit |
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Proportion threshold value |
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Status of criteria/indicator |
NotAssessed |
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Status trend |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
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Status confidence |
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Description (status of criteria/indicator) |
Insufficient data
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Limitations |
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Assessment period |
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Description |
About one hundred non-indigenous species have been identified in the Belgian coastal areas (Kerckhof et al. 2007 with supplements up to and including 2011). These mainly concern arthropods (crustaceasn, barnacles), algae, molluscs, cnidaria. Four of the introduced species, i.e. the American jackknife Ensis directus, the Japanese oyster Crassostrea gigas, the New Zealand barnacle Elminius modestus and the common slipper shell Crepidula fornicata currently have a dominant presence in the marine coastal habitats. Two of these introductions has had major consequences on the marine ecosystem. Stranding of millions of dying American jackknife and empty shells are a frequently occurring phenomenon (avg. 9 ind/m²) within the twelve-mile zone (Van Hoey 2008). The Japanese oyster, introduced in 1970 for breeding purposes, proved to be a formidable competitor for the indigenous flat oyster (Ostrea edulis - almost extinct) and mussel Mytilus edulis. |
About one hundred non-indigenous species have been identified in the Belgian coastal areas (Kerckhof et al. 2007 with supplements up to and including 2011). Species like the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi have the potential to become highly problematic, as is seen in other areas where they have been introduced. |
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Input load |
Unknown_NotAssessed
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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Unknown_NotAssessed
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Load unit |
Unknown_NotAssessed
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Confidence |
Non related GES component
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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 |