Member State report / Art9 / 2012 / D2 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 9 Determination of GES (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 ANSBE_MSFD9GES_20130314.xml
GES component
D2
2.1 Abundance and state characterisation of non-indigenous species, in particular invasive species
2.1.1 Trends in abundance of NIS
2.2 Environmental impact of invasive non-indigenous species
2.2.1 Ratio invasive to native species
2.2.2 Impacts of NIS
Method used
ANS-BE-MS-1: Conform the Directive, GES and the environmental targets for the Belgian marine waters are defined on the basis of the eleven qualitative descriptors listed in Annex I of the Directive. The definition of GES is expressed in a qualitative description of what GES would look like when achieved for each of the descriptors. This is then underpinned by a set of more detailed quantitative environmental targets based on established environmental thresholds/limits for state, pressure or impact (Art. 10). Where quantitative environmental thresholds could not be set, trend-based or qualitative thresholds were used. The complete package of GES and environmental targets needs to give a complete and balanced overview.
ANS-BE-MS-1: Conform the Directive, GES and the environmental targets for the Belgian marine waters are defined on the basis of the eleven qualitative descriptors listed in Annex I of the Directive. The definition of GES is expressed in a qualitative description of what GES would look like when achieved for each of the descriptors. This is then underpinned by a set of more detailed quantitative environmental targets based on established environmental thresholds/limits for state, pressure or impact (Art. 10). Where quantitative environmental thresholds could not be set, trend-based or qualitative thresholds were used. The complete package of GES and environmental targets needs to give a complete and balanced overview.
Marine reporting units
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
Feature
  • IntroNIS
  • SeabedHabitatsAll
  • WaterColumnHabitatsAll
  • IntroNIS
  • SeabedHabitatsAll
  • WaterColumnHabitatsAll
Criterion/indicator
D2
2.1
2.1.1
2.2
2.2.1
2.2.2
GES description
Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystem.
No significant increase in the relative abundance of non-indigenous species in relation to the 2012 baseline should occur. Species for which there are taxonomic disputes and for which the changes of permanent introduction, including reproduction are negligible are not taken into consideration.
Threshold values
Threshold value unit
Proportion of area to achieve threshold value
Reference point type
Baseline
Initial Assessment 2012
Initial Assessment 2012
Assessment method
Development status