D4

1.7 Ecosystem structure

1.7.1 Composition ecosystem

1.7.1 Composition ecosystem

4.1 Productivity (production per unit biomass) of key species or trophic groups

4.1.1 Productivity of key predators

4.2 Proportion of selected species at the top of food webs

4.2.1 Large fish by weight

4.3 Abundance/distribution of key trophic groups/species

4.3.1 Abundance trends of selected groups/species

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.

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.

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.

• 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

• Belgian Part of the North Sea

• Belgian Part of the North Sea

• Belgian Part of the North Sea

• Belgian Part of the North Sea

• All birds
• All fish
• IntroNIS
• MammalsAll
• PhysDam
• PhysLoss
• SeabedHabitatsAll
• WaterColumnHabitatsAll

• All birds
• All fish
• MammalsAll
• SeabedHabitatsAll
• WaterColumnHabitatsAll

• SeabedHabitatsAll

• Functional group - other (highly mobile/widely dispersed species groups)

• Functional group - other (highly mobile/widely dispersed species groups)

D4

1.7

1.7.1

1.7.1

4.1

4.1.1

4.2

4.2.1

4.3

4.3.1

All elements of the marine food webs, to the extent that they are known, occur at normal abundance and diversity and levels capable of ensuring the long-term abundance of the species and the retention of their full reproductive capacity

Diversity within the different ecosystem components (i.e. plankton, benthos, fish, seabirds and marine mammals) is maintained.

The habitat types are structurally and functionally diverse and productive.

Viable species populations are maintained for the key long-lived, slowly reproducing species, as well as for the top predator species in all habitat types.

Viable species populations are maintained for the key long-lived, slowly reproducing species, as well as for the top predator species in all habitat types.