The evaluation of the Belgian coastal waters in the context of the Water Framework Directive shows that the chemical status is not good due to exceedances of standards for persistent pollutants. The standard is also not met for phytoplankton and nutrient concentrations. Excessively high chlorophyll values ​​are linked to the bloom of Phaeocystis globosa.The evaluation of the Belgian coastal waters in the context of the Water Framework Directive shows that the standard is not met for phytoplankton and nutrient concentrations. Excessively high chlorophyll values ​​are linked to the bloom of Phaeocystis globosa.

The evaluation of the Belgian coastal waters in the context of the Water Framework Directive shows that the chemical status is not good due to exceedances of standards for persistent pollutants. The standard is also not met for phytoplankton and nutrient concentrations. Excessively high chlorophyll values ​​are linked to the bloom of Phaeocystis globosa.The evaluation of the Belgian coastal waters in the context of the Water Framework Directive shows that the standard is not met for phytoplankton and nutrient concentrations. Excessively high chlorophyll values ​​are linked to the bloom of Phaeocystis globosa.

The evaluation of the Belgian coastal waters in the context of the Water Framework Directive shows that the chemical status is not good due to exceedances of standards for persistent pollutants. The standard is also not met for phytoplankton and nutrient concentrations. Excessively high chlorophyll values ​​are linked to the bloom of Phaeocystis globosa.The evaluation of the Belgian coastal waters in the context of the Water Framework Directive shows that the standard is not met for phytoplankton and nutrient concentrations. Excessively high chlorophyll values ​​are linked to the bloom of Phaeocystis globosa.

The annual average concentration of chlorophyll-a during the growing season in the North Sea has changed only slightly since 2010. While the offshore area (SNS) shows a ‘good’ status, the coastal area has a ‘poor’ status and no improvement has been observed. Nutrient concentrations in winter have continued to decline in the North Sea since 2010. However, the winter concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) remains too high near the coast. Winter concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) are too high in the WFD coastal waters, while they are in good condition in the Scheldt plume and the southern North Sea in relation to the regional threshold values. It should be noted that the result for DIP in the Scheldt plume is very likely distorted by the new regional threshold value, which may not be strict enough. In Belgian marine waters, it has been estimated that the intensity of spring blooms (maximum chlorophyll) is influenced by the DIP level. Since 1990, DIP concentrations have been declining at the coastal station.

The annual average concentration of chlorophyll-a during the growing season in the North Sea has changed only slightly since 2010. While the offshore area (SNS) shows a ‘good’ status, the coastal area has a ‘poor’ status and no improvement has been observed. Nutrient concentrations in winter have continued to decline in the North Sea since 2010. However, the winter concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) remains too high near the coast. Winter concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) are too high in the WFD coastal waters, while they are in good condition in the Scheldt plume and the southern North Sea in relation to the regional threshold values. It should be noted that the result for DIP in the Scheldt plume is very likely distorted by the new regional threshold value, which may not be strict enough. In Belgian marine waters, it has been estimated that the intensity of spring blooms (maximum chlorophyll) is influenced by the DIP level. Since 1990, DIP concentrations have been declining at the coastal station.

The annual average concentration of chlorophyll-a during the growing season in the North Sea has changed only slightly since 2010. While the offshore area (SNS) shows a ‘good’ status, the coastal area has a ‘poor’ status and no improvement has been observed. Nutrient concentrations in winter have continued to decline in the North Sea since 2010. However, the winter concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) remains too high near the coast. Winter concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) are too high in the WFD coastal waters, while they are in good condition in the Scheldt plume and the southern North Sea in relation to the regional threshold values. It should be noted that the result for DIP in the Scheldt plume is very likely distorted by the new regional threshold value, which may not be strict enough. In Belgian marine waters, it has been estimated that the intensity of spring blooms (maximum chlorophyll) is influenced by the DIP level. Since 1990, DIP concentrations have been declining at the coastal station.

The annual average concentration of chlorophyll-a during the growing season in the North Sea has changed only slightly since 2010. While the offshore area (SNS) shows a ‘good’ status, the coastal area has a ‘poor’ status and no improvement has been observed. Nutrient concentrations in winter have continued to decline in the North Sea since 2010. However, the winter concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) remains too high near the coast. Winter concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) are too high in the WFD coastal waters, while they are in good condition in the Scheldt plume and the southern North Sea in relation to the regional threshold values. It should be noted that the result for DIP in the Scheldt plume is very likely distorted by the new regional threshold value, which may not be strict enough. In Belgian marine waters, it has been estimated that the intensity of spring blooms (maximum chlorophyll) is influenced by the DIP level. Since 1990, DIP concentrations have been declining at the coastal station.

The annual average concentration of chlorophyll-a during the growing season in the North Sea has changed only slightly since 2010. While the offshore area (SNS) shows a ‘good’ status, the coastal area has a ‘poor’ status and no improvement has been observed. Nutrient concentrations in winter have continued to decline in the North Sea since 2010. However, the winter concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) remains too high near the coast. Winter concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) are too high in the WFD coastal waters, while they are in good condition in the Scheldt plume and the southern North Sea in relation to the regional threshold values. It should be noted that the result for DIP in the Scheldt plume is very likely distorted by the new regional threshold value, which may not be strict enough. In Belgian marine waters, it has been estimated that the intensity of spring blooms (maximum chlorophyll) is influenced by the DIP level. Since 1990, DIP concentrations have been declining at the coastal station.

The annual average concentration of chlorophyll-a during the growing season in the North Sea has changed only slightly since 2010. While the offshore area (SNS) shows a ‘good’ status, the coastal area has a ‘poor’ status and no improvement has been observed. Nutrient concentrations in winter have continued to decline in the North Sea since 2010. However, the winter concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) remains too high near the coast. Winter concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) are too high in the WFD coastal waters, while they are in good condition in the Scheldt plume and the southern North Sea in relation to the regional threshold values. It should be noted that the result for DIP in the Scheldt plume is very likely distorted by the new regional threshold value, which may not be strict enough. In Belgian marine waters, it has been estimated that the intensity of spring blooms (maximum chlorophyll) is influenced by the DIP level. Since 1990, DIP concentrations have been declining at the coastal station.