Member State report / Art8 / 2012 / D5 / 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 | D5 Eutrophication |
| 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: Compliance with WFD |
GESOther: Compliance with OSPAR COMP |
GESOther: Compliance with OSPAR COMP |
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Feature |
LevelPressureOverall |
LevelPressureNLoad |
LevelPressureNConcentration |
LevelPressurePLoad |
LevelPressurePConcentration |
LevelPressureOLoad |
LevelPressureOConcentration |
ImpactPressureWaterColumn |
ImpactPressureSeabedHabitats |
Assessment Topic |
NutrientsOrganicEnrichment5_1
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NutrientsNitrogen5_1
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NutrientsPhosphorus5_1
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Element |
MarineCoast |
ShallMud, ShallSand |
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Element 2 |
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ThresholdValue |
1) 90 percentile of chlorophyll a concentration (in the growing season and over 6 years) is less than 15 μg/l.
2) if 1) is ok, < 17% of monthly samples contain more than 106 Phaeocystis cells/l. |
winter DIN concentrations < 12 μmoles/l (offshore)l or 15 μmoles/l (coastal)l |
winter DIP concentrations < 0,8 μmoles/l.
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Threshold value/Value unit |
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Proportion threshold value |
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Status of criteria/indicator |
OtherStatus |
OtherStatus |
OtherStatus |
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Status trend |
Improving |
Improving |
Improving |
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Status confidence |
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Description (status of criteria/indicator) |
OSPAR: Eutrophication problem area (coastal waters) WFD: Moderate ecological status |
OSPAR: Eutrophication problem area (coastal waters) WFD: Moderate ecological status |
OSPAR: Eutrophication problem area (coastal waters) WFD: Moderate ecological status |
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Limitations |
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Assessment period |
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Description |
River discharges (Scheldt) are responsible for the largest contribution of all nitrogen-or phosphorus. For the year 2009, the nutrient load from the Scheldt equals 70% (N) and 65% (P) of the inflow to the Belgian coastal waters (Brion et al 2008). Trends show that the situation is improving. For total nitrogen a continuing downward significant trend of about 780 tons/year is visible; for total phosphorus, this trend is about 125 tons/year (note: the dilution effect due to increased flow (debiet) plays also an important role). |
deduced from figure p. 63; ca. 35-50 kton/year period 2005-2010 |
deduced from figure p. 63; ca. 1-5 kton/year period 2005-2010 |
Decreasing trend of input of organic matter through riverine input (Scheldt) in the coastal waters; can be linked with the efforts for water purification of past decades. Further offshore, where several actors have an influence, that trend is not observed. |
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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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Unknown_NotAssessed
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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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Unknown_NotAssessed
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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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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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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 |