MS/Art10-2024/2024/D6/Belgium/NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Member State report / Art10-2024 / 2024 / D6 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type	Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article	Art10
Report due	2024-10-15
GES Descriptor	D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats
Member State	Belgium
Region/subregion	NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Report date	2026-01-13 14:08:15

Simplified table

Target code	D1.1	D1.2	D1.3	D4.2	D6.1	D6.2	D6.3	D6.T10	D6.T2	D6.T3	D6.T4	D6.T5	D6.T6	D6.T7	D6.T8	D6.T9
Target code					D6.T1
Target description	Tegen 2030 is minstens 30% van de oppervlakte van de Belgische mariene wateren toegewezen als zeereservaat of als beschermd gebied beheerd onder Natura 2000	Realiseer alle instandhoudingsdoelstellingen voor habitattypen en soorten in de Natura 2000-gebieden op zee	Het verbeteren van de biologische functies van de mariene habitats voor soorten die van nature voorkomen/voorkwamen in het Noordzeegebied indien nuttig en van toepassing	Vermindering van de antropogene druk op het voedselweb in zandige habitats en grindbanken	Positieve trend in termen van zeebodemoppervlak dat permanent gespaard blijft van verstoringen door vistuig dat de bodem raakt binnen de verschillende benthische habitattypes (=drukindicator), wat op zijn beurt resulteert in een natuurlijke ontwikkeling van de benthische fauna en flora.	Verbetering van de omvang van habitats in GMT-kwaliteitsstatus (ten minste een positieve trend realiseren voor elk habitattype in 2030)	Herstel van grindbedhabitat, platte oesterbanken en andere rifvormende soorten	Increase of Pomatoceros triqueter clusters and Sabellaria spinulosa reefs.	The spatial extent and distribution of the EUNIS level 3 habitats (sandy mud to mud, muddy sands to sands and coarse grained sediments), as well as that of gravel beds fluctuate - relative to the reference state as described in Initial Assessment - within a margin limited to the accuracy of the current distribution maps	Within the test zones in the gravel beds, the ratio of the hard substrate surface area (i.e. surfaces that are colonized by hard substrate epifauna) over soft sediment surface area (i.e. surfaces overtopping hard substrates and preventing hard substrate fauna development) does not show a negative trend.	The Ecological Quality Ratio as determined by BEQI (see Annex), indicative for benthic ecosystem structure and quality, has a minimum value of 0,60 in each of the habitat types (Commission Decision 2008/915/EC).	Positive trend in median adult density (or frequency of occurrence) of at least one species within the long-lived and/or slowly reproducing and key engineering benthic species groups in both mud to muddy sands and pure fine to coarse sands.	The bioturbation potential (BPc), an indicator for the functioning of the benthic ecosystem, has a minimum value of 0.60 for the Abra alba habitat type in the autumn (as determined by BEQI procedure).	Positive trend in median body size of the larger benthic species Buccinum undatum and Majidae spp.	Positive trend in frequency of occurrence and median adult density of at least half of the key and long-lived species Ostrea edulis, Mytilus edulis, Buccinum undatum, Alcyonium digitatum, erected sponges (eg Haliclona oculata) and erected Bryozoans (eg Alcyonidium spp. en Flustra foliacea).	No loss or positive trend in species richness within all key hard substrate taxa.
Target purpose	DirectlyPreventFurtherPressure DirectlyReduceExistingPressureInSea	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyReduceExistingPressureInSea	DirectlyReduceExistingPressureInSea	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyReduceExistingPressureInSea	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyReduceExistingPressureInSea	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat	DirectlyRestoreSpecies/Habitat
Feature(s)	Benthic broad habitats HabPelOther Other benthic habitats Pelagic broad habitats Species	Benthic broad habitats HabPelOther Other benthic habitats Pelagic broad habitats Species	Benthic broad habitats HabPelOther Other benthic habitats Pelagic broad habitats Species	Coastal ecosystem Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence Physical disturbance to seabed PresEnvAdvEffectsSppHab Shelf ecosystem SpeciesGroups	Other benthic habitats Physical disturbance to seabed	Benthic broad habitats Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence Other benthic habitats PresEnvAdvEffectsSppHab	Benthic broad habitats Other benthic habitats Physical disturbance to seabed	Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats Physical disturbance to seabed	Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats
GES components	D1C6 Pelagic habitat condition (1.5.2, 1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3) D6	D1B D1M D6	D1B D1M D6	D1F D4 D6	D6 D6C3 Adverse effects from physical disturbance (6.1.2)	D6C2 Physical disturbance to the seabed (6.1) D6C4 Benthic habitat extent (1.4, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.5, 1.5.1, 6.1.1) D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)	D1C5 Habitat for the species D6C4 Benthic habitat extent (1.4, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.5, 1.5.1, 6.1.1) D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)	D6 D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)	D6 D6C3 Adverse effects from physical disturbance (6.1.2)	D6 D6C3 Adverse effects from physical disturbance (6.1.2)	D6 D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)	D6 D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)	D6 D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)	D6 D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)	D6 D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)	D6 D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4)
Timescale
Update date	202502	202502	202502	202502	202502	202501	202502	202502	202502	202502	202502	202502	202502	202502	202502	202502
Update type target	TargetNew	TargetNew	TargetNew	TargetNew	TargetModified	TargetNew	TargetNew	TargetNotNeeded	TargetNotNeeded	TargetNotNeeded	TargetNotNeeded	TargetNotNeeded	TargetNotNeeded	TargetNotNeeded	TargetNotNeeded	TargetNotNeeded
Marine reporting unit	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1	ANS-BE-MS-1
Element					PresPhyDisturbSeabed			PresPhyDisturbSeabed	PresPhyDisturbSeabed	PresPhyDisturbSeabed	PresPhyDisturbSeabed	PresPhyDisturbSeabed	PresPhyDisturbSeabed	PresPhyDisturbSeabed	PresPhyDisturbSeabed	PresPhyDisturbSeabed
Parameter					Extent of physical disturbance			Abundance	Extent	Extent	HAB-CON index BQI	Abundance	Habitat condition	Size - length	ABU-StructuringSpp	ABU-StructuringSpp
Target value											0.6		0.6
Target value											>=		>=
Value achieved - upper
Value achieved - lower
Value unit
Target status					Target not yet achieved			Target not yet achieved	Target achieved	Target achieved	Target not yet achieved	Target not yet achieved	Target not yet achieved	Target not yet achieved	Target not yet achieved	Target not yet achieved
Assessment period					2016-2021			2016-2021	2016-2021	2016-2021	2016-2021	2016-2021	2016-2021	2016-2021	2016-2021	2016-2021
Target assessment description					Er is een proces opgestart om 3 zones af te bakenen en bijhorende visserijmaatregelen te ontwikkelen. In de loop van 2025 moeten deze worden goedgekeurd en omgezet in een Delegated Act. Deze gebieden zijn geselecteerd op basis van ecologische en economische waarde en potentieel herstel, en zijn opgenomen in het mariene ruimtelijke plan.			Transferred to GES definition	Transferred to GES definition	Transferred to GES definition	Transferred to GES definition	Transferred to GES definition	Transferred to GES definition	Transferred to GES definition	Transferred to GES definition	Transferred to GES definition
Related indicator					ANS-BE-T-RED-SFDIST-F-2024				ANS-BE-BENTH-COND-2024	ANS-BE-BENT-DIST-2024	ANS-BE-BENTH-COND-2024	ANS-BE-BENTH-COND-2024		ANS-BE-BENTH-COND-2024
Related measures	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M024	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M024	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022	ANSBE-M021	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M024	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M025 ANSBE-M027 ANSBE-M028	ANSBE-M021	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M025 ANSBE-M027 ANSBE-M028	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M025 ANSBE-M027 ANSBE-M028	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M025 ANSBE-M027 ANSBE-M028	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M025 ANSBE-M027 ANSBE-M028	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M025 ANSBE-M027 ANSBE-M028	ANSBE-M021 ANSBE-M022 ANSBE-M023 ANSBE-M024 ANSBE-M025 ANSBE-M027 ANSBE-M028 ANSBE-M029