D6

1.4

1.5

1.6

6.1

6.2

D6

D6C4

D6C4

D1C6

D6C1

D6C5

• Belgian Part of the North Sea (ANS-BE-MS-1)

• Belgian Part of the North Sea (ANS-BE-MS-1)

• Belgian Part of the North Sea (ANS-BE-MS-1)

• Belgian Part of the North Sea (ANS-BE-MS-1)

• Belgian Part of the North Sea (ANS-BE-MS-1)

• Belgian Part of the North Sea (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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Positive trend in sea floor surface area permanently devoid of bottom-contacting fishing gear disturbance within each of the benthic habitat types (= pressure indicator), as to allow a natural development of the benthic fauna and flora and as to minimise artificial fragmentation of the seafloor (= desired state).

1) Good conditions according to the Water Framework Directive (i.e. good ecological status), Habitats and Birds Directives (i.e. favourable conservation status) and OSPAR (i.e. ecological quality objectives) are attained. Rare and threatened habitat types and species, included in existing legislation and conventions, are protected to the level envisaged by that legislation or convention. 2) The habitat types and constituting species’ populations extent, distribution and condition minimally reflect the conditions described in the Initial Assessment of Belgian waters (2012).

1) Good conditions according to the Water Framework Directive (i.e. good ecological status), Habitats and Birds Directives (i.e. favourable conservation status) and OSPAR (i.e. ecological quality objectives) are attained. Rare and threatened habitat types and species, included in existing legislation and conventions, are protected to the level envisaged by that legislation or convention. 2) The habitat types and constituting species’ populations extent, distribution and condition minimally reflect the conditions described in the Initial Assessment of Belgian waters (2012).

1) Good conditions according to the Water Framework Directive (i.e. good ecological status), Habitats and Birds Directives (i.e. favourable conservation status) and OSPAR (i.e. ecological quality objectives) are attained. Rare and threatened habitat types and species, included in existing legislation and conventions, are protected to the level envisaged by that legislation or convention. 2) 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. 3) The habitat types and constituting species’ populations extent, distribution and condition minimally reflect the conditions described in the Initial Assessment of Belgian waters (2012).

Physical disturbance of the seafloor is minimised to a sustainable level, taking account of the relative sensitivity of habitat types.

Good conditions according to the Water Framework Directive (i.e. good ecological status), Habitats and Birds Directives (i.e. favourable conservation status) and OSPAR (i.e. ecological quality objectives) are attained. Rare and threatened habitat types and species, included in existing legislation and conventions, are protected to the level envisaged by that legislation or convention.

TargetReferencePoint

Not relevant

Not relevant

TargetReferencePoint

Not relevant

TargetReferencePoint

30

100

100

100

100

100

area protected by legislation

multibeam

multibeam

benthos sampling

multibeam

benthos sampling

fully operational (in 2012)

further development needed (by 2018)

further development needed (by 2018)

fully operational (in 2012)

further development needed (by 2018)

fully operational (in 2012)

Pressure

State

State

State

State

State

2020-12

2020-12

2020-12

2020-12

2020-12

2020-12

GES

GES

GES

GES

GES

GES

• SeabedHabitatsAll

• SeabedHabitatsAll

• SeabedHabitatsAll

• SeabedHabitatsAll

• SeabedHabitatsAll

• SeabedHabitatsAll

• PhysDam