MS/Art10/2018/D6/Belgium/NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Member State report / Art10 / 2018 / D6 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type	Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article	Art. 10 Environmental targets (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due	2018-10-15
GES Descriptor	D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats
Member State	Belgium
Region/subregion	NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Reported by	RBINS - Scientific Service MUMM
Report date	2020-01-14
Report access	ART10_Targets_BE.xml

Simplified table

Target code	D6.T1	D6.T10	D6.T2	D6.T3	D6.T4	D6.T5	D6.T6	D6.T7	D6.T8	D6.T9	Target 12	Target 13	Target 14	Target 15	Target 16	Target 9
Target description	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).	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.	Spring median benthic bioturbation potential (BPc) in the Abra alba habitat type is higher than 100.	Positive trend in median colony/body size of the sessile, long-lived and/or larger benthic species Buccinum undatum, Mytilus edulis, Flustra foliacea, Haliclona oculata and Alcyonium digitatum.	Positive trend in frequency of occurrence and median adult density of at least half of the key and long-lived species Ostrea edulis, Sabellaria spinulosa, Mytilus edulis, Buccinum undatum, Haliclona oculata, Alcyonium digitatum and Alcyonidiumspp.	No loss or positive trend in species richness within all key hard substrate taxa, i.e. Porifera, Cnidaria, Bryozoa, Polychaeta, Malacostraca, Maxillopoda, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Echinodermata and Ascidiacea.	Decreasing relative frequency of occurrence of damaged Asterias rubens (2+ cm arm length) and tube clusters of Pomatoceros triqueter, indicative for physical disturbance of the bottom (= pressure indicator), as to enhance natural development of the gravel bed ecosystem (= desired state).	Positive trend in sea floor surface area disturbed only by alternative, environment-friendly fishing gear which pursues a substantial reduction of bottom disturbance within each of the benthic habitat types (= pressure indicator), as to allow for an improved benthic habitat quality and as to minimise artificial fragmentation of the seafloor (= desired state).
Feature(s)	Benthic habitats Physical disturbance to seabed	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats Physical disturbance to seabed	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats	Benthic habitats Physical disturbance to seabed
GES components	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)	D1 D6C3 Adverse effects from physical disturbance (6.1.2) D6C4 Benthic habitat extent (1.4, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.5, 1.5.1, 6.1.1)	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)	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	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012	202012
Update date	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809	201809
Update type	Same as 2012 definition	New target	Same as 2012 definition	Same as 2012 definition	Same as 2012 definition	Same as 2012 definition	Modified from 2012 definition	Modified from 2012 definition	Modified from 2012 definition	Modified from 2012 definition	Target no longer needed	Target no longer needed	Target no longer needed	Target no longer needed	Target no longer needed	Target no longer needed
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
Element 2
Parameter	Other		Other	Extent	Other	Abundance					Other	Other	Other	Abundance	Other	Other
Parameter - other	Sea floor surface area		Spatial extent and distribution		Ecological Quality Ratio						Benthic Bioturbation Potential	Trend in median colony/body size	Frequency of occurrence and median adult density		Frequency of occurrence	Sea floor surface area
Target value
Value achieved - upper
Value achieved - lower
Value unit
Value unit - other
Target status
Assessment period	2012-2018		2012-2018	2012-2018	2012-2018	2012-2018					2012-2018	2012-2018	2012-2018	2012-2018	2012-2018	2012-2018
Target assessment description	A Joint Recommendation with proposed fisheries restrictive measures in Belgian marine waters was sent to the European Commission on 28 February 2017. The European Commission prepared a delegated act for submission to the European Council and the European Parliament on 2 March 2018. In the end, the Parliament decided on 14 June 2018 not to accept this delegated act, as the pulse trawl was mentioned in the background document as a possible alternative bottom contacting technique. The European Parliament had already voted against the use of this technique in another resolution on 16 January 2018. Since the background document was established for some time before that date, it could not be taken into account at that time. A new procedure for the development of fisheries measures will have to be established in the context of the new marine spatial plan for Belgian marine waters.		See AssociatedIndicator	See AssociatedIndicator	See AssociatedIndicator	See AssociatedIndicator					See AssociatedIndicator	See AssociatedIndicator	See AssociatedIndicator	See AssociatedIndicator	See AssociatedIndicator	A Joint Recommendation with proposed fisheries restrictive measures in Belgian marine waters was sent to the European Commission on 28 February 2017. The European Commission prepared a delegated act for submission to the European Council and the European Parliament on 2 March 2018. In the end, the Parliament decided on 14 June 2018 not to accept this delegated act, as the pulse trawl was mentioned in the background document as a possible alternative bottom contacting technique. The European Parliament had already voted against the use of this technique in another resolution on 16 January 2018. Since the background document was established for some time before that date, it could not be taken into account at that time. A new procedure for the development of fisheries measures will have to be established in the context of the new marine spatial plan for Belgian marine waters.
Related indicator			Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates	Habitats distribution and ratio hard/soft	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates					Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates	Condition of Benthic Habitat Communities: Hard and soft substrates
Related measures	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M005 ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M004 ANSBE-M005 ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M004 ANSBE-M005 ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M004 ANSBE-M005 ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M004 ANSBE-M005 ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M004 ANSBE-M005 ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008	ANSBE-M007 ANSBE-M008