As part of EEA's ongoing security and identity management improvements, we are currently migrating the system to Entra ID authentication.
We kindly ask all users to start using Entra ID credentials when logging in to the system. 

Please note that LDAP authentication will be phased out and disabled by the end of August 2026.
We encourage you to verify that you can successfully access the system and that your account and permissions function as expected after Entra ID login.
Should you encounter any issues or require assistance during this transition, please contact Laszlo Cseh at laszlo.cseh@eaudeweb.ro 
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
As part of EEA's ongoing security and identity management improvements, we are currently migrating the system to Entra ID authentication.
We kindly ask all users to start using Entra ID credentials when logging in to the system. 

Please note that LDAP authentication will be phased out and disabled by the end of August 2026.
We encourage you to verify that you can successfully access the system and that your account and permissions function as expected after Entra ID login.
Should you encounter any issues or require assistance during this transition, please contact Laszlo Cseh at laszlo.cseh@eaudeweb.ro 
Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Member State report / Art8-2024 / 2024 / D7 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art8
Report due 2024-10-15
GES Descriptor D7 Hydrographical changes
Member State Belgium
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Report date 2026-01-13 14:08:15

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

Regional assessment area
Component MRUs
GES component
D7
D7
Feature
Hydrographical changes
Benthic broad habitats
Element
Littoral sediment
Element extent
Trend element
Unknown
Element 2
Element source
EU
Criterion
D7C1
D7C2
Parameter
Extent
Other
Threshold value upper
Threshold value lower
Threshold value operator
Threshold qualitative
Threshold value source
Value achieved upper
0.45
0.45
Value achieved lower
Value unit
square kilometre
square kilometre
Proportion threshold value
Proportion value achieved
Proportion threshold value unit
Trend parameter
Unknown
Unknown
Parameter achieved
Not assessed
Unknown
Description parameter
Area physically lost, disturbed or hydrographically altered: Infra-structures built after 1992.
Since 1992, in the nearshore area (< 1nmile) the outer-ports of Oostende (0,45 km²) are man-made waves sheltered areas that induce adverse impacts at the scale of the broadscale benthic habitat.
Related indicator
  • ANS-BE-HYDR-2024
  • ANS-BE-HYDR-2024
Criteria status
Not relevant
Unknown
Description criteria
Element status
Unknown
Description element
Source assessment feature
  • National
  • National
Reporting method feature
Type D
Type D
Trend feature
Unknown
Unknown
Integration rule type parameter
Not relevant
Not relevant
Integration rule description parameter
Integration rule type criteria
Not relevant
Not relevant
Integration rule description criteria
GES extent threshold
GES extent achieved
GES extent unit
Not relevant
Not relevant
GES achieved
Not relevant
Not relevant
Description overall status
Over the period 2016-2021, the total extent of permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions in the Belgian Part of the North Sea increased from 65,84 km² to 93,73 km². This increase is exclusively due to the construction of 217 new wind turbines across 6 new windfarms. The wakes that develop behind each wind turbine might disturb the suspension-sedimentation pattern on a total area of 203.5 km2. However, these permanent alterations of the hydrographical condition are too weak to generate adverse effect at the level of the broadscale benthic habitat.
Over the period 2016-2021, the total extent of permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions in the Belgian Part of the North Sea increased from 65,84 km² to 93,73 km². This increase is exclusively due to the construction of 217 new wind turbines across 6 new windfarms. The wakes that develop behind each wind turbine might disturb the suspension-sedimentation pattern on a total area of 203.5 km2. However, these permanent alterations of the hydrographical condition are too weak to generate adverse effect at the level of the broadscale benthic habitat.
Assessments period
2016-2021
2016-2021
Related pressures
  • Hydrographical changes
  • Hydrographical changes
Related targets
  • D7.1
  • D7.1
Test TV
NA
NA
Test results
Correct
Correct