— During the environmental impact assessment phase of large infrastructure projects, a permanent change in hydrographical conditions shall be considered appreciable if the following criteria are met: (I) it is caused by a physical loss as defined in criterion D6C1; (II) it causes, in absolute value, a variation of more than 10 % of the mean shoulder voltage relative to the baseline; (III) it causes, in absolute value, a variation of more than 10 % of the duration of sedimentation or erosion compared to the baseline. — Pending the adoption of a common methodology at OSPAR level, the size of the following zones will be reported as parameters negatively affected by permanent changes in hydrographical conditions due to the presence or operation of an infrastructure: the areas listed in criterion D7C1 whose habitat classification would change according to the benthic habitat prediction model developed under EMODNet for Celtic Sea and wider North Sea habitat.

The spatial extent and spread of the permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions (for example, changes to the waveform, currents, salinity, temperature) on the sea ends and the water column do not have a pronounced negative impact on species, populations or an ecosystem level.

Spatial size of each benthic habitat type that undergoes negative effects (physical and hydrographic properties and associated communities) as a result of the permanent change in hydrological conditions.