Member State report / Art9 / 2012 / D8 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 9 Determination of GES (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2012-10-15
GES Descriptor D8 Contaminants
Member State Belgium
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Reported by FPS Health, Food Chain safety and Environment - Service Marine environment
Report date 2012-08-16
Report access ANSBE_MSFD9GES_20130314.xml
GES component
D8
8.1 Concentration of contaminants
8.1.1 Concentration of contaminants
8.2 Effects of contaminants
8.2.1 Level of pollution effects
8.2.2 Occurrence and impact of acute pollution
8.2.2 Occurrence and impact of acute pollution
Method used
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.
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.
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.
Marine reporting units
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
  • Belgian Part of the North Sea
Feature
  • AcutePollutionEvents
  • All birds
  • IntroHazSubstOther
  • WaterColumnHabitatsAll
  • IntroHazSubstOther
  • IntroHazSubstOther
Criterion/indicator
D8
8.1
8.1.1
8.2
8.2.1
8.2.2
8.2.2
GES description
Concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to pollution effects.
Environmental concentrations of contaminants (in water, sediment and biota) are within agreed levels (EQS from WFD, EAC developed in OSPAR).
The effects of contaminants on selected biological processes and taxonomic groups are within agreed levels (relevant OSPAR EcoQO).
Threshold values
Threshold value unit
Proportion of area to achieve threshold value
Reference point type
Baseline
WFD and OSPAR
OSPAR EcoQO
Assessment method
Development status