D7

7.1 Spatial characterisation of permanent alterations

7.1.1 Extent of area affected

7.2 Impact of permanent hydrographical changes

7.2.1 Extent of habitats affected

7.2.2 Change in habitats

MAL-CY-MS: GES was determined through both a qualitative description and using environmental thresholds/limits which quantitatively describe the desired state of the environment: (a) The qualitative expression of GES describes what the environment should look like in terms of the state/condition of the ecosystem, based on the best available data provided in the Initial Assessment with regards to the state of the environment and pressures and impacts. (b) The quantitative thresholds/limits which determine whether GES is achieved or not are possible in specific cases because of the relatively high availability of data collected in the framework of monitoring and research programmes.
Where lack of data prevented a quantitative determination of GES, GES was expressed qualitatively at the level of the descriptor, e.g., D2 and D7.
In the case of data-rich descriptors, criteria and indicators, quantitative thresholds/limits were calculated by developing a status estimation system, which was largely based on the Initial Assessment reports, published discussions of GES and the descriptors in the reports of the JRC/ICES Task Groups as well as the peer-reviewed literature.
In order to calculate the status at a descriptor level, differently weighted site-based indicators were estimated as follows: (1) Presence of reference condition sites: the deviation (%) of indicator mean value estimated at all sites from indicator mean reference condition sites value, (2) Absence of reference condition sites: Coefficient of Variance (CV=standard deviation/mean), (3) Absence of quantitative data: expert judgment.
All data were assigned a status value (between 0 as low and 1 as high). GES was considered to be achieved if the status is given a value of 0.75 or greater.

• Marine waters of the Republic of Cyprus, as part of the marine subregion "Agean-Levantine sea"

• Marine waters of the Republic of Cyprus, as part of the marine subregion "Agean-Levantine sea"

• Marine waters of the Republic of Cyprus, as part of the marine subregion "Agean-Levantine sea"

• Marine waters of the Republic of Cyprus, as part of the marine subregion "Agean-Levantine sea"

• Marine waters of the Republic of Cyprus, as part of the marine subregion "Agean-Levantine sea"

• Marine waters of the Republic of Cyprus, as part of the marine subregion "Agean-Levantine sea"

• ChangeHydrology
• Current velocity
• LitRock
• LitSed
• MarineCoast
• MarineShelf
• Mixing
• PhysDam
• PhysLoss
• Residence time
• Salinity
• SeaSurfaceTemperature
• ShallCoarseSed
• ShallMud
• ShallMxdSed
• ShallRock
• ShallSand
• ShelfCoarseSed
• ShelfMud
• ShelfMxdSed
• ShelfRock
• ShelfSand
• TopographyBathymetry
• Transparency
• Turbidity (silt/sediment loads)
• Upwelling
• WaveExposure

D7

7.1

7.1.1

7.2

7.2.1

7.2.2

The marine environment of Cyprus is considered to be in good environmental status by the year 2020 if large-scale infrastructure projects are undertaken at such a scale so that the permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions does not adversely affect marine ecosystems. Quantitatively, this descriptor cannot be calculated based on a formula at present, and is assigned the value given to criterion 7.1 (at present, 1.0).