The overall objective is: “Marine species and habitats not adversely affected by the effects of human activities”. The objective is given concrete expression by the operational objectives UZN3.1, UZN3.2, UZN3.3, UZN3.4 and UZN3.5.

Operational environmental objective: There are sufficient spatial and temporal refuge and resting areas for ecosystem components. For example, in order to protect against anthropogenic disturbance, unused and/or restricted areas and times (no-take zones and no-take-times, for fishing under the rules of the CFP) are established (see, inter alia, recital 39 of the MSFD). Target specification: — By 2 030.30 % of marine areas are protected under the EU Biodiversity Strategy and OSPAR in a representative and coherent network of protected areas under Article 13(4) of the MSFD. Of these, at least one third (or 10 % of the sea area) are strictly protected.

Operational environmental objective: The structure and function of food webs and marine habitats will not be further adversely affected by by by-catch, discards and bottom-trawled gears. Efforts are being made to regenerate the ecosystem components that have been damaged as a result of the interventions that have already taken place. The functional groups of biological characteristics (Annex III, Table 1 MSFD) or their dietary basis are not jeopardised. (see also objective 4.3)

Operational environmental objective: Human structures and uses do not endanger the natural spread (including migration) of species for which ecologically permeable migration corridors are essential habitats.

The objective is to “maritime environments not affected by anthropogenic energy inputs”. The objective is given concrete expression by the operational objectives UZN6.1, UZN6.2, UZN6.3, UZN6.4 and UZN6.5.

Operational environmental objective: Anthropogenic sound input from impulsive signals and shock waves does not cause physical damage (e.g. a temporary hearing threshold shift in pork beads) or significant disturbance of marine organisms. Development of threshold values (as of 2022) at EU level threshold values refer to a LOBE (Level of Onset of Biologically adverse Effects), i.e. the start of an adverse biologic effect on a corresponding indicator species. — Under short-term exposure, the maximum proportion of a habitat that may be exposed to pulse noise levels above the ‘LO-BE’ is 20 % or less (= 20 %). — In the case of long-term exposure, the maximum proportion of a habitat that may be exposed to pulse noise levels above the ‘LO-BE’ is 10 % or less (= 10 %). — The coordination and development of the LOBE are important decision-making processes and must take place at national and regional level. — Since 2016, the central national noise register, which was set up at the BSH, has been collecting all the relevant data on impulsive sound inputs for German territorial waters and EEZs and reporting them to ICES in a standardised and coordinated manner in order to fulfil the reporting obligations.

Operational objective Noise inputs as a result of continuous, in particular low-frequency, broadband noise have no adverse spatial or temporal effects, such as significant (significant) disturbances (displacement from habitats, masking of biologically relevant signals, etc.) and physical damage to marine organisms. — Intermediate target: Development of threshold values (as at 2022) at EU level Threshold values refer to a LOBE (Level of Onset of Biologically adverse Effects), i.e. the start of an adverse biological effect on a corresponding indicator species.- In no month of the assessment year may more than 20 % (= 20 %) of the habitat of the selected species have noise levels above the LOBE.- The coordination and development of the LOBE are important determining processes and must take place both nationally and regionally.- Transfer from existing temporary measuring points to continuous operation.

Operational environmental objective Anthropogenic heat input has no negative spatial and temporal effects or does not exceed the agreed limit values. In the Wadden Sea, a temperature increase in the sediment of 2K at 30 cm depth is not exceeded, and in the EEZ a temperature increase of 2K at 20 cm sediment depth is not exceeded. Target specification: Compliance with legal limits