Member State report / Art10-2024 / 2024 / D6 / Germany / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
| Report type | Member State report to Commission |
| MSFD Article | Art10 |
| Report due | 2024-10-15 |
| GES Descriptor | D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats |
| Member State | Germany |
| Region/subregion | NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea |
| Report date | 2024-10-15 10:22:35 |
Target code |
UZN1 |
UZN1 |
UZN1.1 |
UZN1.1 |
UZN1.2 |
UZN1.3 |
UZN1.3 |
UZN2 |
UZN2.1 |
UZN2.2 |
UZN2.3 |
UZN2.4 |
UZN2.5 |
UZN3 |
UZN3.1 |
UZN3.2 |
UZN3.3 |
UZN3.4 |
UZN3.5 |
UZN4 |
UZN4.3 |
UZN4.5 |
UZN4.6 |
UZN5 |
UZN5.1 |
UZN5.2 |
UZN5.3 |
UZN6.3 |
UZN7 |
UZN7.1 |
UZN7.2 |
UZN7.3 |
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Target code |
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Target description |
The objective is “Sea free from eutrophication”. The objective is given concrete expression by the operational objectives UZN1.1, UZN1.2 and UZN1.3. Under OSPAR and the new North-East Atlantic Environmental Strategy, Germany has committed to derive nutrient reduction targets (see objective S1.O2: “By 2022 OSPAR will determine the maximum inputs of nutrients for relevant assessment areas which prevent deterioration and enable the achievement of non-problem area status throughout the North-East Atlantic”). Work in OSPAR is delayed, with the result that corresponding reduction targets or maximum permitted nutrient inputs can only be expected in 2025.
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The objective is “Sea free from eutrophication”. The objective is given concrete expression by the operational objectives UZN1.1, UZN1.2 and UZN1.3. Under OSPAR and the new North-East Atlantic Environmental Strategy, Germany has committed to derive nutrient reduction targets (see objective S1.O2: “By 2022 OSPAR will determine the maximum inputs of nutrients for relevant assessment areas which prevent deterioration and enable the achievement of non-problem area status throughout the North-East Atlantic”). Work in OSPAR is delayed, with the result that corresponding reduction targets or maximum permitted nutrient inputs can only be expected in 2025.
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Operational environmental objective for the overarching environmental objective ‘Sea free from anthropogenic eutrophication’. Nutrient inputs through rivers should be further reduced. The indicator for environmental objective 1.1 is the nutrient concentrations at the transfer point of the rivers flowing into the North Sea in limno-marin.
Discharge-normalised loads of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds from German tributaries to the North Sea have been declining since 1990. The loads were standardised as the annual fluctuations were very high as a result of the discharge and the fluctuations can be removed by the standardisation of the discharge. Nitrogen inputs into the North Sea from all rivers (excluding the Rhine) decreased by 3 975 tonnes per year between 1990 and 2019, with a significant trend, and phosphorus inputs by 241 tonnes per year. The four major North Sea tributaries (Elbe, Eider, Ems, Weser) individually showed all significant decreasing trends between 1990-2019, both for nitrogen and phosphorus. Looking at the period 2011-2020, there is no significant decrease for both the sum of all North Sea inflows and the four large inflows. The Ems even recorded a non-significant increase in both nitrogen and phosphorus loads (indicator sheet nutrient concentrations at the transfer point, limnic/marine).
The nutrient inputs measured at the transfer point of limno-marine to the North Sea are unchanged compared to the assessment periods 2011-2015 and 2015-2019 at 0.1 % (213 tonnes per year) for nitrogen and 4 % (261 tonnes per year) lower for phosphorus (indicator sheet nutrient concentrations 10 at the transfer point of limno-marine). When comparing the 2015-2019 and 1990-11 1994 assessment periods, nutrient inputs decreased by 42 % (103.264 tonnes per year) for nitrogen and by 54 % (6.703 tonnes per year) for phosphorus.
According to the MoRE substance input model, agriculture (just over 70 % of nitrogen inputs) continued to be the main contributor to nitrogen in 2016-2018. Some 25 % of nitrogen inputs were generated from waste water, e.g. via urban waste water treatment plants and sewers (rainwater discharges and combined water overflows).
For phosphorus, just over 65 % of inputs are via wastewater-borne input pathways, such as wastewater treatment plants and sewers (rainwater discharges and storm water overflows). About 30 % of phosphorus inputs come from agriculture. Due to methodological adjustments in the current modelling as well as the use of input data, some of which are new and spatially better dissolved, in particular for phosphorus, it is not possible to make a comparison with the last MSFD evaluation in 2018.
For references and further information, see: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024.
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Operational environmental objective for the overarching environmental objective ‘Sea free from anthropogenic eutrophication’. Nutrient inputs through rivers should be further reduced. The indicator for environmental objective 1.1 is the nutrient concentrations at the transfer point of the rivers flowing into the North Sea in limno-marin.
Discharge-normalised loads of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds from German tributaries to the North Sea have been declining since 1990. The loads were standardised as the annual fluctuations were very high as a result of the discharge and the fluctuations can be removed by the standardisation of the discharge. Nitrogen inputs into the North Sea from all rivers (excluding the Rhine) decreased by 3 975 tonnes per year between 1990 and 2019, with a significant trend, and phosphorus inputs by 241 tonnes per year. The four major North Sea tributaries (Elbe, Eider, Ems, Weser) individually showed all significant decreasing trends between 1990-2019, both for nitrogen and phosphorus. Looking at the period 2011-2020, there is no significant decrease for both the sum of all North Sea inflows and the four large inflows. The Ems even recorded a non-significant increase in both nitrogen and phosphorus loads (indicator sheet nutrient concentrations at the transfer point, limnic/marine).
The nutrient inputs measured at the transfer point of limno-marine to the North Sea are unchanged compared to the assessment periods 2011-2015 and 2015-2019 at 0.1 % (213 tonnes per year) for nitrogen and 4 % (261 tonnes per year) lower for phosphorus (indicator sheet nutrient concentrations 10 at the transfer point of limno-marine). When comparing the 2015-2019 and 1990-11 1994 assessment periods, nutrient inputs decreased by 42 % (103.264 tonnes per year) for nitrogen and by 54 % (6.703 tonnes per year) for phosphorus.
According to the MoRE substance input model, agriculture (just over 70 % of nitrogen inputs) continued to be the main contributor to nitrogen in 2016-2018. Some 25 % of nitrogen inputs were generated from waste water, e.g. via urban waste water treatment plants and sewers (rainwater discharges and combined water overflows).
For phosphorus, just over 65 % of inputs are via wastewater-borne input pathways, such as wastewater treatment plants and sewers (rainwater discharges and storm water overflows). About 30 % of phosphorus inputs come from agriculture. Due to methodological adjustments in the current modelling as well as the use of input data, some of which are new and spatially better dissolved, in particular for phosphorus, it is not possible to make a comparison with the last MSFD evaluation in 2018.
For references and further information, see: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024.
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Operational environmental objective for the overarching environmental objective ‘Sea free from anthropogenic eutrophication’. Nutrients from remote inputs from other marine areas shall be reduced. This should be promoted in the context of regional cooperation under the OSPAR Convention.
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Operational environmental objective for the overarching environmental objective ‘Sea free from anthropogenic eutrophication’. Nutrient inputs from the atmosphere shall be further reduced. The target value for the environmental objective is the reduction commitments for nitrogen oxides and ammonia emissions set for Germany under the Gothenburg Protocol to the Air Convention and the EU NEC Directive. Germany fully complied with the reduction commitments of 39 % for nitrogen oxides and 5 % for ammonia 15 (reference year 2005) to be met from 2020 under the Gothenburg Protocol, as reported in 2022 and 2023. From 2030 onwards, under the EU NEC Directive, nitrogen oxide emissions must have been reduced by 65 % and ammonia emissions by 29 % on the basis of the same reference year. The Gothenburg Protocol is currently subject to a review process, which for the first time also takes into account the marine trait.
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Operational environmental objective for the overarching environmental objective ‘Sea free from anthropogenic eutrophication’. Nutrient inputs from the atmosphere shall be further reduced. The target value for the environmental objective is the reduction commitments for nitrogen oxides and ammonia emissions set for Germany under the Gothenburg Protocol to the Air Convention and the EU NEC Directive. Germany fully complied with the reduction commitments of 39 % for nitrogen oxides and 5 % for ammonia 15 (reference year 2005) to be met from 2020 under the Gothenburg Protocol, as reported in 2022 and 2023. From 2030 onwards, under the EU NEC Directive, nitrogen oxide emissions must have been reduced by 65 % and ammonia emissions by 29 % on the basis of the same reference year. The Gothenburg Protocol is currently subject to a review process, which for the first time also takes into account the marine trait.
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The objective is ‘Sea free from pollution by harmful substances’. The objective is given concrete expression by the operational objectives UZN2.1, UZN2.2, UZN2.3, UZN2.4 and UZN2.5.
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Operational environmental objective: Pollutant inputs via rivers should be further reduced. Reduction requirements were laid down in the WFD’s programmes of measures and management plans.
Target specification: Substance-specific thresholds under the WFD and OSPAR: No EQS exceedance in coastal and transitional waters
Intermediate objectives: — There is no increasing trend for substances below the EQS in coastal and transitional waters. — Significant decreasing trend of substances in coastal and transitional waters exceeding EQS
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Operational objective: Pollutant inputs from the atmosphere shall be further reduced. The achievement of objectives and trend were not assessed.
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Operational objective: Pollutant inputs from marine sources shall be reduced. This applies in particular to gaseous and liquid discharges, but also to the introduction of solid substances.
Intermediate target: Decreasing trend. Discharges from offshore installations, wrecks are considered; Contaminated sites, dangerous, lost goods; Ammunition and shipping. Marine litter (D10) is excluded. Whether and how sediment injections should be considered remains to be assessed.
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Operational objective: Discharges of oil and oil products and mixtures into the sea shall be reduced and avoided. This concerns illegal, permitted and unintentional entries. Entries by shipping are only allowed under the strict conditions of the MARPOL Convention; in order to reduce them further, efforts should be made to adapt or amend the MARPOL Annexes.
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Operational objective: Concentrations of pollutants in the marine environment and the resulting pollution effects shall be reduced and shall be attributed to good environmental status.
Target specification: Negative effects from cumulative pollutant concentrations not represented by EQS/OSPAR and the resulting effects on the marine environment (e.g. biological pollutant effects/mixed toxicity, etc.)
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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.
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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.
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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)
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Operatives Umweltziel: Wenn unter Berücksichtigung der Auswirkungen des Klimawandels die ökologischen Voraussetzungen für eine erfolgreiche Wiederansiedlung von lokal ausgestorbenen oder bestandsgefährdeten Arten gegeben sind, werden ihre Wiederansiedlung oder die Stabilisierung ihrer Population angestrebt, sowie weitere Gefährdungsursachen in für diese Arten ausreichend großen Meeresbereichen beseitigt. Zu den lokal in der deutschen Nordsee ausgestorbenen oder bestandsgefährdend zurückgegangenen Arten zählen beispielsweise der Stör (Acipenser sturio), der Helgoländer Hummer (Homarus gammarus) und die Europäische Auster (Ostrea edulis).
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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.
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Operatives Umweltziel: Die Gesamtzahl von Einschleppungen und Einbringungen neuer Arten geht gegen Null. Zur Minimierung der (unbeabsichtigten) Einschleppung sind Vorbeugemaßnahmen implementiert. Neu auftretende Arten werden so rechtzeitig erkannt, dass ggf. Sofortmaßnahmen mit Aussicht auf Erfolg durchgeführt werden können. Die Zeichnung und Umsetzung bestehender Verordnungen und Konventionen sind hierfür eine wichtige Voraussetzung. Zielkonkretisierung: Neuankunft von max. 1-2 Arten im Bewertungszeitraum von sechs Jahren
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The overall objective is: “Marine with sustainable and low impact resources”. The objective is given concrete expression by the operational objectives UZN4.1, UZN4.2, UZN4.3, UZN4.4, UZN4.5 and UZN4.6.
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Operational environmental objective: Fishing does not harm the other ecosystem components (non-target species and benthic communities) to the extent that it jeopardises the achievement or maintenance of their specific good environmental status. (see also objective 3.2)
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Operational objective: Within the protected areas in the German North Sea, the protection objectives and purposes come first. The specific public interests of coastal protection in the exploitation of non-living resources must be taken into account and only taken into account after a thorough assessment of alternatives. 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.
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Operational environmental objective: The exploitation or exploration of non-living resources does not damage or significantly disturb the ecosystem components of the German North Sea, in particular sensitive, declining and protected species and habitats. Particular attention shall be paid to the breeding, rearing, moulting, hibernation and migration periods and to the breeding, resting and feeding sites of the species concerned.
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The aim is to ‘maritime environments free from pollution by waste’. The objective is given concrete expression by the operational objectives UZN5.1, UZN5.2 and UZN5.3.
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Operational environmental objective: Continuous reduced discharges and a reduction in waste already present lead to a significant reduction in waste that is harmful to the marine environment on beaches, on the sea surface, in the water column and on the seabed. EU limit value to be reached: 20 pieces of waste per 100 metres of beach line Furthermore, the North-East Atlantic Environmental Strategy (NEAES) 2030 was adopted by OSPAR in 2021. It sets a number of time-bound, operational targets, including a reduction target of at least 50 % by 2025 and of at least 75 % by 2030 of the most common single-use plastic products and litter items from the maritime sector found on beaches.
The evaluations carried out in the context of OSPAR for the period 2015-2020 can give an idea of how Germany is approaching NEAS target S4.O3. Beach litter data
on German North Sea beaches, the quantity of single-use plastics has significantly decreased by one part of the waste to 100 metres per year on the beach line in the indicated time period. The Medi-an
the number of SEA articles in this period was 11 waste items. Continuing the trend calculated for the period 2015-2020, a 50 % reduction in single-use plastics on the 23 German North Sea beaches could be achieved in the short term, but certainly not by 2025. No costs can be incurred for the presence of marine waste items, as there are currently no
significant trends in the data. The median number of marine litter was 19.b. Intermediate target water column and seabed in the absence of existing limit values: The number of litter items in the water column and on the seabed shows a significant negative trend by 2026 at the latest.
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Operational environmental objective: Proven harmful waste in marine organisms (especially microplastics) is close to zero in the long term. Target specification: OSPAR target (threshold):
Less than 10 % of stranded dead ice tower birds found had 0.1 g or more of plastic in their stomachs
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Operational environmental objective: Other adverse environmental effects (such as entanglement and strangulation in waste parts) are minimised.
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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
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The objective is “Oceans with natural hydromorphological characteristics”. The objective is given concrete expression by the operational objectives UZN7.1, UZN7.2 and UZN7.3.
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Operational environmental objective: The (partial) catchment areas of the watt zones are in natural balance. The substrate forms present are in their typical and dynamic equilibrium proportions. There is natural variability in salinity.
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Operational environmental objective: The sum of the influences on hydrological processes has no adverse impacts on marine ecosystems.
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Operational environmental objective: Changes in habitats, and in particular in habitat functions (e.g. spawning, nursery and feeding grounds or migration/traffic routes of fish, birds and mammals) due to anthropogenic changes in hydrographic conditions do not, alone or cumulatively, endanger species and habitats or cause populations to decline.
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Target purpose |
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Feature(s) |
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GES components |
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Timescale |
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Update date |
202110 |
202110 |
202412 |
202412 |
202110 |
202012 |
202012 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
201205 |
Update type target |
TargetNew |
TargetNew |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
TargetSame |
Marine reporting unit |
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Element |
PresInputNut;PresInputOrg |
PresInputNut;PresInputOrg |
PresInputNut;PresInputOrg |
PresInputNut;PresInputOrg |
PresInputNut;PresInputOrg |
PresInputNut;PresInputOrg |
PresInputNut;PresInputOrg |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
PresEnvHydroChanges |
PresEnvHydroChanges |
PresEnvHydroChanges |
Parameter |
OTH-Total Nitrogen
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OTH-Total Phosphorus
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CONC-W-Total Nitrogen
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CONC-W-Total Phosphorus
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OTH-Import Nitrogen and Phosphorus
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OTH-Deposition Nitrogen
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OTH-Emission Nitrogen
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Other
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Distribution (spatial)
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Extent
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Habitat condition
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Target value |
2.8 |
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Target value |
<= |
<= |
<= |
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Value achieved - upper |
4.5 |
0.08 |
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Value achieved - lower |
2.5 |
0.22 |
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Value unit |
milligram per litre
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milligram per litre
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% change
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Target status |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target achieved |
Target achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
Target achieved |
Target achieved |
Target not yet achieved |
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Assessment period |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2020 |
2016 - 2020 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2020 |
2016 - 2020 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
2016 - 2021 |
Target assessment description |
To date, no overall reduction targets for nitrogen have been set at OSPAR. This can only be expected in 2025. The assessment of progress therefore takes place at the level of the operational environmental objectives.
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OSPAR has not yet set overall reduction targets for phosphorus. This can only be expected in 2025. The assessment of progress therefore takes place at the level of the operational environmental objectives.
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The management target value at the inland-marine transfer point of <=2.8 mg/l for total nitrogen (TN) must be achieved by each river reaching the North Sea. The target was reached in the five-year average 2016-2020 for the Rhine and the Bongsieler Canal (Indicator sheet on nutrient concentrations at the transfer point, limnic/marine). The watercourse-specific guideline value for TP was achieved by all rivers except the Elbe (indicator sheet nutrient concentrations at the transfer point, limnic/marine). As regards the assessment method, it is a simple comparison of the measured river concentrations at the transfer point in limno-marine with the management target value or watercourse-specific guidance value. In order to take into account the above-described fluctuations in the outflow, in future outflow-standardised cargoes should be compared with a target cargo. This examination was carried out on a test basis (indicator sheet on nutrient concentrations at the transfer point, limnic/marine).
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For phosphorus, depending on the water type, a river-specific orientation value of <=0.1 or <=0.30 mg/l TP was set at the transfer point in limno-marine (which is why it was not possible to give an indication of the target value, as only one entry is permitted there). The watercourse-specific guidance value must be achieved by each river reaching the North Sea. It is currently assumed that, if the watercourse-specific guidance value for TP is respected, good ecological status under the WFD and good environmental status under the MSFD can be achieved. The orientations are currently under scientific review.
The watercourse-specific guideline value for TP was achieved by all rivers except the Elbe (indicator sheet nutrient concentrations at the transfer point, limnic/marine). As regards the assessment method, it is a simple comparison of the measured river concentrations at the transfer point in limno-marine with the management target value or watercourse-specific guidance value. In order to take into account the above-described fluctuations in the outflow, in future outflow-standardised cargoes should be compared with a target cargo. This examination was carried out on a test basis (indicator sheet on nutrient concentrations at the transfer point, limnic/marine).
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Remote inputs from other marine areas continue to be an important source of nutrients entering Germany’s North Sea waters. Close to the coast, Germany’s share of water-borne nitrogen inputs was 54 %, 12 % from the Netherlands and 6 % from the UK (Lenhart and Große 2018). In the outer German EEZ, Germany’s share of nitrogen inputs decreased to only 2 %, the Netherlands’ share increased to 13 % and the United Kingdom’s share to 11 %. As regards the share of the Netherlands, it should be borne in mind that, for the purposes of this analysis, the nutrient inputs from the Rhine are attributed exclusively to the Netherlands. No conclusions can currently be drawn on trends in remote inputs, but a model study of WFD reductions showed that remote inputs from other OSPAR Contracting States decrease proportionally to the level of planned nitrogen input reductions under the WFD (Lenhart and Große 2018). Environmental objective 1.2 on reducing remote entries can only be addressed through regional cooperation with OSPAR. It can be assumed that remote inputs are sufficiently taken into account when deriving State-based nutrient reduction targets. Work is currently under way in OSPAR to derive corresponding reduction targets as part of the new North-East Atlantic environmental strategy.
In future, in addition to the indicator ‘Import of nitrogen and phosphorus’, the indicator ‘Export of nitrogen and phosphorus’ should also be considered, as Germany also influences the waters of neighbouring countries through its nutrient inputs.
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No target values were set for the deposition of nitrogen compounds. It is assumed that the emission reductions to which Germany has committed itself under the Gothenburg Protocol to the Air Convention and the EU NEC Directive sufficiently reduce atmospheric nitrogen input so that good status under the MSFD can be achieved. Approximately 33 % of nitrogen inputs in OSPAR Region II (Extended North Sea) come from atmospheric deposition in marine waters (OSPAR indicator Inputs of Nutrients). In 2020, 35.304 tonnes of nitrogen were deposited in the German EEZ (18.707 tonnes of reduced nitrogen and 16.597 tonnes of oxidised nitrogen) (EMEP MSC-W Technical Report 3/2022). The time series of normalised nitrogen deposition shows a 51 % decrease (37.800 tonnes) between 1990 and 2020. Deposition of oxidised nitrogen has decreased by 20 % per decade since 1990 and deposition of reduced nitrogen by 12 %. Since 2010, there has been no decrease in the deposition of reduced nitrogen, while the deposition of oxidised nitrogen has decreased by 33 % per decade. Approximately 20 % of the deposition of oxidised nitrogen compounds on the North Sea waters in the German EEZ resulted from German emissions, approximately 20 % came from the United Kingdom, approximately 6 % from the 23 Netherlands, approximately 10 % from France and approximately 16 % from North Sea shipping (OSPAR 2018). With regard to the deposition of reduced nitrogen compounds, Germany had a significantly higher share (around 53 %), 16 % came from the Netherlands, 9 % from France and 7 % from the United Kingdom (OSPAR 2018). Navigation in the North Sea and North East Atlantic accounted for 11 % of atmospheric nitrogen inputs in 2014 (OSPAR 2018). Since OSPAR has not commissioned any source analysis of the deposition since then, more recent data are not available.
For references and further information, see: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024.
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The target value for the environmental objective is the reduction commitments for nitrogen oxides and ammonia emissions set for Germany under the Gothenburg Protocol to the Air Convention and the EU NEC Directive. Germany fully complied with the reduction commitments of 39 % for nitrogen oxides and 5 % for ammonia 15 (reference year 2005) to be met from 2020 under the Gothenburg Protocol, as reported in 2022 and 2023. From 2030 onwards, under the EU NEC Directive, nitrogen oxide emissions must have been reduced by 65 % and ammonia emissions by 29 % on the basis of the same reference year. The Gothenburg Protocol is currently subject to a review process, which for the first time also takes into account the marine trait.
In 2 020.40 % of Germany’s emissions of oxidised nitrogen compounds came from 14 transport, 22 % from the energy sector, 13 % from households and small consumers and 11 % from agriculture (UBA environmental data – nitrogen oxide emissions). In 2 020.95 % of Germany’s emissions of reduced nitrogen compounds came from agriculture 17 (UBA data on the environment – ammonia emissions). Since 1990, German emissions of oxidised nitrogen compounds have decreased by 66 %, while German emissions of reduced nitrogen compounds have decreased by only 25 %.
For references and further information, see: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024.
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The assessment of progress takes place at the level of operational environmental objectives.
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As part of the OSPAR Riverine Inputs and Direct Discharges (RID) for the assessment of point, diffuse and natural waterborne input loads, the Länder of Schles-WIG-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Hamburg monitor the inputs from rivers and point sources of cadmium, mercury, lead and other metals. Compared to the assessment periods 2011-2014 and 2017-2020, cadmium has decreased by 40 % from 5 to 3 t/a and lead by 13 % from 118 to 103 t/a. The highest reduction, 52 %, from 1.7 to 0.8 t/a 6 is observed for mercury compared to these two assessment periods. The OSPAR indicator on mercury, cadmium and lead inputs via river inputs and the atmosphere shows that the trends identified since 1990 have continued and the inputs have further decreased between 2011-2019 for the North Sea.
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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Status assessment 2024:
Trend towards zero cannot be assessed at present.
2016-2021: Number of complex cases: Three
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According to the 2024 status assessment:
119 substances/groups assessed as good and meeting the thresholds
2 substances/groups are not evaluated
9 substances/groups are assessed as poor and do not comply with the threshold values (Hg, Pb, PAHs, PCB 118, PBDE, TBSN+, cypermethrin, imidacloprid, PFOS)
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Setting targets pursuant to Section 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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Setting targets pursuant to Section 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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The assessment of progress takes place at the level of operational environmental objectives.
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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The assessment of progress takes place at the level of operational environmental objectives.
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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For further explanations, see ‘’Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (Ed.) (2024): Status of German North Sea waters in 2024. Updating the initial assessment pursuant to § 45c, the description of the good status of marine waters pursuant to § 45d and the setting of targets pursuant to § 45e of the Water Management Act to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Federal Government/Länder working group for the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (BLANO), 15 October 2024. Annex II)
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