Not assessed.

Not assessed.

Pressures from hydrographic changes in the German North Sea are primarily caused by seabed disturbances due to sealing by coastal defence and port structures, wind expansion and transit pipelines. These were taken into account in the previous assessment as physical loss, as they are correspondingly large-scale and permanent changes to the seabed lasting more than 12 years, as defined in Decision (EU) 2017/848. The described modified hydrographical conditions in the territorial sea surrounding coastal protection structures have been assessed as permanent but not as physical loss. Both sand and gravel extractions and dredging or sediment repositioning as part of the maintenance or upgrading of waterways have also not been attributed to the physical loss of the seabed, since, in addition to spatial and temporal assessment, data on the type, quantity and composition of the material removed or transferred in the regional context have not yet been taken into account and without this it is not possible to categorise it as disturbance or loss of the seabed. The removal or incineration method is also decisive for the assessment of the interventions. The spatial extent of individual permanent changes is so small that it has not yet been possible to carry out any investigations in this regard. Here too, there is a lack of reliable reference data, particularly with regard to benthic habitats. In the coastal waters of the German North Sea ([lt] 1 sm), approximately 2 % of benthic habitats are affected by permanent changes in hydrographic conditions. Of this, 1.8 % is due to disturbances in the vicinity of coastal protection structures. These are not counted as seabed loss (cf. D6). English version: Impacts due to Hydrographic changes in the German North Sea are primarily to be found in Impairments to the seabed that are attributable to sealing by coastal protection and port structures, wind power expansion and transit pipelines. Theywere taken into account as physical loss in the present assessment, as they result in large-scale and permanent changes to the seabed that last longer than 12 years, according to Decision (EU) 2017/848. The described altered Hydrographic conditions in the territorial sea in the vicinity of coastal protection structures are permanent. However, they have not been assessed as a physical loss (see above). Both sand and Gravel extraction and the placement of dredged material or sediment relocation as part of the maintenance or expansion of waterways were also not classified as physical loss of seabed. This is due to the fact that, in addition to the spatial and temporal assessment, data on the type, quantity and composition of the material removed or relocated has not yet been taken into account in the regional context. Without having this data it is not possible to classify the impact as disturbance or loss of the seabed. In addition, the method of removal or sediment transport is also crucial for the assessment of the interventions. The spatial extent of individual permanent changes is so small that it has not yet been possible to carry out any studies on their impact. Here too, there is a lack of reliable reference data, especially with regard to benthic habitats. In the coastal waters of the German North Sea ([lt] 1 nm), approx. 2 % of the benthic habitats are affected by permanent changes in Hydrographic conditions. Of this, 1.8 % is due to disturbance in the vicinity of coastal protection structures. These impacts are not counted as seabed loss (see D6).

Not assessed.

Not assessed.

Pressures from hydrographic changes in the German North Sea are primarily caused by seabed disturbances due to sealing by coastal defence and port structures, wind expansion and transit pipelines. These were taken into account in the previous assessment as physical loss, as they are correspondingly large-scale and permanent changes to the seabed lasting more than 12 years, as defined in Decision (EU) 2017/848. Both sand and gravel extractions and dredging or sediment repositioning as part of the maintenance or upgrading of waterways have not been attributed to the physical loss of the seabed, since, in addition to spatial and temporal assessment, data on the type, quantity and composition of the material removed or transferred in the regional context have not yet been taken into account and without this it is not possible to categorise it as disturbance or loss of the seabed. The removal or incineration method is also decisive for the assessment of the interventions. Around 1 % of the seabed area of the marine waters of the North Sea ([gt] 1 sm) is covered by sediment extraction/transfer permits, which were also exploited during the reporting period. However, use does not necessarily take place on the entire area covered by the permit. There is no comprehensive information on the size of the area actually affected. In addition, a total of around 1 724 km of cable lines were laid between 2016 and 2021. The construction activities cause a temporary disturbance of the hydrographic conditions. The impact of these interventions on the seabed is taken into account under descriptor D6. The spatial extent of individual permanent modifications is so small that it has not yet been possible to carry out any studies on this. Here too, there is a lack of reliable reference data, particularly with regard to benthic habitats. In marine waters ([gt] 1 sm), less than 0.1 % of benthic habitats are affected by permanent changes in hydrographic conditions (see D6).