For the purposes of implementing Article 11 of the MSFD in Germany, the differences between the indicators in terms of scientific knowledge and operativeness are taken into account in their inclusion in assessing environmental status, environmental objectives and the efficiency of measures. In some cases (e.g. biodiversity, food webs, sublitoral habitats, marine litter and energy discharges), knowledge gaps need to be filled before specific, meaningful and cost-effective measurement programmes can be developed and, where appropriate, established. Gaps emerge in terms of: — GES with an inadequate assessment for descriptors D1, D4, D6 and D10 and a partially adequate valuation for D2, D5, D7, D8, D9, D11. — IP with an inadequate assessment for descriptors D2, D3, D7 and a partially adequate valuation for D1, D4, D5, D6, D8, D9, D10, D11 (in particular no specification and quantification of targets). MSFD indicators are at different stages of development and in some cases need to be further developed. Plans/justifications: Where deemed appropriate and efficient, existing gaps in the monitoring programme shall be gradually filled, including through research and development projects, with the aim of assessing the indicators and thus the state of the environment, the achievement of targets and the efficiency of measures by 2018 and updating and adapting the monitoring programmes by 2020. Account should also be taken of the measures to be developed in 2015 pursuant to Article 13 MSFD, the ongoing operationalisation of indicators at national and regional level, the revision of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU). Information on the further development of the indicators can be found in the national list of indicators (Annex V to Part A of the Surveillance Programme/Rakon). In particular, descriptors which have not yet been fully taken into account nationally in monitoring (e.g. D10, D11, part of D2) still require considerable development. The criteria for prioritising the review and operationalisation of the indicators are set out in the Conceptual Framework. The monitoring information sheets of the national monitoring manual www.blmp-online.de/monitoringhandbuch.htm (Part B of the German Monitoring Programme pursuant to Article 11 MSFD) provide more detailed information on the existing monitoring gaps and the plans (e.g. title and duration of a research and development project) to close them. A retreaded monitoring manual will be published in 2015 as part of the continuous updating and updating at www.meeresschutz.info/monitoringhandbuch.html. On the basis of the national report under Article 9 MSFD, assessment procedures will be developed for the indicators, which will also include the (improved) quantification of the GES (taking into account EU, ICES and regional conventions). It is planned to set out overall evaluation procedures in the national monitoring manual in the form of assessment flags. The quantification of environmental targets requires improved methodologies for calculating and evaluating indicators (SMART), which are currently in national and international coordination for a number of descriptors (especially those related to biodiversity). Detailed explanations can also be found in the national communication with comments on the EU Commission report pursuant to Article 12 MSFD.