Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D1-B / Estonia / Baltic Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2020-10-15
GES Descriptor D1 Birds
Member State Estonia
Region/subregion Baltic Sea
Reported by Estonian Environment Agency
Report date 2020-11-11
Report access

Descriptor
D1.1
Monitoring strategy description
The aim of the monitoring strategy "SD1.1 – Biological diversity – Birds" is to assess the status of water birds, their abundance, distribution and population structure in the Estonian marine and coastal areas. The status of waterbirds in the breeding season and the wintering season, as well as the status of migratory birds, are assessed. The following functional groups of water birds are monitored: herbivorous birds, waders, surface-feeding birds, pelagic-feeding birds and benthic-feeding birds. White-tailed eagle breeding success is monitored to assess the impact of contaminants. The monitoring area covers the coasts (up to 20 km landward), coastal sea and off-shore areas. The visual observations on land and from the research vessel, as well as flight monitoring, are conducted. The assessment is produced for the whole Estonian marine areas as a whole. The strategy involves the following monitoring programmes: “Abundance of wintering birds”, “Abundance of waterbirds in the breeding season”, “Abundance of migratory waterbirds (coastal area)”, “Abundance of migratory waterbirds (feeding in off-shore areas)”, and "Birds - mortality due to oil pollution". Information on the uses and human activities affecting birds' populations is collected in the programme “Marine and coastal activities”.
Coverage of GES criteria
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Gaps and plans
One of the shortcomings of the monitoring is the insufficiency of the monitoring system and gathering information on occurred birds by-catches and entangled or trapped within fishing gears. This could give a comprehensive and reliable overview of the incidental by-catch mortality. Project-based monitoring is mostly held nowadays. Since human activity pressure has a large extend on the status of birds population, the improvement of such data collection system should be done. The future assessment of criterion D1C1 could be done using the HELCOM core indicator “Number of drowned mammals and waterbirds in fishing gear”. The protected areas monitoring programme needs to be developed and include birds, mammals, fish, benthos, and habitats, as well as pelagic communities' components.
Related targets
  • BALEE-T30
  • BALEE-T31
  • BALEE-T33
  • Target 16
  • Target 19
  • Target 23
  • Target 26
Coverage of targets
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Related measures
  • BALEE-M001 - 'Developing a network of MPA in the Estonian EEZ'
  • BALEE-M002 - 'Compiling regional aquaculture plans to manage environmental pressures'
  • BALEE-M008 - 'Application of electronic reporting system for fishing gears to better control fishing and avoid abandoning of fishing gear'
  • BALEE-M010 - 'Management of direct discharges of storm water to minimise the load of nutrients, contaminants and litter'
  • BALEE-M011 - 'Enhancing the capability of marine pollution control to respond to emergencies and environmental pollution at sea'
  • BALEE-M012 - 'Managing environmental risks accompanying bunkering at sea'
  • BALEE-M013 - 'Pilot study analysing the organisation of marine litter reception, including abandoned fishing gear, in ports and preparing an action plan'
  • BALEE-M014 - 'Environmental awareness raising about marine litter and preventing plastic packages entering the sea'
  • BALEE-M015 - 'Addressing the topic of marine litter in the National Waste Management Plan and in the waste management plans of local authorities in the coastal area'
  • Not specified - 'Establishing maritime spatial plans and implementing the HELCOM Recommendation 28E/9'
  • Not specified - 'Estonian Environmental Strategy 2030'
  • Not specified - 'Increasing response capacities to oil spills and biota rehabilitation capacity (Water Act)'
  • Not specified - 'Nature Conservation Development Plan until 2020'
  • Not specified - 'The development of a network of protected areas in the coastal and territorial sea of the Baltic Sea'
Coverage of measures
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024
Related monitoring programmes
  • BALEE-D00-40_MarineAndCoastalActivities
  • BALEE-D0104-1_BirdsWinter
  • BALEE-D0104-2_BirdsBreeding
  • BALEE-D0104-3_BirdsMigrateThrough
  • BALEE-D0104-4_BirdsMigrateStay
  • BALEE-D08-35_BirdsWashedAshore
Programme code
BALEE-D00-40_MarineAndCoastalActivities
BALEE-D0104-1_BirdsWinter
BALEE-D0104-2_BirdsBreeding
BALEE-D0104-3_BirdsMigrateThrough
BALEE-D0104-4_BirdsMigrateStay
BALEE-D08-35_BirdsWashedAshore
Programme name
Marine and coastal activities
Abundance of wintering birds
Abundance of water birds in the breeding season
Abundance of migratory water birds (coastal area)
Abundance of migratory water birds (feeding in off-shore areas)
Birds – mortality due to oil pollution (birds washed ashore)
Update type
Modified from 2014
Modified from 2014
Same programme as in 2014
Same programme as in 2014
Same programme as in 2014
Modified from 2014
Old programme codes
  • BALEE-D00-39_CoastalOffshoreActivities
  • BALEE-D08-34_BirdsWashedAshore
Programme description
The aim of the monitoring programme is to collect data on human activities that directly or indirectly impact the marine environment. The monitored human activities are those listed in the MSFD Annex III Table 2b (2017/845/EC) and relevant for point (c) of Article 8(1), and Articles 10 and 13. The following activities are covered: Coastal defence and flood protection; Offshore structures (other than for oil/gas/renewables); Restructuring of seabed morphology, including dredging and depositing of materials; Extraction of minerals; Extraction of oil and gas, including infrastructure; Extraction of water; Renewable energy generation (wind, wave and tidal power), including infrastructure; Transmission of electricity and communications (cables); Fish harvesting (professional, recreational); Fish and shellfish processing; Marine plant harvesting; Hunting and collecting for other purposes; Aquaculture — marine, including infrastructure; Transport infrastructure; Transport — shipping; Waste treatment and disposal; Tourism and leisure infrastructure; Tourism and leisure activities; Military operations and Research, survey and educational activities. Data are gathered at least once during a six-year assessment period, but in some cases also annually. The system of such data collection activities is still under development. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Activities extracting living resources (fisheries including recreational, marine plant harvesting, hunting and collecting); Activities extracting non-living resources (sand, gravel, dredging); Activities producing food (aquaculture); Activities with permanent infrastructures (e.g. renewable energy, oil & gas, ports) or structural changes (e.g. coastal defences); Sea-based mobile activities (shipping, boating); Coastal human activities (e.g. tourism, recreational sports, ecotourism). The programme is the further development of the programme presented in 2014. The code of the programme also changed.
The aim of the programme is to monitor the abundance of waterbirds in the Estonian coastal and off-shore areas during the wintering season. It provides data to monitoring strategy “SD1.1 – Biological diversity – Birds”. The programme is related to GES Descriptor D1, Criterion D1C2 and potentially D1C3 and D1C4, as well as GES Descriptor D4, Criteria D4C1 and D4C2. Monitoring is conducted yearly with a goal to cover the whole area (coastal and off-shore areas) every five years. Visual counting from land in defined sectors and flight counting in off-shore areas are conducted. The programme (data collection) is regionally coordinated by HELCOM and Wetlands International. Data are annually reported to the national environmental monitoring database KESE (by 1 March). Data collection into the regional database for assessment purposes is coordinated by the HELCOM/ICES JWGBird Group. The programme was updated and modified since 2014 by adding the monitoring of the abundance of wintering waterbirds in the off-shore area. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Mobile species – distribution, abundance and/or biomass; Mobile species – population characteristics.
The aim of the programme is to monitor the abundance of waterbirds in Estonian coastal areas during the breeding season. It provides data to monitoring strategy “SD1.1 – Biological diversity – Birds” and “SD8 – Contaminants”. The programme is related to GES Descriptor D1, Criterion D1C2 and potentially D1C3 and D1C4, as well as GES Descriptor D4, Criteria D4C2 and D4C4 and Descriptor D8, Criterion D8C2. Monitoring is conducted yearly on small islands (island groups) where the full number of nests and species are registered. White-tailed eagle breeding success is monitored to assess the impact of contaminants. The monitoring area of the white-tailed eagle relevant to marine status assessment covers the area up to 20 km landward from the seashore. The programme data collection is regionally coordinated via HELCOM. Data are annually reported to the national environmental monitoring database KESE (annually by 1 March). The programme corresponds to following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Mobile species – distribution, abundance and/or biomass; Mobile species – health status; Mobile species – population characteristics.
The aim of the programme is to monitor the abundance of migrating waterbirds at their migration routes in the Estonian coastal areas. It provides data to monitoring strategy “SD1.1 – Biological diversity – Birds”. The programme is related to GES Descriptor D1, Criterion D1C2 and D1C3. Monitoring is conducted once in five years on two locations on the coast. Waterbird species and abundances are recorded by visual observations every day during the migration period four hours after the sunrise and two hours before the sunset. The programme is not regionally coordinated yet. The data are reported to the environmental monitoring database KESE (by 1 March next year). Two possible indicators are still under development: abundance index of migratory waterbirds and sex/age ratio of migratory waterbirds. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Mobile species – distribution, abundance and/or biomass; Mobile species – population characteristics.
The aim of the programme is to monitor the abundance of migratory waterbirds during their migration and feeding in the Estonian off-shore areas. It provides data to monitoring strategy “SD1.1 – Biological diversity – Birds”. The programme is related to GES Descriptor D1, Criterion D1C2 and potentially D1C4, as well as GES Descriptor D4, Criteria D4C1 and D4C2. Monitoring is conducted with a goal to cover all areas once in five years. Waterbird species and abundances are recorded by flight monitoring during the migration period. The programme is regionally coordinated via HELCOM/ICES JWGBirdGroup. Data are reported to the national environmental monitoring database KESE (by 1 March next year). There are no operational indicators yet, but the proposals have been done. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Mobile species – distribution, abundance and/or biomass.
The aim of the programme is to assess the impact of oil pollution on water birds. It provides data to monitoring strategy “SD8 – Contaminants” and is related to GES Descriptor D8, Criteria D8C2 and D8C4, and potentially provides data for monitoring strategy „SD1.1 – Biological diversity – Birds“. Data are gathered to assess the impact of human-induced pressures. Monitoring is conducted twice a year (spring and autumn) by counting dead birds washed ashore along the selected monitoring sites (on beaches). The species and their contamination by oil are recorded, and data are reported as the number of dead birds per 1 km of coastline. The monitoring program is regionally not coordinated yet. Data are yearly reported to the national environmental monitoring database KESE (by 1 March). The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Mobile species – mortality/injury rates from other human activities. The programme is essentially the same as in 2014, only the code was changed.
Monitoring purpose
  • Effectiveness of measures
  • Human activities causing the pressures
  • Pressures at source
  • Pressures in the marine environment
  • Effectiveness of measures
  • Environmental state and impacts
  • Environmental state and impacts
  • Pressures in the marine environment
  • Environmental state and impacts
  • Environmental state and impacts
  • Effectiveness of measures
  • Environmental state and impacts
  • Pressures in the marine environment
Other policies and conventions
  • Bathing Water Directive
  • Birds Directive
  • Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
  • Data Collection Framework Multi-Annual Plan (Common Fisheries Policy)
  • Habitats Directive
  • IMO-BWM
  • Maritime Spatial Planning Directive
  • Minamata Convention on Mercury
  • Monitoring programme targeting at national legislation
  • National Emission Ceilings Directive
  • Nitrates Directive
  • Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutions (POPs)
  • Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
  • Water Framework Directive
  • Birds Directive
  • Habitats Directive
  • Monitoring programme targeting at national legislation
  • Birds Directive
  • Habitats Directive
  • Monitoring programme targeting at national legislation
  • AEWA
  • Birds Directive
  • Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention)
  • Habitats Directive
  • AEWA
  • Birds Directive
  • Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention)
  • Habitats Directive
  • Birds Directive
Regional cooperation - coordinating body
  • HELCOM
  • HELCOM
  • HELCOM
Regional cooperation - countries involved
Regional cooperation - implementation level
Coordinated data collection
Coordinated data collection
Coordinated data collection
Monitoring details
Visual counting from land in defined sectors and flight counting in off-shore areas are conducted. The observation sector includes an easily demarcated stretch of coastline with the sea. 116 sectors have been selected for regular monitoring in the coastal area. As a rule, all coastal (<2 km) waterbirds are counted. Age is also fixed for swans. Several other parameters such as weather (wind strength, visibility, ice cover %) are also recorded during the observations. In order to count the wintering waterbirds in off-shore areas, the flights are conducted every 5 years covering the entire Estonian sea area. The number of birds by species per covered counting section during a certain period of time is fixed from counting transects with a defined width. The monitoring is being conducted in the Estonian marine area up to 50 m depth line. All species are counted during the monitoring and their abundance assessed.
Monitoring is carried out on selected small islands (island groups) and nesting sites of white-tailed eagle (on land up to 20 km from seashore). Breeding pairs, as well as a monitoring-year nest and/or pair or single bird, are used as counting units. All breeding species on the island are registered. The indexes for the assessment of the abundance trend by species are based on whole gathered data from small islands. For assessment of white-tailed eagle productivity their nesting sites are monitored and the number of occupied nests and fledglings are registered. The nests are usually being controlled in late May-early July. The productivity is counted as the mean number of fledglings per occupied nest. The monitoring on small islands is carried out every year on sites with continuous monitoring and where cormorant, Sandwich tern and Caspian tern colonies are monitored continuously. Other sites are monitored in rotation – at least once per 6-year period. The monitoring of white-tailed eagle nesting sites is done in rotation, and all nests are controlled at least once every 3 years. Breeding birds monitoring is mainly being conducted in frames of the national monitoring programme. Updated and detailed information on the monitoring plan according to the national monitoring programme is available at https://www.keskkonnaagentuur.ee/eesmargid-tegevused/keskkonnaseire/seireankeedid.
Waterbird species and abundances are recorded by visual observations every day during the migration period four hours after the sunrise and two hours before the sunset. All waterbirds are counted (swans, geese, ducks, loons, grebes, cormorants, auks), wading birds and seagulls (excluding great black-backed and European herring gulls). If possible, the sex and age composition of flocks are also fixed for counted species groups. The monitoring is mainly project-based and is conducted every 5 years. The counting is performed on the Põõsaspea site in autumn and the Kabli site in spring.
The main method used for the data collection is counting and aerial surveys are mainly used in this programme. The Estonian marine area up to 50 m water depth is covered by the monitoring and divided to 10 monitoring areas. The visual aerial survey line transect method presents the counting the number of all migratory bird species from moving platform at a certain time period by line transect sections. There is a main bar of a transect with a certain width, and the number of individuals is registered on it. The main bar is also divided into the sections so that detectability of birds could be accounted in distant parts. The main bar and its divisions also allow estimating the density and the total abundance of migratory birds in the monitoring areas as well as compose detailed maps of birds distribution. The primary counting data are collected by a passed distance of the transect section within a certain time period: with 5 sec of aerial survey corresponds to 250 m distance of transect. The distance between counting transects is usually 3 km, but sometimes 6 km distances could be implemented in areas, where low abundancy could be expected, e.g deep-sea areas. The monitoring is mainly project-based yet and conducted annually with rotation (all monitoring areas are covered once in a five-year period). The need and rationality of carrying out of the ship-based surveys as additional counting method will be specified as the regular monitoring starts.
The monitoring is carried out twice a year in four designated areas: in spring, usually in April and May, when migratory waterbirds have not left yet, and in autumn, usually in late October or early November, when the autumn migration of birds is ending. In some monitoring areas additional winter and spring observations have also been conducted at the initiative of observers. The number of dead birds is characterized by the density (number of individuals/km). At certain monitoring area, all dead birds or their remains washed ashore are counted. Residues that are difficult to determine are collected with reference material for later determination. In addition, dead seals found during the observations are recorded. The main parameters obtained as a result of monitoring are the density of dead waterbirds (individuals/ km) and the proportion of oil-stained waterbirds of all found waterbirds (%). The monitoring is carried out in frames of the national environmental monitoring programme (Wildlife diversity and landscape monitoring subprogramme, monitoring activity Birds washed ashore).
Features
Aquaculture – marine, including infrastructure
Fish and shellfish harvesting (professional, recreational)
Hunting and collecting for other purposes
Marine plant harvesting
Extraction of minerals (rock, metal ores, gravel, sand, shell)
Extraction of oil and gas, including infrastructure
Extraction of water
Military operations (subject to Article 2(2))
Transmission of electricity and communications (cables)
Renewable energy generation (wind, wave and tidal power), including infrastructure
Research, survey and educational activities
Coastal defence and flood protection
Offshore structures (other than for oil/gas/renewables)
Restructuring of seabed morphology, including dredging and depositing of materials
Tourism and leisure activities
Tourism and leisure infrastructure
Transport infrastructure
Transport – shipping
Waste treatment and disposal
Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) – diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events
Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter)
Input of nutrients – diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition
Input of anthropogenic sound (impulsive, continuous)
Benthic-feeding birds
Grazing birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Benthic-feeding birds
Grazing birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Benthic-feeding birds
Grazing birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Benthic-feeding birds
Grazing birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Wading birds
Benthic-feeding birds
Grazing birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Wading birds
Benthic-feeding birds
Grazing birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Wading birds
Coastal ecosystems
Adverse effects on species or habitats
Benthic-feeding birds
Grazing birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Wading birds
Benthic-feeding birds
Grazing birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Wading birds
Adverse effects on species or habitats
Benthic-feeding birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Benthic-feeding birds
Pelagic-feeding birds
Surface-feeding birds
Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter)
Acute pollution events
Adverse effects on species or habitats
Elements
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
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  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
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  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
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  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
  • Aythya fuligula
  • Aythya marila
  • Bucephala clangula
  • Clangula hyemalis
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Melanitta nigra
  • Polysticta stelleri
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Anas platyrhynchos
  • Cygnus columbianus
  • Cygnus cygnus
  • Cygnus olor
  • Fulica atra
  • Alca torda
  • Gavia arctica
  • Gavia stellata
  • Mergellus albellus
  • Mergus merganser
  • Mergus serrator
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Podiceps cristatus
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Larus argentatus
  • Larus canus
  • Larus marinus
  • Larus ridibundus
  • Aythya fuligula
  • Aythya marila
  • Bucephala clangula
  • Clangula hyemalis
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Melanitta nigra
  • Polysticta stelleri
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Anas platyrhynchos
  • Cygnus columbianus
  • Cygnus cygnus
  • Cygnus olor
  • Fulica atra
  • Alca torda
  • Gavia arctica
  • Gavia stellata
  • Mergellus albellus
  • Mergus merganser
  • Mergus serrator
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Podiceps cristatus
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Larus argentatus
  • Larus canus
  • Larus marinus
  • Larus ridibundus
  • Aythya fuligula
  • Aythya marila
  • Bucephala clangula
  • Clangula hyemalis
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Melanitta nigra
  • Polysticta stelleri
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Anas platyrhynchos
  • Cygnus columbianus
  • Cygnus cygnus
  • Cygnus olor
  • Fulica atra
  • Alca torda
  • Gavia arctica
  • Gavia stellata
  • Mergellus albellus
  • Mergus merganser
  • Mergus serrator
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Podiceps cristatus
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Larus argentatus
  • Larus canus
  • Larus marinus
  • Larus ridibundus
  • Aythya ferina
  • Aythya fuligula
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Anser anser
  • Branta leucopsis
  • Cygnus olor
  • Fulica atra
  • Mergus merganser
  • Mergus serrator
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Podiceps cristatus
  • Haliaeetus albicilla
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Hydroprogne caspia
  • Larus argentatus
  • Larus canus
  • Larus fuscus graellsii
  • Larus fuscus intermedius
  • Larus marinus
  • Larus ridibundus
  • Sterna albifrons
  • Sterna hirundo
  • Sterna paradisaea
  • Sterna sandvicensis
  • Arenaria interpres
  • Calidris alpina
  • Charadrius hiaticula
  • Haematopus ostralegus
  • Recurvirostra avosetta
  • Tadorna tadorna
  • Aythya ferina
  • Aythya fuligula
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Anser anser
  • Branta leucopsis
  • Cygnus olor
  • Fulica atra
  • Mergus merganser
  • Mergus serrator
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Podiceps cristatus
  • Haliaeetus albicilla
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Hydroprogne caspia
  • Larus argentatus
  • Larus canus
  • Larus fuscus graellsii
  • Larus fuscus intermedius
  • Larus marinus
  • Larus ridibundus
  • Sterna albifrons
  • Sterna hirundo
  • Sterna paradisaea
  • Sterna sandvicensis
  • Arenaria interpres
  • Calidris alpina
  • Charadrius hiaticula
  • Haematopus ostralegus
  • Recurvirostra avosetta
  • Tadorna tadorna
  • Aythya ferina
  • Aythya fuligula
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Anser anser
  • Branta leucopsis
  • Cygnus olor
  • Fulica atra
  • Mergus merganser
  • Mergus serrator
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Podiceps cristatus
  • Haliaeetus albicilla
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Hydroprogne caspia
  • Larus argentatus
  • Larus canus
  • Larus fuscus graellsii
  • Larus fuscus intermedius
  • Larus marinus
  • Larus ridibundus
  • Sterna albifrons
  • Sterna hirundo
  • Sterna paradisaea
  • Sterna sandvicensis
  • Arenaria interpres
  • Calidris alpina
  • Charadrius hiaticula
  • Haematopus ostralegus
  • Recurvirostra avosetta
  • Tadorna tadorna
  • Apex predators
  • Haliaeetus albicilla
  • Aythya ferina
  • Aythya fuligula
  • Aythya marila
  • Bucephala clangula
  • Clangula hyemalis
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Melanitta nigra
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Anas acuta
  • Anas clypeata
  • Anas crecca
  • Anas penelope
  • Anas platyrhynchos
  • Anser albifrons
  • Anser anser
  • Branta bernicla
  • Branta canadensis
  • Branta leucopsis
  • Cygnus columbianus
  • Cygnus cygnus
  • Cygnus olor
  • Alca torda
  • Cepphus grylle
  • Gavia arctica
  • Gavia stellata
  • Mergellus albellus
  • Mergus merganser
  • Mergus serrator
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Podiceps auritus
  • Podiceps cristatus
  • Podiceps grisegena
  • Uria aalge
  • Chlidonias niger
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Hydroprogne caspia
  • Larus canus
  • Larus fuscus graellsii
  • Larus fuscus intermedius
  • Larus ridibundus
  • Stercorarius parasiticus
  • Sterna albifrons
  • Sterna hirundo
  • Sterna paradisaea
  • Sterna sandvicensis
  • Actitis hypoleucos
  • Arenaria interpres
  • Calidris alba
  • Calidris alpina
  • Calidris canutus
  • Calidris ferruginea
  • Calidris minuta
  • Charadrius hiaticula
  • Haematopus ostralegus
  • Limosa lapponica
  • Numenius arquata
  • Numenius phaeopus
  • Philomachus pugnax
  • Pluvialis apricaria
  • Pluvialis squatarola
  • Tadorna tadorna
  • Tringa glareola
  • Tringa nebularia
  • Tringa totanus
  • Vanellus vanellus
  • Aythya ferina
  • Aythya fuligula
  • Aythya marila
  • Bucephala clangula
  • Clangula hyemalis
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Melanitta nigra
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Anas acuta
  • Anas clypeata
  • Anas crecca
  • Anas penelope
  • Anas platyrhynchos
  • Anser albifrons
  • Anser anser
  • Branta bernicla
  • Branta canadensis
  • Branta leucopsis
  • Cygnus columbianus
  • Cygnus cygnus
  • Cygnus olor
  • Alca torda
  • Cepphus grylle
  • Gavia arctica
  • Gavia stellata
  • Mergellus albellus
  • Mergus merganser
  • Mergus serrator
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Podiceps auritus
  • Podiceps cristatus
  • Podiceps grisegena
  • Uria aalge
  • Chlidonias niger
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Hydroprogne caspia
  • Larus canus
  • Larus fuscus graellsii
  • Larus fuscus intermedius
  • Larus ridibundus
  • Stercorarius parasiticus
  • Sterna albifrons
  • Sterna hirundo
  • Sterna paradisaea
  • Sterna sandvicensis
  • Actitis hypoleucos
  • Arenaria interpres
  • Calidris alba
  • Calidris alpina
  • Calidris canutus
  • Calidris ferruginea
  • Calidris minuta
  • Charadrius hiaticula
  • Haematopus ostralegus
  • Limosa lapponica
  • Numenius arquata
  • Numenius phaeopus
  • Philomachus pugnax
  • Pluvialis apricaria
  • Pluvialis squatarola
  • Tadorna tadorna
  • Tringa glareola
  • Tringa nebularia
  • Tringa totanus
  • Vanellus vanellus
  • Benthic-feeding birds
  • Pelagic-feeding birds
  • Surface-feeding birds
  • Wading birds
  • Grazing birds
  • Clangula hyemalis
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Melanitta nigra
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Alca torda
  • Gavia arctica
  • Gavia stellata
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Larus argentatus
  • Larus canus
  • Clangula hyemalis
  • Melanitta fusca
  • Melanitta nigra
  • Somateria mollissima
  • Alca torda
  • Gavia arctica
  • Gavia stellata
  • Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Hydrocoloeus minutus
  • Larus argentatus
  • Larus canus
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
  • Not Applicable
GES criteria
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
NotRelevan
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
D1C4
D1C4
D1C4
D1C4
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
D1C4
D1C4
D1C4
D1C4
D1C4
D4C1
D4C2
D4C4
D8C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
NotRelevan
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C4
D1C4
D1C4
D10C4
D8C3
D8C4
Parameters
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • AMO-WC
  • Amount on coastline
  • Amount on seabed
  • Other
  • Other
  • Level of sound
  • Other
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Age distribution
  • Age distribution
  • Age distribution
  • Age distribution
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (spatial)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (spatial)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (spatial)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (spatial)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Breeding success
  • Breeding success
  • Breeding success
  • Breeding success
  • Brood size
  • Breeding success
  • Breeding success
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Other
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Age distribution
  • Sex distribution
  • Age distribution
  • Sex distribution
  • Age distribution
  • Sex distribution
  • Age distribution
  • Sex distribution
  • Age distribution
  • Sex distribution
  • Incidence
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (spatial)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (spatial)
  • Distribution (pattern)
  • Distribution (range)
  • Distribution (spatial)
  • Other
  • Other
  • Other
Parameter Other
Production (tonnes); Area; Nutrient load
Catch; By-catch
Number of individuals hunted by species (waterbird
Amount (kg); Area
Mining volume; Mining area; Area pressure index
Pipe length (area); Area pressure index
Volume
Number of explosions; Number of trainings; Trainin
Cable length (area); Area pressure index
Area; Area pressure index
Volume of costs on marine researches; Number of re
Length of defence structure; Coastline pressure in
Area of structure; Area pressure index
Soil volume; Extent; Area pressure index
Number of vacationists; Number of visits; People's
Number of marinas per coastline; Length of beach
Area; Volume (goods and passengers); Number of loa
Number of ships (incl. number of ships complying w
Areas of dumping sites and volume of dumped materi
Pollution load (tonnes/year) - Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn,
Amount in sediments; Litter type and material
Pollution load (tonnes/year) - N, P, BHT5
Number of disturbance days - Impulsive underwater
Species composition
Distribution (pattern); Distribution (range)
Breeding success
Productivity; Brood size; Breeding success
Incidence (the effect of acute pollution (ie oil s
Number of individuals, which are adversely affecte
Presence
Abundance (number of dead individuals, ind/km); Ag
Spatial scope
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • EEZ (or similar)
  • Territorial waters
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • EEZ (or similar)
  • Territorial waters
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • Territorial waters
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • EEZ (or similar)
  • Territorial waters
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
Marine reporting units
  • BAL-EE-AA
  • BAL-EE-EGB
  • BAL-EE-GF
  • BAL-EE-GR
  • BAL-EE-NBP
  • BAL-EE-AA
  • BAL-EE-AA
  • BAL-EE-AA
  • BAL-EE-AA
  • BAL-EE-AA
Temporal scope (start date - end date)
2015-9999
1967-9999
1957-9999
2004-9999
2022-9999
1992-9999
Monitoring frequency
Other
Yearly
Yearly
Other
Yearly
Other
Monitoring type
  • Administrative data collection
  • Remote flight imagery
  • Visual observation
  • Visual observation
  • Visual observation
  • Remote flight imagery
  • Visual observation
  • Visual observation
Monitoring method
  • OSPAR CEMP Guidelines for Monitoring and Assessment of loud, low and mid-frequency impulsive sound sources in the OSPAR Maritime Region
  • Other monitoring method
  • HELCOM Guidelines for coordinated monitoring of wintering birds
  • Other monitoring method
  • Other monitoring method
  • Other monitoring method
  • Other monitoring method
Monitoring method other
There is no separate monitoring for the programme, the administrative data collection is performed and based on information from databases, maps, plans, environmental permits and their reporting and controls, etc. Estonian maritime spatial plan. The frequency of monitoring depends on activity: from annually to once per the 6-year period.
The monitoring is based on the method and proposals described by A. Leito in "Väikeste meresaarte haudelindude (merelindude) seire senine kogemus ning ettepanekud ühtse riikliku seireprogrammi rakendamiseks Eestis" ("Experience of monitoring of breeding birds on small maritime islands and proposals for the implementation of the common national monitoring programme in Estonia") in 2008. Monitoring is carried out on selected small islands (island groups) and nesting sites of white-tailed eagle (on land up to 20 km from seashore). Breeding pairs, as well as a monitoring-year nest and/or pair or single bird, are used as counting units. The number of breeding species on the island Is counted. The indexes for the assessment of the abundance trend are based on whole gathered data from small islands. For assessment of white-tailed eagle productivity, the nesting sites are monitored and the number of occupied nests and fledglings are fixed. The nests are usually being controlled in late May-early July. The productivity is counted as the mean number of fledglings per occupied nest. The monitoring on small islands is carried out every year on sites with continuous monitoring and where cormorant, Sandwich tern and Caspian tern colonies are monitored continuously, other sites are monitored in rotation – at least once per 6-year period. The monitoring of white-tailed eagle nesting sites is done in rotation, and all nests are controlled at least once every 3 years.
Waterbird species and abundances are recorded by visual observations every day during the migration period four hours after the sunrise and two hours before the sunset. All waterbirds are counted (swans, geese, ducks, loons, grebes, cormorants, auks), wading birds and seagulls (excluding great black-backed and European herring gulls). If possible, the sex and age composition of flocks are also fixed. The monitoring is mainly project-based and is conducted every 5 years. The counting is performed on the Põõsaspea site in autumn and the Kabli site in spring.
The visual aerial survey line transect method presents the counting the number of migratory bird species from moving platform at a certain time period by line transect sections. There is the main bar of a transect with a certain width, and the number of individuals is fixed on it. The main bar is also divided into the sections so that detectability of birds could be accounted in distant parts. The main bar and its division also allow estimating the density and the total abundance of migratory birds in the monitoring areas as well as compose detailed maps of birds distribution. The primary counting data are collected by a passed distance of the transect section within a certain time period: with 5 sec of aerial survey corresponds to 250 m distance of transect. The distance between counting transects is usually 3 km, but sometimes 6 km distances could be implemented in areas, where low abundancy could be expected e.g deep-sea areas.
National (https://www.keskkonnaagentuur.ee/sites/default/files/seiretoo_ankeet_randa_uhutud_linnud_2020.docx; https://kese.envir.ee/kese/downloadReportFile.action?fileUid=12394806&monitoringWorkUid=1207453) and HELCOM/ICES JWGBird Group agreed methods (the monitoring time is not agreed).
Quality control
Data quality control systems of relevant data sources.
National, including data quality control when entering data into the e-Biodiversity (PlutoF) database. Internationally coordinated by Wetlands International, HELCOM/ICES JWGBirdGroup.
National, ie observations are carried out by professional observers and quality control is performed when entering data into databases.
National, ie observations are carried out by professional observers and quality control is performed when entering data into databases.
National and international. Observations are carried out by professional observers. Internationally coordinated by Wetlands International, HELCOM/ICES JWGBirdGroup.
The observations are conducted by professional observers and data quality control is performed while submitting into the database. Also HELCOM/ICES JWGBirg Group agreed method is used.
Data management
The data are compiled from different databases of different institutions. The compilation and collection of data are coordinated by the Marine Environment Department of the Ministry of the Environment.
Data are annually reported to the national environmental monitoring database KESE (by 1 March). Data collection into the regional database for assessment purposes is coordinated by the HELCOM/ICES JWGBird Group.
Data are annually reported to the national environmental monitoring database KESE (by 1 March). Data collection into the regional database for assessment purposes is coordinated by the HELCOM/ICES JWGBird Group.
The data collected during the monitoring are submitted to the national environmental monitoring database KESE. More detailed data are also available at Põõsaspea monitoring website of Estonian Ornithological Society (https://www.eoy.ee/poosaspea/).
Data collected during the monitoring are submitted to the national environmental monitoring database KESE (by 1 March).
Data and reports are yearly submitted to the national environmental monitoring database KESE.
Data access
http://register.keskkonnainfo.ee/envreg/main#HTTPMEaW1ThSjHUyzXzMt7jr3MuRYp5PuE,https://andmed.stat.ee/et/stat,https://geoportaal.maaamet.ee/,https://kese.envir.ee,https://kotkas.envir.ee/,https://veeteedeamet.ee/et/laevandus-eesti-lipp-sadamad/eesti-laevaregistrid,https://vet.agri.ee/et/kalandus-toiduturg/puugistatistika-lossimiskohad-ja-kala-esmakokkuostukohad/puugiandmed,https://www.agri.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/kalamajandus-ja-kutseline-kalapuuk/puugiandmed,https://www.eas.ee/teenused/,https://www.ehr.ee/,https://www.envir.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/kalandus/harrastuspuuk/statistika-ja-uuringud,https://www.envir.ee/et/kalanduse-uuringud-ja-aruanded,https://www.etis.ee/,https://www.keskkonnaagentuur.ee/et/kuttimine,https://www.keskkonnaamet.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/jahindus/operatiivsed-kuttimisandmed,https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/,https://www.sadamaregister.ee/,https://www.terviseamet.ee/et/keskkonnatervis/ettevotjale-ja-kohalikule-omavalitsusele/supluskohad-ja-ujulad/suplusvee-profiilid,https://xgis.maaamet.ee/xgis2/page/app/maainfo,https://xgis.maaamet.ee/xgis2/page/app/merekaart
Related indicator/name
Contact
Estonian Environment Agency, kaur@envir.ee; Estonian Ornithological Society, eoy@eoy.ee; Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Leho Luigujõe, leho.luigujoe@emu.ee.
Meelis Leivits, Estonian Environment Agency, meelis.leivits@envir.ee
Meelis Leivits, Estonian Environment Agency, meelis.leivits@envir.ee
Estonian Environment Agency, kaur@envir.ee; Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Leho Luigujõe, leho.luigujoe@emu.ee.
Estonian Environment Agency: Piret Kiristaja, piret.kiristaja@envir.ee; Anastasiia Kovtun-Kante, anastasiia.kovtun-kante@envir.ee; Arthur Kivi, arthur.kivi@envir.ee.
References
The monitoring programme is approved by the minister of the environment and available at https://www.envir.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/merekeskkonna-kaitse/merestrateegia (https://www.envir.ee/sites/default/files/mereala_seireprogramm_2021_2026.pdf) (in Estonian).
The monitoring programme is approved by the minister of the environment and available at https://www.envir.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/merekeskkonna-kaitse/merestrateegia (https://www.envir.ee/sites/default/files/mereala_seireprogramm_2021_2026.pdf) (in Estonian).
The monitoring programme is approved by the minister of the environment and available at https://www.envir.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/merekeskkonna-kaitse/merestrateegia (https://www.envir.ee/sites/default/files/mereala_seireprogramm_2021_2026.pdf) (in Estonian).
The monitoring programme is approved by the minister of the environment and available at https://www.envir.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/merekeskkonna-kaitse/merestrateegia (https://www.envir.ee/sites/default/files/mereala_seireprogramm_2021_2026.pdf) (in Estonian).
The monitoring programme is approved by the minister of the environment and available at https://www.envir.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/merekeskkonna-kaitse/merestrateegia (https://www.envir.ee/sites/default/files/mereala_seireprogramm_2021_2026.pdf) (in Estonian).
The monitoring programme is approved by the minister of the environment and available at https://www.envir.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/merekeskkonna-kaitse/merestrateegia (https://www.envir.ee/sites/default/files/mereala_seireprogramm_2021_2026.pdf) (in Estonian).