Member State report / Art14 / 2022 / D5 / Estonia / Baltic Sea
Report type | Member State report to Commission |
MSFD Article | Art. 14 Exceptions (and Art. 17 updates) |
Report due | 2022-10-15 |
GES Descriptor | D5 Eutrophication |
Member State | Estonia |
Region/subregion | Baltic Sea |
Reported by | Estonian Environmental Research Centre |
Report date | 2023-03-01 |
Report access | 363 |
Marine reporting units |
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Region subregion |
Baltic Sea |
Exception code |
BALEE-E02 |
Exception old code |
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Exception name |
Exception for achieving good environmental status of eutrophication in Estonian marine area |
Exception type |
Art. 14(1)(e) |
Exception reason |
Other(e) |
GES achieved |
2060-2070 |
Relevant pressures |
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Relevant targets |
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GES component |
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Relevant features |
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Justification description |
The reason for the exception is the long time lag between the reduction in the input of nutrients and full impact on the effects of eutrophication. The main conclusion from the HELCOM ACTION project SOM (sufficiency of existing measures for the input of nutrients into the Baltic Sea) analysis is that the time lag depends on how much nitrogen loadings are reduced, but that they are likely decades, and thus it is not realistically possible to reach GES before 2050. Three causes for the long time lag are identified: the long residence time in the Baltic Sea, the large pool of historical nutrients and that the present nitrogen loading is higher than the natural background. An additional challenge is climate change, which will affect nutrient loads in multiple ways (eg by increased runoffs) and complicates projection of future nutrient inputs. By implementing all the excisting and new measures (from WFD water management plans; HELCOM Action Plan and MSFD programmes of measures) by the end of this implementation cycle (end of 2027) and taking into account the time lag, the GES of eutrophication is not expected to be achieved before years 2060-2070. |
Spatial scope geographic zones |
Coastal waters (WFD);Territorial waters;EEZ (or similar) |
Mitigation |
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Measures ad hoc |
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Further information |
Section 2.7 'Exceptions' of the report of Eutrophication (web link: https://envir.ee/media/7600/download; also Eutrophication thematic report is uploaded to reportnet under supporting documents)
References from EE report:
HELCOM ACTION, 2021a. Analysis of total nitrogen in the Baltic Sea and implications for time lag in achieving good environmental status (GES)' (https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Analysis-of-total-nitrogen-in-the-Baltic-Sea-and-implications-for-time-lag-in-achieving-good-environmental-status-GES.pdf)
HELCOM ACTION, 2021c. Conditions that influence Good Environmental Status (GES) in the Baltic Sea (https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Conditions-that-influence-Good-Environmental-Status-GES-in-the-Baltic-Sea.pdf)
Liblik & Lips, 2019. Stratification Has Strengthened in the Baltic Sea – An Analysis of 35 Years of Observational Data (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Taavi-Liblik/publication/334163093_Stratification_Has_Strengthened_in_the_Baltic_Sea_-An_Analysis_of_35_Years_of_Observational_Data/links/5d1b0714a6fdcc2462b749dd/Stratification-Has-Strengthened-in-the-Baltic-Sea-An-Analysis-of-35-Years-of-Observational-Data.pdf)
TTÜ, 2021. Siseveekogude ja mere veenormide vahelised seosed ja vorreldavus (https://www.etag.ee/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/KEM-ttu_veenormid_lopparuanne_13.05.2021.pdf) |