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
  • BAL-EE-AA
Region subregion
Baltic Sea
Exception code
BALEE-E02
Exception old code
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
Relevant targets
GES component
  • D5
  • D5C1 Nutrient concentrations (5.1, 5.1.1)
Relevant features
  • Benthic broad habitats
  • Eutrophication
  • HabPelOther
  • Other benthic habitats
  • Pelagic broad habitats
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
Measures ad hoc
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)