MS/Art9/2018/D6/Estonia/Baltic Sea

Member State report / Art9 / 2018 / D6 / Estonia / Baltic Sea

Report type	Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article	Art. 9 Determination of GES (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due	2018-10-15
GES Descriptor	D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats
Member State	Estonia
Region/subregion	Baltic Sea
Reported by	Estonian Environment Agency
Report date	2020-04-06
Report access	msfd2018-ART9_GES_FINAL2019_.xml

Simplified table

GES component	D6	D6C1	D6C2	D6C3	D6C4	D6C5
Marine reporting units				BAL-EE-AA	BAL-EE-AA	BAL-EE-AA
Features				Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats
GES description				GES under the criteria D6C3 is determined via the spatial area of physical disturbance to the habitat type sandbanks (code 1110), estuaries (code 1130), mudflats and sandflats (code 1140), large shallow inlets and bays (code 1160), reefs (code 1170). GES is achieved if the extent of the physically disturbed habitat is ≤ 10% of the total area of the habitat type.	GES under the criteria D6C4 is determined via the spatial area of loss of the habitat type sandbanks (code 1110), estuaries (code 1130), mudflats and sandflats (code 1140), large shallow inlets and bays (code 1160) and reefs (code 1170) resulting from anthropogenic loss of the natural seabed. GES is achieved if the habitat type loss resulting from anthropogenic loss of the natural seabed is ≤ 5% of the total area of the habitat type.	GES under the criteria D6C5 is determined via quality of habitat type reefs (code 1170), mudflats and sandflats (code 1140), sandbanks (code 1110), estuaries (code 1130), large shallow inlets and bays (code 1160). GES is achieved if the numerical value of the habitat type quality indicator is above 0,6 (in addition, all the elements assessed in the indicator must be in the good status). Element threshold values for each habitat type, are listed below. Reefs: distributional range (1x1 km2 grid): 24210 km2; area (1x1 km2 grid): 1304 km2; structure and functions: ≥90% of the monitoring stations in GES; future perspectives: good. Mudflats and sandflats: distributional range (1x1 km2 grid): 8581 km2; area (1x1 km2 grid): 353 km2; structure and functions: ≥90% of the monitoring stations in GES; future perspectives: good. Sandbanks: distributional range (1x1 km2 grid): 20823 km2; area (1x1 km2 grid): 1007 km2; structure and functions: ≥90% of the monitoring stations in GES and in addition Furcellaria lumbricalis population in Kassary bay in GES; future perspectives: good. Estuaries: distributional range (1x1 km2 grid): 125 km2; area (1x1 km2 grid): 108 km2; structure and functions: ≥90% of the monitoring stations in GES; future perspectives: good. Large shallow inlets and bays: distributional range (1x1 km2 grid): 10708 km2; area (1x1 km2 grid): 495 km2; structure and functions: ≥90% of the monitoring stations in GES; future perspectives: good.
Determination date				201807	201807	201807
Update type				New determination	New determination	New determination
Justification for non-use of criterion		Criteria D6C1 assesses spatial distibution and area of physical loss of the natural seabed. According to Commission Decision 2017/848 and WG GES Guidance for Assessments Under Article 8 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive criteria D6C1 does not have threshold value. It is used to assess other criteria. D6C1 is used to assess habitat loss per habitat under D6C4 (habitat extent (loss)), and to assess D7C1 (spatial extent and distribution of permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions).	Criteria D6C2 assesses spatial distibution and area of physical disturbance to the seabed. According to Commission Decision 2017/848 and WG GES Guidance for Assessments Under Article 8 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive criteria D6C2 does not have threshold value. It is used to assess other criteria. D6C2 is used to assess impacts on broad habitat types under D6C3.
Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements