Member State report / Art8 / 2012 / D7 / France / Mediterranean: Western Mediterranean Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 8 Initial assessment (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2012-10-15
GES Descriptor D7 Hydrographical changes
Member State France
Region/subregion Mediterranean: Western Mediterranean Sea
Reported by Agence des aires marines protégées
Report date 2013-04-15
Report access MWEFR_MSFD8bPressures_20130702.xml

Mediterranee occidentale

GES component
Feature
LevelPressure
ImpactPressureWaterColumn
ImpactPressureSeabedHabitats
ImpactPressureFunctionalGroup
Assessment Topic
Hydrological7_1
HydrologicalWaterColumnHabitats7_2
HydrologicalSeabedHabitats7_2
HydrologicalFunctionalGroups7_2
Element
NotRelevant
LitRock, LitSed, ShallCoarseSed, ShallMud, ShallMxdSed, ShallRock, ShallSand, ShelfRock
FishDemersal, FishDemersalElasmobranchs, FishPelagic, FishPelagicElasmobranchs, FunctionalGroupOther, FunctionalGroupOther, FunctionalGroupOther
Element 2
zooplancton
ThresholdValue
Threshold value/Value unit
Proportion threshold value
Status of criteria/indicator
Descriptive
NotAssessed
Descriptive
Descriptive
Status trend
Unknown_NotAssessed
Unknown_NotAssessed
Unknown_NotAssessed
Unknown_NotAssessed
Status confidence
Moderate
NotRelevant
NotRelevant
Moderate
Description (status of criteria/indicator)
It is currently not possible to identify, at the level of the marine sub-region, significant changes in hydrological processes resulting from anthropogenic effects.
The impact of changes in hydrological processes on the habitats of the water column is not determined.
no impact
no impact (marine mammals, seabirds, marine reptiles)
Limitations
Change in salinity: It is currently not possible to detect, at the level of the marine sub-region, a modification of the system of salinisation due to anthropogenic impact. At the local level, in the area of influence of small freshwater inputs (typically in the order of km), it is likely that changes may be induced when a change in the hydrological regime of freshwater inputs has been made. However, the lack of reliable long-term measures does not allow for a precise measurement of the size of the measure. Modification of the course: No changes in the current pattern could be identified at present on the basis of the measures. This further illustrates the lack of monitoring of basic oceanographic parameters over time than the stability of a complex system with multiple interactions.
Assessment period
Description
Modification of the heat treatment: By not considering that direct anthropogenic pressure on water temperature, water discharges for the cooling of power plants are in the order of magnitude, the most significant sources of heat change on marine waters. However, water discharges from the three plants on the coast of the marine sub-region give rise to very limited layers of influence in the space (in the order of the kilometre), which do not lead to a known ecological impact. Change in salinity: It is currently not possible to detect, at the level of the marine sub-region, a modification of the system of salinisation due to anthropogenic impact. At the local level, in the area of influence of small freshwater inputs (typically in the order of km), it is likely that changes may be induced when a change in the hydrological regime of freshwater inputs has been made. However, the lack of reliable long-term measures does not allow for a precise measurement of the size of the measure. Modification of the course: No changes to current trends can be identified at present on the basis of measurements. This further illustrates the lack of monitoring of basic oceanographic parameters over time than the stability of a complex system with multiple interactions.
Modification of the heat treatment: No significant impact of heat release on the marine environment has been identified. Change in salinity: Given the impossibility of demonstrating changes to the scheme of marine salinity that are of direct human-induced origin, it is even more difficult to investigate possible impacts on the ecosystem. Modification of the course: No impact of a change in the current pattern could be identified at present on the basis of the measures.
Modification of the heat treatment: No significant impact of heat release on the marine environment has been identified. Change in salinity: Given the impossibility of demonstrating changes to the scheme of marine salinity that are of direct human-induced origin, it is even more difficult to investigate possible impacts on the ecosystem. Modification of the course: No impact of a change in the current pattern could be identified at present on the basis of the measures.
Modification of the heat treatment: No significant impact of heat release on the marine environment has been identified. Change in salinity: Given the impossibility of demonstrating changes to the scheme of marine salinity that are of direct human-induced origin, it is even more difficult to investigate possible impacts on the ecosystem. Modification of the course: No impact of a change in the current pattern could be identified at present on the basis of the measures.
Input load
Unknow_NotAssessed
Unknow_NotAssessed
Unknow_NotAssessed
Unknow_NotAssessed
Load unit
Speaking note
Confidence
Non related GES component
Non related GES component
Non related GES component
Non related GES component
Trends (recent)
Unknown_NotAssessed
Trends (future)
Unknown_NotAssessed
Description (activities)
Modification of the heat treatment: Thermal power generation plants located on the shore (water discharge of cooling circuits) Change in salinity: Human-induced changes to the salinity regime are possible via the deliberate or unintentional modification of the flow of water courses resulting from activities such as agricultural irrigation, channelling of rivers, or the construction of dams (river development). Modification of the course: Coastal developments, water intakes and water discharge, water courses
Modification of the heat treatment: Thermal power generation plants located on the shore (water discharge of cooling circuits) Change in salinity: Human-induced changes to the salinity regime are possible via the deliberate or unintentional modification of the flow of water courses resulting from activities such as agricultural irrigation, channelling of rivers, or the construction of dams (river development). Modification of the course: Coastal developments, water intakes and water discharge, water courses
Modification of the heat treatment: Thermal power generation plants located on the shore (water discharge of cooling circuits) Change in salinity: Human-induced changes to the salinity regime are possible via the deliberate or unintentional modification of the flow of water courses resulting from activities such as agricultural irrigation, channelling of rivers, or the construction of dams (river development). Modification of the course: Coastal developments, water intakes and water discharge, water courses
Modification of the heat treatment: Thermal power generation plants located on the shore (water discharge of cooling circuits) Change in salinity: Human-induced changes to the salinity regime are possible via the deliberate or unintentional modification of the flow of water courses resulting from activities such as agricultural irrigation, channelling of rivers, or the construction of dams (river development). Modification of the course: Coastal developments, water intakes and water discharge, water courses
Activity type
  • NotReported
  • NotReported
  • NotReported
  • NotReported
Information gaps
Ongoing reflection for implementation in the context of the revision of the elements for the next cycle.
Ongoing reflection for implementation in the context of the revision of the elements for the next cycle.
Ongoing reflection for implementation in the context of the revision of the elements for the next cycle.
Ongoing reflection for implementation in the context of the revision of the elements for the next cycle.