Member State report / Art8 / 2018 / D1-P / Croatia / Mediterranean: Adriatic Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 8 Initial assessment (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2018-10-15
GES Descriptor D1 Pelagic habitats
Member State Croatia
Region/subregion Mediterranean: Adriatic Sea
Reported by Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
Report date 2019-10-31
Report access msfd2018-ART8_GES_HR.xml

MAD-HR-MRU_1

GES component
D1-P
D1-P
Feature
Pelagic broad habitats
Pelagic broad habitats
Element
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton Mean Size and Total Stock
Element code
QE1-1
ZOO_ms_ts
Element code source
Eutrophication (D5)(EQRs) http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/wise/ObservedPropertyBiologyEQR/view
Undefined
Element 2
Element 2 code
Element 2 code source
Element source
National
National
Criterion
D1C6
D1C6
Parameter
Habitat condition
Habitat condition
Parameter other
Threshold value upper
Threshold value lower
Threshold qualitative
Threshold value source
Threshold value source other
Value achieved upper
Value achieved lower
Value unit
Other
Other
Value unit other
Cells per litre
Abundance (Individuals per cubic metre)
Proportion threshold value
100.0
100.0
Proportion value achieved
100.0
100.0
Proportion threshold value unit
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
Trend
Stable
Stable
Parameter achieved
Yes
Yes
Description parameter
As no threshold values for plankton community within D1 are agreed for the Adriatic Sea either at national or subregional /regional level, this prevents us from providing the required support of the assessment. In the absence of upper acceptable values, there is no possibility of quantitatively expressing the extent of GES achievement in the reporting tables. In the text report submitted by Croatia we used several indicators for analyzing both components of Pelagic habitats (phyto- and zooplankton) such as biodiversity indices, abundance ranges, community structure – species' lists, relationships between functional groups etc., and applied those to different pelagic habitat types in the eastern Adriatic Sea (coastal, variable salinity, channel areas, continental shelf). The values are then compared to the preceding reporting period (MSFD Art.8, Initial assessment) and to available other historical data from the same areas, and GES determination is obtained through expert judgement.
As no threshold values for plankton community within D1 are agreed for the Adriatic Sea either at national or subregional /regional level, this prevents us from providing the required support of the assessment. In the absence of upper acceptable values, there is no possibility of quantitatively expressing the extent of GES achievement in the reporting tables. In the text report submitted by Croatia we used several indicators for analyzing both components of Pelagic habitats (phyto- and zooplankton) such as biodiversity indices, abundance ranges, community structure – species' lists, relationships between functional groups etc., and applied those to different pelagic habitat types in the eastern Adriatic Sea (coastal, variable salinity, channel areas, continental shelf). The values are then compared to the preceding reporting period (MSFD Art.8, Initial assessment) and to available other historical data from the same areas, and GES determination is obtained through expert judgement.
Related indicator
Criteria status
Good
Good
Description criteria
For the element zooplankton GES is achieved. The assessment is based on mesozooplankton community analysis which indicated that spatial and temporal variability of zooplankton groups and species is consistent with predominant abiotic and biotic environmental conditions, and the relative contribution of groups and species is in accordance with the observed habitat condition, showing no apparent adverse effects of anthropogenic pressures.
Element status
Good
Good
Description element
For this element GES is achieved. The assessment is based on phytoplankton analysis, the recorded spatial and temporal distribution trends as well as relative abundances of phytoplankton groups which are within usual values and in accordance with environmental conditions. High biodiversity, low incidence of bloom events and relatively low phytoplankton biomass (as reported for Descriptor 5) indicate that anthropogenic pressure does not adversely affect phytoplankton abundance or biodiversity, thus ensuring the long-term sustainability of phytoplankton community.
Based on the analysis of mesozooplankton community, spatial and temporal variability of groups and species are in accordance with the prevailing abiotic and biotic environmental conditions. The relative contributions of mesozooplankton groups and species are in accordance with the observed habitat conditions, showing no apparent adverse effects of anthropogenic pressures.
Integration rule type parameter
Integration rule description parameter
Integration rule type criteria
Integration rule description criteria
GES extent threshold
100.00
100.00
GES extent achieved
100.00
100.00
GES extent unit
Proportion of habitats in good status
Proportion of habitats in good status
GES achieved
GES achieved
GES achieved
Description overall status
Assessments period
2013-2018
2013-2018
Related pressures
Related targets