Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D2 / Croatia / Mediterranean: Adriatic Sea
Report type | Member State report to Commission |
MSFD Article | Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates) |
Report due | 2020-10-15 |
GES Descriptor | D2 Non-indigenous species |
Member State | Croatia |
Region/subregion | Mediterranean: Adriatic Sea |
Reported by | Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries |
Report date | 2020-10-15 |
Report access |
Descriptor |
D2 |
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Monitoring strategy description |
To assess environmental status (GES), a monitoring programme aims at detection and assessment of other relevant data concerning NIS (particulary in hot-spot areas). These areas are defined according to previous knowledge of the occurrences of NIS, but also according to susceptibility of particular areas in regard to possible vectors of introductions (i.e. ports, vicinity of aquaculture facilities etc.). Fieldwork sampling procedures are various and dependent on the habitat types utilized by various NIS. Other methods, not oriented toward in situ detection and assessment are also implemented (citizen science, surveys etc.) |
Coverage of GES criteria |
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014 |
Gaps and plans |
The main gaps are associated with taxonomical expertise of less known groups of NIS. Also, the lack of calibrated and consistent methodologies, as well as relatively low spatial coverage of sampling can induce sampling bias. To overcome these gaps, it is essential to expand taxonomic expertise and implement more sophisticated tools to accurately identify NIS (i.e. genetic barcoding, eDNA). Broader consultation among NIS experts should lead toward the establishment of more consistent methodologies and greater spatial coverage could be achieved through greater sampling effort. |
Related targets |
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Coverage of targets |
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014 |
Related measures |
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Coverage of measures |
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Related monitoring programmes |
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Programme code |
MADHR-D02-04 |
Programme name |
Non-indigenous species inputs - from specific sources |
Update type |
Modified from 2014 |
Old programme codes |
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Programme description |
Occurrences of marine alien species in the Adriatic Sea are increasing with time and their impact on native ecosystems, but also the economy and overall human well being are being more and more pronounced. Therefore, a systematic monitoring programme is essential for timely detection and mitigation of potential negative impacts of such species. This descriptor encompasses investigations of a wide array of animal and plant groups which require also wide taxonomic expertise. This is often lacking and such efforts are often biased against less known animal and plant groups which are usually underrepresented. Regardless of this drawback, it is still essential to provide as much information as possible and through as much means as are available. Therefore, monitoring programmes in the Croatian part of the Adriatic are undertaken through targeted investigations of NIS in hot-spot areas, but also through various monitoring programmes and scientific projects not necessarily primarily oriented toward NIS detection ans assessment. Citizen Science campaigns as well as a survey of local ecological knowledge represent additional and important data sources. |
Monitoring purpose |
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Other policies and conventions |
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Regional cooperation - coordinating body |
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Regional cooperation - countries involved |
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Regional cooperation - implementation level |
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Monitoring details |
The fieldwork methodology differs depending on the monitored area or species. Benthic species and areas are mostly monitored by standard benthos research methods that include visual inspection, photo documentation, and sample collection. These activities are performed by autonomous diving, scuba diving or inspection and collection from the shore. A specific field procedure is always related to a specific area of research
or a specific spec, and for a particular situation should be suggested by an expert. Sampling of bentopelagic fauna and mobile epifauna (fish, crustaceans) will be performed primarily by the method of visual census (autonomous diving and scuba diving) with photo documentation. Given that commercial fishing monitoring programs already represent a kind of sampling with active and passive fishing gear, data from such programs will be used for the purpose of their detection (data collected through D3 - populations of economically important fish,
crabs and shellfish). New scientific knowledge has also recognized local ecological knowledge (LEK) as a very efficient way of obtaining information on non-native species, and the same will be used in
that purpose. It is about conducting targeted interviews with fishermen, which would thus contribute to the knowledge of the occurrence of non-native species in the areas where they fish.
The introduction of planktonic alien species will be monitored as part of pelagic monitoring. Data collection is also done by involving the public in the observation network (citizen-science) through social media. |
Features |
Newly introduced non-indigenous species
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Elements |
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GES criteria |
D2C1 |
Parameters |
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Parameter Other |
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Spatial scope |
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Marine reporting units |
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Temporal scope (start date - end date) |
2021-2026 |
Monitoring frequency |
As needed |
Monitoring type |
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Monitoring method |
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Monitoring method other |
Sampling procedure has been described in Marasovic I., Krstulovic, N., Leder, N., Loncar, G., Precali, R., Šolic, M., Loncar,.G., Beg- Paklar, G., Bojanic, N., Cvitkovic, I., Dadic, V., Despalatovic, M., Dulcic, J., Grbec, B., Kušpilic, G., Nincevic-Gladan, Ž., P. Tutman, Ujevic, I., Vrgoc, N., Vukadin, P., Žuljevic, A. Coastal cities water pollution control project, Part C1: Monitoring and Observation System for Ongoing Assessment of the Adriatic sea under the Adriatic sea Monitoring Programme, Phase II. Interim report (IR), December, 2013. https://jadran.izor.hr/jadranski_projekt_2/MJERNE-METODE-I-OPREMA.pdf
Roger Harris, Peter Wiebe, Jürgen Lenz, Hein Rune Skjoldal and Mark Huntley. 2000. ICES Zooplankton Methodology Manual; Utermöhl, von H. 1931. Neue Wege in der quantitativen Erfassung des Planktons. (Mit besondere Beriicksichtigung des Ultraplanktons). Verh. Int. Verein. Theor. Angew. Limnol., 5, 567–595. |
Quality control |
All monitoring guidelines are followed and species identification is checked by taxonimic experts. |
Data management |
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Data access |
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Related indicator/name |
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Contact |
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References |