Member State report / Art9 / 2018 / D6 / Ireland / NE Atlantic: Celtic Seas

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 Ireland
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Celtic Seas
Reported by Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
Report date 2020-08-31
Report access msfd2018-ART9_GES_IE_Updated_24July.xml

GES component
D6
D6C1
D6C2
D6C3
D6C4
D6C5
Marine reporting units
  • ACS-IE-AA-001
  • ACS-IE-AA-001
  • ACS-IE-AA-001
  • ACS-IE-AA-001
Features
  • Physical loss of the seabed
  • Physical disturbance to seabed
  • Other habitat types
  • Other habitat types
GES description
Ireland has achieved Good Environmental Status within its maritime area under primary criterion D6C1 - spatial extent and distribution of physical loss (permanent change) of the natural seabed.
The environmental status under primary criterion D6C2 - spatial extent and distribution of physical disturbance pressures on the seabed - is currently unknown within Ireland’s maritime area.
Ireland has achieved Good Environmental Status within its maritime area under primary criterion D6C4 - the extent of loss of the habitat type, resulting from anthropogenic pressures.
The environmental status under primary criterion D6C5 - the extent of adverse effects from anthropogenic pressures on the condition of the habitat type, including alteration to its biotic and abiotic structure and its functions - is currently unknown within Ireland’s maritime area.
Determination date
202006
202006
202006
202006
Update type
New determination
New determination
New determination
New determination
Justification for non-use of criterion
This assessment did not cover criterion D6C3 (i.e. spatial extent of each habitat type which is adversely affected, through change in its biotic and abiotic structure and its functions [e.g. through changes in species composition and their relative abundance, absence of particularly sensitive or fragile species or species providing a key function, size structure of species], by physical disturbance). This was because agreed OSPAR Common Indicators or other coordinated indicators (e.g. at EU member state level) were not available for this criterion in OSPAR Region III or Region V, which are applicable to Ireland.
Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements
There are currently no threshold values proposed for sea-floor integrity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values has not been undertaken at this time but is a work in progress at a European member state level.
There are currently no threshold values proposed for sea-floor integrity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values has not been undertaken at this time but is a work in progress at a European member state level.
There are currently no threshold values proposed for sea-floor integrity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values has not been undertaken at this time but is a work in progress at a European member state level.
There are currently no threshold values proposed for sea-floor integrity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values has not been undertaken at this time but is a work in progress at a European member state level.