Member State report / Art8-2024 / 2024 / D5 / Italy / Mediterranean: Adriatic Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art8
Report due 2024-10-15
GES Descriptor D5 Eutrophication
Member State Italy
Region/subregion Mediterranean: Adriatic Sea
Report date 2025-09-11 10:38:38

MAD-IT-MS-AS

Regional assessment area
Component MRUs
GES component
D5
D5
D5
D5
Feature
Eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication
Element
DIN
TP
Chlorophyll-a
Dissolved oxygen (O2)
Element extent
Trend element
Improving
Improving
Improving
Improving
Element 2
Element source
National
UNEP/MAP
WaterFD; UNEP/MAP
National
Criterion
D5C1
D5C1
D5C2
D5C5
Parameter
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Threshold value upper
15.6
0.55
6.3
3.0
Threshold value lower
Threshold value operator
<=
<=
<=
<=
Threshold qualitative
Description of quantitative Threshold values: the threshold values are consistent with the approaches adopted by WFD and UNEP-MAP and are those published by Giani et al., 2024 as output of the EU MEDREGION project (Giani, M., Pavlidou, A., Kralj, M., Varkitzi, I., Borja, A., Menchaca, I., ... & Pagou, K. (2024). Assessment of the eutrophication status at Mediterranean sub-basin scale, within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Science of The Total Environment, vol. 945, art. 173876). The threshold values are as follows: WT I: 15,6 umol/L; WT IIA: 6,9 umol/L; WT IIIA: 1,6 umol/L.
Description of quantitative Threshold values: the threshold values applied are consistent with the results of the Mediterranean Intercalibration exercise for the BQE Phytoplankton (cfr. Giovanardi et al., Ecological Indicators 93 (2018) 316-332) and with the decisions made by UNEP-MAP (UNEP/MED WG 563/7). The threshold values are as follows: WT I: 0,55 umol/L ; WT IIA: 0,48 umol/L coastal; WT IIIA: 0,26 umol/L.
Description of quantitative Threshold values: the threshold values applied are those established by Commission Decision 2018/229 for Type I Mediterranean coastal waters (waters highly influenced by riverine freshwater inputs) and Type II Adriatic coastal waters (waters moderately influenced by freshwater inputs), hence are coherent with the WFD approach. Type III waters are those not influenced by freshwater inputs. These threshold values are consistent with decisions made by UNEP-MAP (cfr. Giovanardi et al., Ecological Indicators 93 (2018) 316-332, and UNEP/MED WG 563/7). The threshold values are as follows: WT I: 6,3 ug/L coastal, WTI: 3,1 ug/L offshore; WT IIA: 1,5 ug/L coastal; WT IIIA: 0,64 ug/L.
Threshold value source
National
UNEP/MAP
WaterFD; UNEP/MAP
National
Value achieved upper
Value achieved lower
Value unit
micromole per litre
micromole per litre
microgram per litre
milligram per litre
Proportion threshold value
Proportion value achieved
67.94
99.75
99.47
100.0
Proportion threshold value unit
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
Trend parameter
Improving
Improving
Improving
Improving
Parameter achieved
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Description parameter
Median 2016-2021. A definite proportion value of the MRU to be below threshold value in order for the criterion to be in good status has not been agreed or established at sub-regional level nor at national level. Nonetheless, considering the results obtained (over 67,94 % of the MRU is above the threshold value i) we consider the status for this criterion not to be good in the Adriatic subregion. This could be the result of excess nitrogen that is not taken up for primary production since it is well known that in the Adriatic Sea primary production is driven by P, which is the limiting nutrient
Median 2016-2021. A definite proportion value of the MRU to be below TV in order for the criterion to be in good status has not been agreed or established at sub-regional level nor at national level. Nonetheless, considering the results obtained (over 99,75 % of the MRU is below the threshold value) we consider the status for this criterion to be good
Median 2016-2021. A definite proportion value of the MRU to be below TV in order for the criterion to be in good status has not been agreed or established at sub-regional level nor at national level. Nonetheless, considering the results obtained (over 99,47 % of the MRU is below the threshold value) we consider the status for this criterion to be good
Median 2016-2021. A definite proportion value of the MRU to be below TV in order for the criterion to be in good status has not been agreed or established at sub-regional level nor at national level. Nonetheless, considering the results obtained (over 100 % of the MRU is below the threshold value) we consider the status for this criterion to be good
Related indicator
  • MAD-IT-MS-AS_D5
  • MAD-IT-MS-AS_D5
  • MAD-IT-MS-AS_D5
  • MAD-IT-MS-AS_D5
Criteria status
Not good
Good
Good
Good
Description criteria
Element status
Not good
Good
Good
Good
Description element
In the Adriatic Sea primary production is P-limited. Because of that, N could be in excess and not taken up by phytoplankton, hence concentrations above TV can be found in surface waters and the status of this element has been classified as 'not good'. This situation does not necessarily triggers higher primary production thus does not negatively affect the overall status. Trend for DIN is considered as 'improving' because of reduction of pressures (nutrient loads from diffuse sources and urban watewaters have decreased).
Pressures have decreased (nutrient loads from riverine inputs and urban watewaters)
Analysis of % variation of surface chl 'a' concentration from Copernicus data shows a negative trend (decreased concentration), especially in the NW Adriatic
Extension and duration of hypoxic/anoxic events in the NW Adriatic Sea have decreased
Source assessment feature
  • National
  • National
  • National
  • National
Reporting method feature
Type C
Type C
Type C
Type C
Trend feature
Improving
Improving
Improving
Improving
Integration rule type parameter
NHIE_WEI
NHIE_WEI
NHIE_WEI
NHIE_WEI
Integration rule description parameter
For the 2 parameters used for D5C1, i.e. DIN and TP, a weighted average has been used (DIN= 4/7; TP = 3/7) in order to take into consideration the different level of uncertainty of the measurement.
For the 2 parameters used for D5C1, i.e. DIN and TP, a weighted average has been used (DIN= 4/7; TP = 3/7) in order to take into consideration the different level of uncertainty of the measurement.
For the 2 parameters used for D5C1, i.e. DIN and TP, a weighted average has been used (DIN= 4/7; TP = 3/7) in order to take into consideration the different level of uncertainty of the measurement.
For the 2 parameters used for D5C1, i.e. DIN and TP, a weighted average has been used (DIN= 4/7; TP = 3/7) in order to take into consideration the different level of uncertainty of the measurement.
Integration rule type criteria
MULTIMETRIC
MULTIMETRIC
MULTIMETRIC
MULTIMETRIC
Integration rule description criteria
A Multiparametric Index which equally combines the 3 primary criteria (D5C1, D5C2, D5C5, accounting for 33% each) has been used for the overall status assessment. For each pixel (25 km2) on the map, an assessment of GES/no GES has been made applying the type-specific threshold values.
A Multiparametric Index which equally combines the 3 primary criteria (D5C1, D5C2, D5C5, accounting for 33% each) has been used for the overall status assessment. For each pixel (25 km2) on the map, an assessment of GES/no GES has been made applying the type-specific threshold values.
A Multiparametric Index which equally combines the 3 primary criteria (D5C1, D5C2, D5C5, accounting for 33% each) has been used for the overall status assessment. For each pixel (25 km2) on the map, an assessment of GES/no GES has been made applying the type-specific threshold values.
A Multiparametric Index which equally combines the 3 primary criteria (D5C1, D5C2, D5C5, accounting for 33% each) has been used for the overall status assessment. For each pixel (25 km2) on the map, an assessment of GES/no GES has been made applying the type-specific threshold values.
GES extent threshold
GES extent achieved
GES extent unit
Proportion of area in good status
Proportion of area in good status
Proportion of area in good status
Proportion of area in good status
GES achieved
GES achieved by 2024
GES achieved by 2024
GES achieved by 2024
GES achieved by 2024
Description overall status
Total MRU Area = 62.478 km2, out of which 62,203 km2 are in GES (i.e. 97.89%). No threshold in the proportion of area in good status has been established at national, subregional or regional level.
Total MRU Area = 62.478 km2, out of which 62,203 km2 are in GES (i.e. 97.89%). No threshold in the proportion of area in good status has been established at national, subregional or regional level.
Total MRU Area = 62.478 km2, out of which 62,203 km2 are in GES (i.e. 97.89%). No threshold in the proportion of area in good status has been established at national, subregional or regional level.
Total MRU Area = 62.478 km2, out of which 62,203 km2 are in GES (i.e. 97.89%). No threshold in the proportion of area in good status has been established at national, subregional or regional level.
Assessments period
2016-2021
2016-2021
2016-2021
2016-2021
Related pressures
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources
Related targets
  • MAD-IT-D05-T001
  • MAD-IT-D05-T002
  • MAD-IT-D05-T003
  • MAD-IT-D05-T004
  • MAD-IT-D05-T005
  • MAD-IT-D05-T001
  • MAD-IT-D05-T002
  • MAD-IT-D05-T003
  • MAD-IT-D05-T004
  • MAD-IT-D05-T005
  • MAD-IT-D05-T001
  • MAD-IT-D05-T002
  • MAD-IT-D05-T003
  • MAD-IT-D05-T004
  • MAD-IT-D05-T005
  • MAD-IT-D05-T001
  • MAD-IT-D05-T002
  • MAD-IT-D05-T003
  • MAD-IT-D05-T004
  • MAD-IT-D05-T005
Test TV
NA
NA
NA
NA
Test results
False
False
False
False