Member State report / Art8 / 2012 / D5 / Italy / Mediterranean: Adriatic 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 | D5 Eutrophication |
Member State | Italy |
Region/subregion | Mediterranean: Adriatic Sea |
Reported by | ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research |
Report date | 2013-04-30 |
Report access | MSFD8bPressures_20130506_101810.xml |
Southern Adriatic Sea
GSA 17
GSA 18
Adriatic Sea
Southern Adriatic Sea
Northern Adriatic Sea
GSA 17
GSA 18
Coasts of Tremiti islands
Venetian coasts
Adriatic Sea
marine Adriatic
Northern Adriatic Sea
Central Adriatic Sea
Southern Adriatic Sea
Northern Adriatic Sea
Puglia
Northern Adriatic Sea
Southern Adriatic Sea
Coasts of Tremiti islands
North Adriatic coasts
Adriatic Sea coasts
MediterraneanSeaAdriatic
MediterraneanSeaAdriatic
Adriatic Sea
From Chioggia to Pescara
From Vieste to San Cataldo
North Adriatic Sea
South Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
North-Central Adriatic Sea
South Adriatic Sea
A1
Central Adriatic Sea
Southern Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
Northern Adriatic Sea
GES component |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feature |
LevelPressureOverall |
LevelPressureNLoad |
LevelPressureNConcentration |
LevelPressurePLoad |
LevelPressurePConcentration |
LevelPressureOLoad |
LevelPressureOConcentration |
Assessment Topic |
NutrientsOrganicEnrichment5_1
|
NutrientsNitrogen5_1
|
NutrientsPhosphorus5_1
|
NutrientsOrganicMatter5_1
|
|||
Element |
|||||||
Element 2 |
|||||||
ThresholdValue |
|||||||
Threshold value/Value unit |
|||||||
Proportion threshold value |
|||||||
Status of criteria/indicator |
NotAssessed |
NotAssessed |
NotAssessed |
||||
Status trend |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
||||
Status confidence |
|||||||
Description (status of criteria/indicator) |
Established methods not yet available
|
Established methods not yet available
|
Established methods not yet available
|
||||
Limitations |
|||||||
Assessment period |
2001-2009 |
||||||
Description |
The area is unique in the Mediterranean Sea, due to the presence of relevant fluvial inputs of nutrients (Po river and other Northern Adriatic river basins, Venice and Grado-Marano Lagoons, etc.). The cause-effects relationships related to the manifestation of the coastal eutrophication phenomena have been observed and studied for over 20 years, mainly along the coast of the Emilia-Romagna Region. |
The Nitrogen load contribution from various river basins has been evaluated (150000 t/y). The loads discharged from the coastal UWWTPs were also considered (7900 t/y). Atmospheric deposition from major coastal cities (Trieste, Venezia, Rimini, Ravenna) has been estimated as 49026 t/y. The Nitrogen load from marine aquaculture has been assessed on the basis of production data. The assessment of the overall load (-154.1 t/y) took into account both the input from fish farms (55.1 t/y) and the extraction from mussel production (-209.2 t/y). |
A) 15.0 µmol/L (DIN concentrations in inshore waters) and B) 12.0 µmol/L (N-NO3 concentrations referred to the whole AA), as annual geometric means. |
The Phosphorus load contribution from various river basins has been evaluated (7700 t/y). The loads discharged from the coastal UWWTPs are also considered (2025 t/y).The Phosphorus load from marine aquaculture has been assessed on the basis of production data. The assessment of the overall load (-5.0 t/y) took into account both the input from fish farms (9.4 t/y) and the extraction from mussel production (-14.4 t/y). |
A) 0.7 µmol/L (as TP) and 0.1 µmol/L (as P-PO4) concentrations in inshore waters) and B) 0.03 µmol/L (P-PO4 concentrations referred to the whole AA), as annual geometric means. |
The organic load expressed as Equivalent Population is available for each UWWTP. The amount of BOD discharged directly into the sea has been evaluated by assigning 60 g per inhabitant per day and an average removal = 80%. The BOD rivers contribution is not available in detail. The Po river organic load discharged into the Adriatic Sea can however be estimated in 100000-150000 t/y as BOD |
Not available
|
Input load |
NotReported
|
206771.9
|
NotReported
|
9720
|
NotReported
|
18520
|
NotReported
|
Load unit |
t/y
|
t/y
|
t/y
|
||||
Confidence |
NotReported |
Moderate
|
NotReported |
||||
Trends (recent) |
|||||||
Trends (future) |
|||||||
Description (activities) |
To be completed
|
||||||
Activity type |
|
||||||
Information gaps |
1) N and P Loads input: For this AA, we have comprehensive data for the evaluation of the loads of N and P discharged from the main river basins tributary to the N Adriatic Sea. E.g., the N and P loads from the Po River and from the other main N Adriatic Basins are referred to the 2003-2010 period. The data of N and P loads from coastal UWWTPs, must be however updated and supplemented with new and more recent information. 2) As for Nutrient concentrations in seawaters, the gap regards mainly the off-shore waters. In fact the N and P concentration data beyond the limit of three kilometers from the shore are currently obtained by simulation modeling (MYOCEAN), and should be verified by adequate monitoring campaigns, in the next years. 3) Regarding Organic Substance, it is believed that the study of organic matter in the sea (at least for the Italian waters), is not relevant to the objectives required for the formulation of the GES. However, adequate information on the loads of organic matter discharged into the sea (as t / year of BOD coming from the rivers and from the UWWTP), should be further explored. |
Central Adriatic Sea
GES component |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feature |
LevelPressureOverall |
LevelPressureNLoad |
LevelPressureNConcentration |
LevelPressurePLoad |
LevelPressurePConcentration |
LevelPressureOLoad |
LevelPressureOConcentration |
Assessment Topic |
NutrientsOrganicEnrichment5_1
|
NutrientsNitrogen5_1
|
NutrientsPhosphorus5_1
|
NutrientsOrganicMatter5_1
|
|||
Element |
|||||||
Element 2 |
|||||||
ThresholdValue |
|||||||
Threshold value/Value unit |
|||||||
Proportion threshold value |
|||||||
Status of criteria/indicator |
NotAssessed |
NotAssessed |
NotAssessed |
||||
Status trend |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
||||
Status confidence |
|||||||
Description (status of criteria/indicator) |
Established methods not yet available
|
Established methods not yet available
|
Established methods not yet available
|
||||
Limitations |
|||||||
Assessment period |
2001-2009 |
||||||
Description |
This AA is characterized by several minor river outlets (Foglia, Esino, Chienti, Tronto, Biferno, Trigno, etc.) and by the presence of important industrial settlements (e.g. refineries), harbours and urban areas (Ancona, Pescara). Not negligible is also the tourism activity. |
The Nitrogen load contribution from river basins is 5610.5 t/y. The load discharged from the coastal UWWTPs is reported (2760 t/y). Atmospheric deposition of N from main coastal cities (Pesaro, Pescara) has been estimated as 27931 t/y. The Nitrogen load from marine aquaculture has been assessed on the basis of production data. The assessment of the overall load (-22.4 t/y) took into account both the input from fish farms (25.0 t/y) and the uptake from mussel production (-47.4 t/y). |
A) 10.0 µmol/L (DIN concentrations in inshore waters) and B) 8.0 µmol/L (N-NO3 concentrations referred to the whole AA), as annual geometric means. |
The Phosphorus load contribution from various river basins has been evaluated (399 t/y). The loads discharged from the coastal UWWTPs were also considered (770 t/y). The Phosphorus load from marine aquaculture has been assessed on the basis of production data. The assessment of the overall load (-1.0 t/y) took into account both the input from fish farms (4.3 t/y) and the uptake from mussel production (-3.3 t/y). |
A) 0.6 µmol/L (as TP) and 0.2 µmol/L (as P-PO4) concentrations in inshore waters) and B) 0.02 µmol/L (P-PO4 concentrations referred to the whole AA), as annual geometric means. |
The organic load expressed as Equivalent Population is available for each UWWTP. The amount of BOD discharged directly into the sea has been evaluated by assigning 60 g per inhabitant per day and an average removal = 80%. |
Not available
|
Input load |
NotReported
|
36279.1
|
NotReported
|
1168
|
NotReported
|
10670
|
NotReported
|
Load unit |
t/y
|
t/y
|
t/y
|
||||
Confidence |
NotReported |
Moderate
|
NotReported |
||||
Trends (recent) |
|||||||
Trends (future) |
|||||||
Description (activities) |
To be completed
|
||||||
Activity type |
|
||||||
Information gaps |
There are several aspects that need further study. 1) N and P Loads input: The data used for N and P loads evaluation, both those released from the river basins and from UWWTP, are at present insufficient for a thorough evaluation of the total load on the AA (e.g. for UWWTP, the only data available at present were those referred to 2009), and should be further refined and integrated, with the aim of define functional relationships between N and P loads, their seasonal variations and the corresponding concentrations in seawater. 2) Nutrient concentrations: the gap regards mainly the off-shore waters. In fact the N and P concentration data beyond the limit of three kilometers from the shore are currently obtained by simulation modeling (MYOCEAN), and should be verified by adequate monitoring campaigns, in the next years. 3) Organic Substance: it is believed that the study of organic matter in the sea (at least for the Italian waters), is not relevant to the objectives required for the formulation of the GES. However, adequate information on the loads of organic matter discharged into the sea (as t / year of BOD coming from the rivers and from the UWWTP), should be further explored. |
Southern Adriatic Sea
GES component |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Feature |
LevelPressureOverall |
LevelPressureNLoad |
LevelPressureNConcentration |
LevelPressurePLoad |
LevelPressurePConcentration |
LevelPressureOLoad |
LevelPressureOConcentration |
Assessment Topic |
NutrientsOrganicEnrichment5_1
|
NutrientsNitrogen5_1
|
NutrientsPhosphorus5_1
|
NutrientsOrganicMatter5_1
|
|||
Element |
|||||||
Element 2 |
|||||||
ThresholdValue |
|||||||
Threshold value/Value unit |
|||||||
Proportion threshold value |
|||||||
Status of criteria/indicator |
NotAssessed |
NotAssessed |
NotAssessed |
||||
Status trend |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
Unknown_NotAssessed |
||||
Status confidence |
|||||||
Description (status of criteria/indicator) |
Established methods not yet available
|
Established methods not yet available
|
Established methods not yet available
|
||||
Limitations |
|||||||
Assessment period |
2001-2009 |
||||||
Description |
This AA is characterized by some minor river outlets (Ofanto, Candelaro) and by the presence of an important industrial settlement (Industrial area of Manfredonia). This AA is also affected by the Metropolitan area of Bari. |
The Nitrogen load contribution from river basins has been evaluated (5736 t/y). The loads discharged from the coastal UWWTPs were also considered (3112 t/y). Atmospheric deposition of N from the major coastal city (Bari) has been estimated as 11592 t/y. The Nitrogen load from marine aquaculture has been assessed on the basis of production data. The assessment of the overall load (47.5 t/y) took into account both the input from fish farms (90.3 t/y) and the removal from mussel production (-42.8 t/y). |
A) 8.0 µmol/L (DIN concentrations in inshore waters) and B) 6.0 µmol/L (N-NO3 concentrations referred to the whole AA), as annual geometric means. |
The Phosphorus load contribution from various river basins has been evaluated (284 t/y). The loads discharged from the coastal UWWTPs were also considered (292 t/y). The Phosphorus load from marine aquaculture has been assessed on the basis of production data. The assessment of the overall load (12.5 t/y) took into account both the input from fish farms (15.5 t/y) and the uptake from mussel production (-3.0 t/y). |
A) 0.8 µmol/L (as TP) and 0.2 µmol/L (as P-PO4) concentrations in inshore waters) and B) 0.015 µmol/L (P-PO4 concentrations referred to the whole AA), as annual geometric means. |
The organic load expressed as Equivalent Population is available for each UWWTP. The amount of BOD discharged directly into the sea has been evaluated by assigning 60 g per inhabitant per day and an average removal = 80%. |
Not available
|
Input load |
NotReported
|
20487.5
|
NotReported
|
588.5
|
NotReported
|
7783
|
NotReported
|
Load unit |
t/y
|
t/y
|
t/y
|
||||
Confidence |
NotReported |
Moderate
|
NotReported |
||||
Trends (recent) |
|||||||
Trends (future) |
|||||||
Description (activities) |
To be completed
|
||||||
Activity type |
|
||||||
Information gaps |
There are several aspects that need further study. 1) N and P Loads input: The data used for N and P loads evaluation, both those released from the river basins and from UWWTP, are at present insufficient for a thorough evaluation of the total load on the AA (e.g. for UWWTP, the only data available at present were those referred to 2009), and should be further refined and integrated, with the aim of define functional relationships between N and P loads, their seasonal variations and the corresponding concentrations in seawater. 2) Nutrient concentrations: the gap regards mainly the off-shore waters. In fact the N and P concentration data beyond the limit of three kilometers from the shore are currently obtained by simulation modeling (MYOCEAN), and should be verified by adequate monitoring campaigns, in the next years. 3) Organic Substance: it is believed that the study of organic matter in the sea (at least for the Italian waters), is not relevant to the objectives required for the formulation of the GES. However, adequate information on the loads of organic matter discharged into the sea (as t / year of BOD coming from the rivers and from the UWWTP), should be further explored. |