Member State report / Art8 / 2018 / D5 / Italy / 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 D5 Eutrophication
Member State Italy
Region/subregion Mediterranean: Adriatic Sea
Reported by ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research
Report date 2020-10-01
Report access MSFD_2018_ART8_GES_IT_2020-07-31.xml

Central Adriatic Sea (IT-CAS-0001)

GES component
D5
Feature
Eutrophication
Element
DIN
TP
Chlorophyll-a
Dissolved oxygen
Element code
TDIN
PTOT
EEA_3164-01-0
EEA_3132-01-2
Element code source
Contaminants (D8-D9) http://seadatanet.maris2.nl/v_bodc_vocab_v2/vocab_relations.asp?lib=P02
Contaminants (D8-D9) http://seadatanet.maris2.nl/v_bodc_vocab_v2/vocab_relations.asp?lib=P02
Eutrophication (D5) and contaminants (D8-D9) http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/wise/ObservedProperty/view
Eutrophication (D5) and contaminants (D8-D9) http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/wise/ObservedProperty/view
Element 2
Element 2 code
Element 2 code source
Element source
EU
MS in (sub)region
EU
MS in (sub)region
Criterion
D5C1
D5C1
D5C2
D5C5
Parameter
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Parameter other
Threshold value upper
0.26
1.5
3.0
Threshold value lower
Threshold qualitative
No threshold values has been defined for DIN as no correlation between N concentration in water and phytoplankton biomass can be found, since the limiting nutrient is P and not N.
Threshold value in waters beyond WFD water bodies (offshore), corresponding to chlorophyll 'a' G/M Type III W Adriatic WFD boundaries for the WFD intecalibration exercise (cfr. Giovanardi et al., Ecological Indicators 93 (2018) 316-332).
Threshold value in coastal waters is the G/M boundary established by Commission Decision 2018/229 for Type IIA Adriatic coastal waters. Threshold value in waters beyond WFD water bodies corresponds to Type III W Adriatic coastal waters (WFD approach)
A national threshold value is being set but no ad hoc monitoring activity has been carried out to assess extension and duration of hypoxic events
Threshold value source
National
Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
National
Threshold value source other
Value achieved upper
0.47
0.66
Value achieved lower
Value unit
micromole per litre
micromole per litre
microgram per litre
milligram per litre
Value unit other
Proportion threshold value
100.0
100.0
Proportion value achieved
Proportion threshold value unit
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
Trend
Unknown
Unknown
Improving
Stable
Parameter achieved
Not assessed
No
Yes
Yes
Description parameter
Related indicator
  • National
  • National
  • National
  • National
Criteria status
Not assessed
Not good
Good
Good
Description criteria
The assessment method is under development and there is no assessment method established and agreed at the Mediterranean level (BARCON). In any case, hypoxias events have not been recorded during the monitoring cycle, hence the status is classified as 'good'.
Element status
Not assessed
Not good
Good
Good
Description element
Integration rule type parameter
Other
Integration rule description parameter
Type-specific threshold values for D5C1 and D5C2 (annual geometric mean over the monitoring cycle) are being applied to offshore waters (waters beyond WFD water bodies, up to 12 nm offhore) . For coastal waters, WFD classification (BQE 'phytoplankton') applies.
Integration rule type criteria
Other
Integration rule description criteria
2 out of 3 criteria have to be in good status
GES extent threshold
67.00
GES extent achieved
67.00
GES extent unit
Proportion of area in good status
GES achieved
GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported
Description overall status
For the overall status assessment, 2 out the 3 primary criteria have to be in good status. D5C1 is not good status, D5C2 is in good status and D5C5 is in good status, hence the overall status is good.
Assessments period
2012-2017
Related pressures
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources
Related targets
  • T 5.1
  • T 5.2
  • T 5.3
  • T 5.4
  • T 5.5
  • T 5.6

Northern Adriatic Sea (IT-NAS-0001)

GES component
D5
Feature
Eutrophication
Element
DIN
TP
Chlorophyll-a
Dissolved oxygen
Element code
TDIN
PTOT
EEA_3164-01-0
EEA_3132-01-2
Element code source
Contaminants (D8-D9) http://seadatanet.maris2.nl/v_bodc_vocab_v2/vocab_relations.asp?lib=P02
Contaminants (D8-D9) http://seadatanet.maris2.nl/v_bodc_vocab_v2/vocab_relations.asp?lib=P02
Eutrophication (D5) and contaminants (D8-D9) http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/wise/ObservedProperty/view
Eutrophication (D5) and contaminants (D8-D9) http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/wise/ObservedProperty/view
Element 2
Element 2 code
Element 2 code source
Element source
EU
MS in (sub)region
EU
MS in (sub)region
Criterion
D5C1
D5C1
D5C2
D5C5
Parameter
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Parameter other
Threshold value upper
0.48
5.0
3.0
Threshold value lower
Threshold qualitative
No threshold values has been defined for DIN: in waters with high trophic levels, such as those of the N Adriatic Sea, there is no correlation between N concentration in water and phytoplankton biomass, since the limiting nutrient is P and not N.
Threshold value in waters beyond WFD water bodies (offshore), corresponding to chlorophyll 'a' G/M Type II Adriatic WFD boundaries for the WFD intecalibration exercise (cfr. Giovanardi et al., Ecological Indicators 93 (2018) 316-332).
Threshold value in coastal waters is the G/M boundary established by Commission Decision 2018/229 for Type I Mediterranean coastal waters. Threshold value in waters beyond WFD water bodies corresponds to Type II Adriatic coastal waters.
A national threshold value is being set but no ad hoc monitoring activity has been carried out to assess extension and duration of hypoxic events
Threshold value source
National
Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
National
Threshold value source other
Value achieved upper
0.28
Value achieved lower
Value unit
micromole per litre
micromole per litre
microgram per litre
milligram per litre
Value unit other
Proportion threshold value
100.0
100.0
Proportion value achieved
Proportion threshold value unit
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
Trend
Unknown
Improving
Improving
Improving
Parameter achieved
Not assessed
Yes
No
Not assessed
Description parameter
Related indicator
  • National
  • National
  • National
  • National
Criteria status
Not assessed
Good
Not good
Not assessed
Description criteria
Although the threshold value requirement for chl a'a' for offshore waters has been met, 2 water bodies belonging to the Region Emilia-Romagna were not in good status for the BQE phytoplancton as per the WFD 2015 classification, so the assessment outcome for the criterion is 'not good'.
No assessment outcome can be reported: the assessment method is under development and there is no assessment method established and agreed at the Mediterranean level (BARCON). In any case, hypoxias events are well-known in the Northern Adriatic Sea and they have been recorded during the monitoring cycle.
Element status
Not assessed
Good
Not good
Not assessed
Description element
Integration rule type parameter
Other
Integration rule description parameter
Type-specific threshold values for D5C1 and D5C2 (annual geometric mean over the monitoring cycle) are being applied to offshore waters (waters beyond WFD water bodies, up to 12 nm offhore) . For coastal waters, WFD classification (BQE 'phytoplankton') applies.
Integration rule type criteria
Other
Integration rule description criteria
2 out of 3 criteria have to be in good status
GES extent threshold
67.00
GES extent achieved
33.00
GES extent unit
Proportion of area in good status
GES achieved
GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported
Description overall status
For the overall status assessment, 2 out the 3 primary criteriahave to be in good status. D5C1 is in good status, D5C2 is not in good status. As for the D5C5 criterion, a threshold value has been established but an assessment method is still under development. No specific monitoring activities to address extent and duration of hypoxic/anoxic events have been carriend out during the monitoring cycle, but they are being carried out by the Regional Environmental Agencies starting from the year 2018. Since 1 criterion is not in good status and 1 criterion is not assessed (but we did record hypoxias events, mainly during Summer months), the overall status for this MRU is 'not good'.
Assessments period
2012-2017
Related pressures
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources
Related targets
  • T 5.1
  • T 5.2
  • T 5.3
  • T 5.4
  • T 5.5
  • T 5.6

Southern Adriatic Sea (IT-SAS-0001)

GES component
D5
Feature
Eutrophication
Element
DIN
TP
Chlorophyll-a
Dissolved oxygen
Element code
TDIN
PTOT
EEA_3164-01-0
EEA_3132-01-2
Element code source
Contaminants (D8-D9) http://seadatanet.maris2.nl/v_bodc_vocab_v2/vocab_relations.asp?lib=P02
Contaminants (D8-D9) http://seadatanet.maris2.nl/v_bodc_vocab_v2/vocab_relations.asp?lib=P02
Eutrophication (D5) and contaminants (D8-D9) http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/wise/ObservedProperty/view
Eutrophication (D5) and contaminants (D8-D9) http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/wise/ObservedProperty/view
Element 2
Element 2 code
Element 2 code source
Element source
EU
MS in (sub)region
EU
MS in (sub)region
Criterion
D5C1
D5C1
D5C2
D5C5
Parameter
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Concentration in water
Parameter other
Threshold value upper
0.26
0.64
3.0
Threshold value lower
Threshold qualitative
No threshold values has been defined for DIN as no correlation between N concentration in water and phytoplankton biomass can be found, since the limiting nutrient is P and not N.
Threshold value in waters beyond WFD water bodies (offshore), corresponding to chlorophyll 'a' G/M Type III W Adriatic WFD boundaries for the WFD intecalibration exercise (cfr. Giovanardi et al., Ecological Indicators 93 (2018) 316-332).
Threshold value in coastal waters is the G/M boundary established by Commission Decision 2018/229 for Type IIA Adriatic coastal waters. Threshold value in waters beyond WFD water bodies corresponds to Type III W Adriatic coastal waters (WFD approach)
A national threshold value is being set but no ad hoc monitoring activity has been carried out to assess extension and duration of hypoxic events
Threshold value source
National
Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)
National
Threshold value source other
Value achieved upper
0.41
0.22
Value achieved lower
Value unit
micromole per litre
micromole per litre
microgram per litre
milligram per litre
Value unit other
Proportion threshold value
100.0
100.0
Proportion value achieved
Proportion threshold value unit
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
% area of MRU achieving threshold value
Trend
Unknown
Unknown
Improving
Stable
Parameter achieved
Not assessed
No
Yes
Yes
Description parameter
Related indicator
  • National
  • National
  • National
  • National
Criteria status
Not assessed
Not good
Good
Good
Description criteria
The assessment method is under development and there is no assessment method established and agreed at the Mediterranean level (BARCON). In any case, hypoxias events have not been recorded during the monitoring cycle, hence the status is good.
Element status
Not assessed
Not good
Good
Good
Description element
Integration rule type parameter
Other
Integration rule description parameter
Type-specific threshold values for D5C1 and D5C2 (annual geometric mean over the monitoring cycle) are being applied to offshore waters (waters beyond WFD water bodies, up to 12 nm offhore) . For coastal waters, WFD classification (BQE 'phytoplankton') applies.
Integration rule type criteria
Other
Integration rule description criteria
2 out of 3 criteria have to be in good status
GES extent threshold
67.00
GES extent achieved
67.00
GES extent unit
Proportion of area in good status
GES achieved
GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported
Description overall status
For the overall status assessment, 2 out the 3 primary criteriahave to be in good status. D5C1 is not good status, D5C2 is in good status and D5C5 is in good status, hence the overall status is good.
Assessments period
2012-2017
Related pressures
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources
Related targets
  • T 5.1
  • T 5.2
  • T 5.3
  • T 5.4
  • T 5.5
  • T 5.6