MS/Art9/2018/D1-F/Lithuania/Baltic Sea

Member State report / Art9 / 2018 / D1-F / Lithuania / Baltic Sea

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	D1 Fish
Member State	Lithuania
Region/subregion	Baltic Sea
Reported by	Environmental Protection Agency
Report date	2020-06-09
Report access	ART9_GES_LT-04-08-corrected-06-03.xml

Simplified table

GES component	D1	D1-F	D1C1	D1C2	D1C2	D1C3	D1C4	D1C5
Marine reporting units				BAL-LT-AA-01	BAL-LT-MS-01	BAL-LT-AA-01	BAL-LT-AA-01
Features				Coastal fish	Coastal fish Pelagic shelf fish	Coastal fish	Coastal fish
GES description				Anthropogenic hazards do not adversely affect the population abundance of the species, thus ensuring its long-term viability. The abundance of key species in the Baltic Sea coastal fish communities (abundance of plaice) is assessed.	The population abundance of the species is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures, such that its long-term viability is ensured. The indicators are “Salmon (Salmo salar) breeders and pike abundance” and “Sea trout (Salmo trutta trutta abundance and pike abundance” are evaluated.	Demographic characteristics of species populations (eg body size or age class, sex ratio, fertility and survival rates) indicate that populations are in good condition and not adversely affected by anthropogenic hazards. The indicators D4C2 and D4C3 “Fish Community Abundance Index (Predatory Fish Abundance)” and “Fish Community Size Index” are used to assess the status according to the D1C3 criterion.	The range and (if appropriate) pattern of the species distribution correspond to the prevailing physiographic, geographical and climatic conditions. The indicators "Fish Community Diversity Index (Shannon Index)" and "Fish Community Trophic Index" are evaluated.
Determination date				202002	202002	201304	201304
Update type				New determination	New determination	Same as last reported determination	Same as last reported determination
Justification for non-use of criterion						Indicators for criterion D1C3 are not available for the HELCOM region, still in the development phase.
Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements				The criterion applies to coastal areas, with the exception of two indicators for assessing the abundance of sea trout and salmon. For the high seas, the criterion is hardly used and its values are not determined due to a lack of data. Stocking on the high seas was planned for winter 2019-2020, but due to bad weather and delays in the procurement procedure studies were postponed to winter 2020-2021. The indicator “Breeding seabird abundance” is currently not applicable for national assessment: out of 26 species included in the HELCOM indicator assessment, 16 breed in Lithuania, but their habitats in Lithuania are not related to the marine environment. The latter indicator would be suitable for assessing the abundance of the large cormorant population, but due to the measures taken to regulate the population (grandfathering from interceptions) the assessment would not be accurate. The mammal indicator (Population abundance) has not been assessed as there are no seal colonies in Lithuanian marine waters which need to be monitored according to the HELCOM methodology.	The criterion applies to coastal areas, with the exception of two indicators for assessing the abundance of sea trout and salmon. For the high seas, the criterion is hardly used and its values are not determined due to a lack of data. Stocking on the high seas was planned for winter 2019-2020, but due to bad weather and delays in the procurement procedure studies were postponed to winter 2020-2021. The indicator “Breeding seabird abundance” is currently not applicable for national assessment: out of 26 species included in the HELCOM indicator assessment, 16 breed in Lithuania, but their habitats in Lithuania are not related to the marine environment. The latter indicator would be suitable for assessing the abundance of the large cormorant population, but due to the measures taken to regulate the population (grandfathering from interceptions) the assessment would not be accurate. The mammal indicator (Population abundance) has not been assessed as there are no seal colonies in Lithuanian marine waters which need to be monitored according to the HELCOM methodology.	Indicators for criterion D1C3 are not available for the HELCOM region, still in the development phase.