Member State report: Latvia / Art3-4
| Report type | Member State report to Commission |
| MSFD Article | Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation |
| Member State | Latvia |
| Reported by | Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology |
| Report date | 2018-06-21 |
| Report access | BALLV_MSFD4Geo_20180618.xml |
Member state marine waters |
Latvian marine waters are waters located in the seaward direction from the baseline, from which the breadth of territorial waters is measured and extends to the furthest point in the area in which Latvia has jurisdiction - the waters of the territorial and exclusive economic zone. The Latvian continental shelf is the surface and subsurface of the seabed in underwater areas, which is a natural continuation of Latvia's land territory. Latvia's exclusive economic zone is the territory of the Baltic Sea, which is located immediately beyond the borders of Latvia's territorial sea. The borders of Latvia's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone with the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden comply with the international agreements concluded by Latvia with the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden. Latvia does not have an agreement on the sea border with the Republic of Lithuania.
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Region / subregion description |
Latvia's sea waters form part of the Baltic Sea in two sub-regions - the Central Baltic (Baltic Proper) and the Gulf of Riga.
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Subdivisions |
No subdivisions
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MRUs description (AreaType) |
Reporting in relation to the requirements of Articles 8, 9 and 10 in Latvia is performed on the basis of the classification of surface water bodies in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 858 on the characterization, classification, quality criteria and procedure for determination of anthropogenic loads of surface water body types. There are 5 types of marine waters that have been identified for the implementation of the requirements of the Water Framework Directive: the transition waters of the Gulf of Riga, the rocky coast of the Gulf of Riga, the sandy coast of the Gulf of Riga, the open sandy coast of the Baltic Sea and the open rocky coast of the Baltic Sea. In addition, by agreement within HELCOM, the waters of the open part of the Baltic Sea and the open part of the Gulf of Riga are allocated to Latvia because they differ in both physical (salinity, depth, water exchange, oxygen regime) and biological (species composition) factors. The classification is already used in HELCOM assessments.
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MRUs |
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Region/ subregion |
BAL |
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Art. 8 countries involved |
SE, PL, LT, DK, DE, EE, FI |
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Art. 8 nature of coordination |
The Art 8a,b. regional cooperation was carried out in cooperation with practically all HELCOM Member States in the framework of HELCOM. Information from previous HELCOM evaluations and the parameters used (indicators) were used to prepare the initial assessment. The HELCOM harmonised allocation of assessment units (landfills) was also used. Art 8c (1) National ESA approaches developed according to EC WG-ESA information and guidance document (2010). Compliance with the guidelines shall ensure the international coherence of the overall national approaches of ESA. (2) From January to May 2012, in the framework of the GES-REG project* (covering Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia) an examination and comparative analysis of the results of the national reports of the project countries was carried out, as well as discussions with national representatives on the coherence of approaches and results. On the basis of these results, some improvements were made to the approaches and results of the national âinitial assessmentâ of ESAs. Improvements have been included in the final version of the national report (as of July 2012). * INTERREG IV A Central Baltic Programme project 2007-2013 "GES-REG: Good environmental status through regional coordination and capacity building' (2011-2013). (3) Harmonisation of national approaches is continued under the GES-REG project, as well as participation in the work of the European WG-ESA.
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Art. 8 regional coherence |
Partial |
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Art. 8 regional coherence problems |
Art 8a,b. Not all of the characteristics laid down in the Directive are available at that time. However, the Baltic Sea covers a wide geographical area with large differences. It is therefore not always possible to reach a common denominator for certain species or habitats that are not common to all Member States. Art 8c (1) At the time when national ESA approaches were developed (about June 2011), results from other countries were not yet available, in some neighbouring countries work on ESA had not even started. The coherence of the approaches was therefore largely ensured on the basis of information from the European WG-ESA. However, the WG-ESA guidelines contain a number of possible approaches for each ESA theme and there are differences between the countries used from the recommended approaches. (2) The choice of approaches is largely determined by the information available to carry out the analysis. Differences in ESAâs required information base in different countries limit the possibility of using the same approaches. (3) From the completion of the analysis in the Member States and the availability of more detailed information on approaches and results (in the GES-REG project region â February-March 2012), the time to finalisation of the reports was too short to achieve a more complete coherence of approaches. However, the exchange of experiences and discussions (in the framework of the GES-REG project) made it possible to improve coherence on specific methodological aspects/issues.
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Art. 9 countries involved |
SE, PL, LT, DK, DE, EE, FI |
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Art. 9 nature of coordination |
The definition of GES was discussed at HELCOM meetings, which allowed the different countries to take stock of the experiences of other countries and to coordinate their approach as far as possible.
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Art. 9 regional coherence |
Partial |
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Art. 9 regional coherence problems |
Different timing and different approaches.
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Art. 10 countries involved |
SE, PL, LT, DK, DE, EE, FI |
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Art. 10 nature of coordination |
Working groups to establish indicators and their numerical values were initiated within HECOM.
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Art. 10 regional coherence |
Partial |
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Art. 10 regional coherence problems |
The task was too time-consuming to achieve a result within the time available.
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| Report type | Member State report to Commission |
| MSFD Article | Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation |
| Member State | Latvia |
| Reported by | Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology |
| Report date | 2013-04-30 |
| Report access | MSFD4Geo_20130430_215405.xml |
Member state marine waters |
Latvian marine waters are waters located in the seaward direction from the baseline, from which the breadth of territorial waters is measured and extends to the furthest point in the area in which Latvia has jurisdiction - the waters of the territorial and exclusive economic zone. The Latvian continental shelf is the surface and subsurface of the seabed in underwater areas, which is a natural continuation of Latvia's land territory. Latvia's exclusive economic zone is the territory of the Baltic Sea, which is located immediately beyond the borders of Latvia's territorial sea. The borders of Latvia's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone with the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden comply with the international agreements concluded by Latvia with the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden. Latvia does not have an agreement on the sea border with the Republic of Lithuania.
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Region / subregion description |
Latvia's marine waters form part of the two sub-regions of the Baltic Sea: the Baltic Sea Central Proper and the Gulf of Riga.
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Subdivisions |
No subdivisions
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MRUs description (AreaType) |
The notification of the requirements of Articles 8, 9 and 10 in Latvia shall be based on the division of surface water bodies into types in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No 858 on the characterisation, classification, quality criteria and procedure for the determination of anthropogenic loads of surface water bodies. 5 types of marine waters that were distributed to implement the requirements of the Water Framework Directive are defined: The waters of the Gulf of Riga, the rock coast of the Gulf of Riga, the sand coast of the Gulf of Riga, the open sand coast of the south-east Baltic Sea and the open rock coast of the south-east Baltic Sea.
In addition, as agreed in the framework of HELCOM, the waters of the open sea of the Baltic Sea and the open sea of the Gulf of Riga are distributed to Latvia, as they differ in both physical (saltity, depth, water exchange, oxygen) and biological (species composition) factors. The breakdown is already used in HELCOM assessments.
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MRUs |
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Region/ subregion |
BAL |
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Art. 8 countries involved |
SE, PL,
, LT,
, DK, DE, EE, FI |
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Art. 8 nature of coordination |
The Art 8a,b. regional cooperation was carried out in cooperation with practically all HELCOM Member States in the framework of HELCOM. Information from previous HELCOM evaluations and the parameters used (indicators) were used to prepare the initial assessment. The HELCOM harmonised allocation of assessment units (landfills) was also used.
Art 8c
(1) National ESA approaches developed according to EC WG-ESA information and guidance document (2010). Compliance with the guidelines shall ensure the international coherence of the overall national approaches of ESA.
(2) From January to May 2012, in the framework of the GES-REG project* (covering Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia) an examination and comparative analysis of the results of the national reports of the project countries was carried out, as well as discussions with national representatives on the coherence of approaches and results. On the basis of these results, some improvements were made to the approaches and results of the national âinitial assessmentâ of ESAs. Improvements have been included in the final version of the national report (as of July 2012).
* INTERREG IV A Central Baltic Programme project 2007-2013 "GES-REG: Good environmental status through regional coordination and capacity building' (2011-2013).
(3) Harmonisation of national approaches is continued under the GES-REG project, as well as participation in the work of the European WG-ESA.
|
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Art. 8 regional coherence |
Partial |
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Art. 8 regional coherence problems |
Art 8a,b. Not all of the characteristics laid down in the Directive are available at that time. However, the Baltic Sea covers a wide geographical area with large differences. It is therefore not always possible to reach a common denominator for certain species or habitats that are not common to all Member States.
Art 8c
(1) At the time when national ESA approaches were developed (about June 2011), results from other countries were not yet available, in some neighbouring countries work on ESA had not even started. The coherence of the approaches was therefore largely ensured on the basis of information from the European WG-ESA. However, the WG-ESA guidelines contain a number of possible approaches for each ESA theme and there are differences between the countries used from the recommended approaches.
(2) The choice of approaches is largely determined by the information available to carry out the analysis. Differences in ESAâs required information base in different countries limit the possibility of using the same approaches.
(3) From the completion of the analysis in the Member States and the availability of more detailed information on approaches and results (in the GES-REG project region â February-March 2012), the time to finalisation of the reports was too short to achieve a more complete coherence of approaches. However, the exchange of experiences and discussions (in the framework of the GES-REG project) made it possible to improve coherence on specific methodological aspects/issues.
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Art. 9 countries involved |
SE, PL,
, LT,
, DK, DE, EE, FI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 9 nature of coordination |
The definition of GES was discussed at HELCOM meetings, which allowed the different countries to take stock of the experiences of other countries and to coordinate their approach as far as possible.
|
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Art. 9 regional coherence |
Partial |
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Art. 9 regional coherence problems |
Different timing and different approaches.
|
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Art. 10 countries involved |
SE, PL,
, LT,
, DK, DE, EE, FI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 10 nature of coordination |
Working groups to establish indicators and their numerical values were initiated within HECOM.
|
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Art. 10 regional coherence |
Partial |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 10 regional coherence problems |
The task was too time-consuming to achieve a result within the time available.
|
| Report type | Member State report to Commission |
| MSFD Article | Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation |
| Member State | Latvia |
| Reported by | Latvian Institute of Aquatic ecology |
| Report date | 2012-12-19 |
| Report access | BALLV_MSFD4Geo_20121214.xml |
Member state marine waters |
Latvian marine waters are waters located in the seaward direction from the baseline, from which the breadth of territorial waters is measured and extends to the furthest point in the area in which Latvia has jurisdiction - the waters of the territorial and exclusive economic zone. The Latvian continental shelf is the surface and subsurface of the seabed in underwater areas, which is a natural continuation of Latvia's land territory. Latvia's exclusive economic zone is the territory of the Baltic Sea, which is located immediately beyond the borders of Latvia's territorial sea. The borders of Latvia's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone with the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden comply with the international agreements concluded by Latvia with the Republic of Estonia and the Kingdom of Sweden. Latvia does not have an agreement on the sea border with the Republic of Lithuania.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region / subregion description |
Latvia's marine waters form part of the two sub-regions of the Baltic Sea: the Baltic Sea Central Proper and the Gulf of Riga.
|
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Subdivisions |
No subdivisions
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MRUs description (AreaType) |
The notification of the requirements of Articles 8, 9 and 10 in Latvia shall be based on the division of surface water bodies into types in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No 858 on the characterisation, classification, quality criteria and procedure for the determination of anthropogenic loads of surface water bodies. 5 types of marine waters that were distributed to implement the requirements of the Water Framework Directive are defined: The waters of the Gulf of Riga, the rock coast of the Gulf of Riga, the sand coast of the Gulf of Riga, the open sand coast of the south-east Baltic Sea and the open rock coast of the south-east Baltic Sea.
In addition, as agreed in the framework of HELCOM, the waters of the open sea of the Baltic Sea and the open sea of the Gulf of Riga are distributed to Latvia, as they differ in both physical (saltity, depth, water exchange, oxygen) and biological (species composition) factors. The breakdown is already used in HELCOM assessments.
|
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MRUs |
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Region/ subregion |
BAL |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 8 countries involved |
SE, PL,
, LT,
, DK, DE, EE, FI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 8 nature of coordination |
The Art 8a,b. regional cooperation was carried out in cooperation with practically all HELCOM Member States in the framework of HELCOM. Information from previous HELCOM evaluations and the parameters used (indicators) were used to prepare the initial assessment. The HELCOM harmonised allocation of assessment units (landfills) was also used.
Art 8c
(1) National ESA approaches developed according to EC WG-ESA information and guidance document (2010). Compliance with the guidelines shall ensure the international coherence of the overall national approaches of ESA.
(2) From January to May 2012, in the framework of the GES-REG project* (covering Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia) an examination and comparative analysis of the results of the national reports of the project countries was carried out, as well as discussions with national representatives on the coherence of approaches and results. On the basis of these results, some improvements were made to the approaches and results of the national âinitial assessmentâ of ESAs. Improvements have been included in the final version of the national report (as of July 2012).
* INTERREG IV A Central Baltic Programme project 2007-2013 "GES-REG: Good environmental status through regional coordination and capacity building' (2011-2013).
(3) Harmonisation of national approaches is continued under the GES-REG project, as well as participation in the work of the European WG-ESA.
|
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Art. 8 regional coherence |
Partial |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 8 regional coherence problems |
Art 8a,b. Not all of the characteristics laid down in the Directive are available at that time. However, the Baltic Sea covers a wide geographical area with large differences. It is therefore not always possible to reach a common denominator for certain species or habitats that are not common to all Member States.
Art 8c
(1) At the time when national ESA approaches were developed (about June 2011), results from other countries were not yet available, in some neighbouring countries work on ESA had not even started. The coherence of the approaches was therefore largely ensured on the basis of information from the European WG-ESA. However, the WG-ESA guidelines contain a number of possible approaches for each ESA theme and there are differences between the countries used from the recommended approaches.
(2) The choice of approaches is largely determined by the information available to carry out the analysis. Differences in ESAâs required information base in different countries limit the possibility of using the same approaches.
(3) From the completion of the analysis in the Member States and the availability of more detailed information on approaches and results (in the GES-REG project region â February-March 2012), the time to finalisation of the reports was too short to achieve a more complete coherence of approaches. However, the exchange of experiences and discussions (in the framework of the GES-REG project) made it possible to improve coherence on specific methodological aspects/issues.
|
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Art. 9 countries involved |
SE, PL,
, LT,
, DK, DE, EE, FI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 9 nature of coordination |
The definition of GES was discussed at HELCOM meetings, which allowed the different countries to take stock of the experiences of other countries and to coordinate their approach as far as possible.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 9 regional coherence |
Partial |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 9 regional coherence problems |
Different timing and different approaches.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 10 countries involved |
SE, PL,
, LT,
, DK, DE, EE, FI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 10 nature of coordination |
Working groups to establish indicators and their numerical values were initiated within HECOM.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 10 regional coherence |
Partial |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Art. 10 regional coherence problems |
The task was too time-consuming to achieve a result within the time available.
|