Member State report / Art11 / 2014-2020 / D1-F / Latvia / Baltic Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2014-10-15; 2020-10-15
GES Descriptor D1 Fish
Member State Latvia
Region/subregion Baltic Sea
Reported by Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology
Report date 2014-12-05; 2021-06-09
Report access
2014 data
2020 data
Monitoring programme Monitoring programme name
MP_D2
MP_D5
Reference existing programme
Marine Unit ID
Q4e - Programme ID
BAL-LV-2014
BAL-LV-2014
Q4f - Programme description
The monitoring programme is incomplete at the present stage due to lack of knowledge and severe limitation in indicator availability. Therefore, balance between parts of the monitoring programme can not be assessed.
Q5e - Natural variability
  • ExpertOpinion
  • ExpertOpinion
Q5d - Adequacy for assessment of GES Q5d - Adequate data
N
N
Q5d - Established methods
N
N
Q5d - Adequate understanding of GES
N
N
Q5d - Adequate capacity
N
N
Q5f - Description of programme for GES assessment
There is a linkage between sub-programmes and descriptors provided in monitoring programme. However, the monitoring programme at present stage is incomplete due to lack of knowledge and correspondingly insufficient number of available indicators. At this time there is no or only very few indicators for descriptors 1, 4 and 6. Some ongoing work will result in HELCOM CORE set indicators for biodiversity that would be used for D1. However, indicator description is not yet finished. Therefore, it is not possible to assess how well adopted monitoring programme will contribute to assessment needs by use of developed indicators. Consequently, the need to amend monitoring programme is already foreseen.
Q5g - Gap-filling date for GES assessment
After2020
By2020
Q5h - Plans to implement monitoring for GES assessment
Please see section “Jūras monitoringa programmas nepilnību novēršanas plāns” in monitoring programme.
Q6a -Relevant targets Q6a - Environmental target
Target 1 Target 6
Target 3
Q6a - Associated indicator
Q6b - Adequacy for assessment of targets Q6b_SuitableData
N
N
Q6b_EstablishedMethods
N
N
Q6d_AdequateCapacity
N
N
Q6c - Target updating
N
Q6d - Description of programme for targets assessment
The monitoring programme is incomplete at the present stage due to lack of knowledge and severe limitation in indicator availability. The indicators are lacking as well as system/tool to aggregate the indicator-based assessments so that the overall progress towards targets could be assessed. Question 6a:The assessment system that agregates indicators to assess targets is not developped yet. The target values are elaborated for separate indicators. Information on that can be found in document elaborated for Initial assessment (www.lhei.lv/docs/2012/Juras_derektiva_C.pdf)
Q6e - Gap-filling date for targets assessment
After2020
By2020
Q6f - Plans to implement monitoring for targets assessment
Please see section “Jūras monitoringa programmas nepilnību novēršanas plāns” in monitoring programme.
Q7a - Relevant activities
  • Aquaculture
  • Shipping
  • AgricultForestry
  • Industry
  • Urban
Q7b - Description of monitoring of activities
• The land-based pressure monitoring is addressed in the frame of Water framework directive. • Atmospheric depositions of nutrients and selected contaminants are addressed on regional level through cooperation in HELCOM frame. The actual calculations are performed by EMEP and presented for the whole regional in form of maps. • The ship traffic intensity as well as oil pollution by ships is addressed in form of regional cooperation in HELCOM. Oil spill maps are regularly updated and published on HELCOM web page covering whole region. • Fishing pressure is addressed in the frame of CFP. • The physical impact by port activities (dumping of dredged material, maintenance of port facilities) and potentially impact by construction of other infrastructure is and will be addressed locally in frame of Impact assessment procedure and following operator monitoring. • The marine litter will be addressed on regional scale. Currently HELCOM Marine litter action plan, that will include also suggestions on monitoring, is in elaboration stage. • Noise is not addressed at present.
Q7c - Relevant measures
Q7e - Adequacy for assessment of measures Q7d - Adequate data
N
Q7d - Established methods
N
Q7d - Adequate understanding of GES
N
Q7d - Adequate capacity
N
Q7d - Addresses activities and pressures
N
Q7d - Addresses effectiveness of measures
N
Q7d - Description of monitoring for measures
Monitoring of measures is not part of National environmental monitoring programme. Measures and their monitoring will be addressed in coming Programme of measures.
Q7f - Gap-filling date for activities and measures
After2020
By2020
Q8a - Links to existing Monitoring Programmes
  • Habitats
  • HELCOM
  • Nitrates
  • WFD
Reference sub-programme Sub-programme ID
Sub-programme name
Pelagic habitats - community characteristics
Plankton blooms (biomass, frequency)
Seabed habitats - community characteristics
Benthic species - abundance and/or biomass
Seabed habitats - distribution and extent
Non-indigenous species - abundance and/or biomass
Non-indigenous species inputs - from specific sources
Water column - physical characteristics
Water column - chemical characteristics
Nutrient levels - in water column
Pelagic habitats - community characteristics
Seabed habitats - physical/chemical characteristics
Nutrient inputs - land-based sources
Nutrient inputs - from atmosphere
Plankton blooms (biomass, frequency)
Q4g - Sub-programmes Sub-programme ID
Sub-programme name
Pelagic habitats - community characteristics
Plankton blooms (biomass, frequency)
Seabed habitats - community characteristics
Benthic species - abundance and/or biomass
Seabed habitats - distribution and extent
Non-indigenous species - abundance and/or biomass
Non-indigenous species inputs - from specific sources
Water column - physical characteristics
Water column - chemical characteristics
Nutrient levels - in water column
Pelagic habitats - community characteristics
Seabed habitats - physical/chemical characteristics
Nutrient inputs - land-based sources
Nutrient inputs - from atmosphere
Plankton blooms (biomass, frequency)
Q4k - Monitoring purpose
Q4l - Links of monitoring programmes of other Directives and Conventions
Q5c - Features Q5c - Habitats
  • ShallRock ShallMud ShelfMud VarSalinity MarineCoast MarineShelf
  • ShallRock ShallSand ShelfMud VarSalinity MarineCoast MarineShelf
Q5c - Species list
  • FishDemersal
  • FishPelagic
  • FunctionalGroupOther
  • Zoobentoss, Zooplanktons
  • Fitoplancton, zoobenthos, makrovegetation
  • FunctionalGroupOther
Q5c - Physical/Chemical features
  • NutrientLevels
  • OxygenLevels
  • Salinity
  • SeaBottomTemperature
  • SeaSurfaceTemperature
  • TopographyBathymetry
  • Transparency
  • Turbidity
  • pH
Q5c - Pressures
  • BioDisturb_other
  • IntroNIS
  • InputN_Psubst
  • InputOrganics
  • NutrientOrgEnrich
Q9a - Elements
Q5a - GES criteria Relevant GES criteria
  • 1.1
  • 1.2
  • 1.4
  • 1.5
  • 1.6
  • 1.7
  • 2.1
  • 2.2
  • 3.1
  • 3.2
  • 3.3
  • 4.1
  • 4.3
  • 5.2
  • 6.1
  • 6.2
  • 7.2
  • 1.2
  • 1.6
  • 5.1
  • 5.2
  • 5.3
  • 6.2
Q5b - GES indicators Relevant GES indicators
  • 1.6.1
  • 1.6.2
  • 2.2.2
  • 5.2.4
  • 6.1.2
  • 1.2.1
  • 1.6.1
  • 1.6.2
  • 1.6.3
  • 5.2.1
  • 5.2.2
  • 5.2.4
  • 5.3.2
  • 6.1.2
  • 6.2.2
Q9b - Parameters monitored (state/impact) Species distribution
Species population size
Species population characteristics
Species impacts
Habitat distribution
Habitat extent
Habitat condition (physical-chemical)
Habitat condition (biological)
Habitat impacts
Q9b - Parameters monitored (pressures) Pressure input
Pressure output
Q9b - Parameters monitored (activity) Activity
Q9b Parameters monitored (other) Other
Q41 Spatial scope
Q4j - Description of spatial scope
Marine Unit IDs
  • BAL-LV-SD-006
  • BAL-LV-SD-006
Q4h - Temporal scope Start date- End date
-
-
Q9h - Temporal resolution of sampling
Q9c - Monitoring method
Q9d - Description of alteration to method
Q9e - Quality assurance
Q9f - Quality control
Q9g - Spatial resolution of sampling Q9g - Proportion of area covered %
Q9g - No. of samples
Q9i - Description of sample representivity
Q10a - Scale for aggregation of data
Q10b - Other scale for aggregation of data
Q10c - Access to monitoring data Q10c - Data type
Q10c - Data access mechanism
Q10c - Data access rights
Q10c - INSPIRE standard
Q10c Date data are available
Q10c - Data update frequency
Q10d - Description of data access
Descriptor
D1.4
Monitoring strategy description
The monitoring addresses status of coastal fish population. Two distinct features - key fish species and abundance of functional groups are used to characterize status of fish population.
Coverage of GES criteria
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Gaps and plans
None
Related targets
  • JVM1
Coverage of targets
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Related measures
Coverage of measures
Related monitoring programmes
  • LV-4.1.1.2.3. (D1C2)
Programme code
LV-4.1.1.2.3. (D1C2)
Programme name
Mobile species distribution, abundance and/or biomass (coastal fish species)
Update type
New programme
Old programme codes
Programme description
The purpose of the monitoring is to assess the ecological status of the Baltic Sea, including one of the environmental status components biodiversity by observing current state and changes in coastal fish community resulting from impact of eutrophication, habitat changes, climate change, exposure to toxic substances, presence of non-indigenous species and human activities e.g. fishing. The monitoring of fish and shellfish cover the abundance, distribution, growth, population dynamics and exploitation of fish in the HELCOM area. Much of the programme is carried out under the auspices of ICES. Monitoring is carried out by national monitoring programmes and data are collated through HELCOM. HELCOM monitoring of this programme is fully coordinated. HELCOM monitoring programme topic "Fish, Fisheries and Shellfish; programme "Coastal fish" with key indicator Abundance of key fish species. Core indicators are calculated according to the HELCOM core indicator report: which is available: https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Abundance-of-key-coastal-fish-species-HELCOM-core-indicator-2018.pdf. The requirements for the marine waters of Latvia and the relationship of the specified environmental objectives with the qualitative characteristics characterizing the state of the marine environment are included in Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers of Republic of Latvia No. 1071 of 23 November 2010, Requirements for the Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, the Determination of Good Environmental State of the Sea and Development of Marine Environmental Goals. Corresponding legislative acts of the Republic of Latvia concerning fisheries: Fishery Law (adopted 12.04.1995.) and Republic of Latvia Cabinet Regulation No. 296, adopted 2 May 2007 Regulations Regarding Commercial Fishing in Territorial Waters and Economic Zone Waters.
Monitoring purpose
  • Environmental state and impacts
Other policies and conventions
  • Data Collection Framework Multi-Annual Plan (Common Fisheries Policy)
  • HELCOM Monitoring programmes
  • Habitats Directive
Regional cooperation - coordinating body
  • HELCOM
Regional cooperation - countries involved
Regional cooperation - implementation level
Coordinated data collection
Monitoring details
Collecting of data is carried out within the framework of the Latvian National Fisheries and Aquaculture Data Collection Work Plan which is prepared in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/909 and Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2019/910. Data are obtained by sampling according to the Guidelines for Coastal Fish Monitoring Sampling Methods of HELCOM in the coastal waters of Latvia (depth of 3.5 m) using the Nordic coastal type nets 45 metres long net constructions consisting of several panels with different mesh sizes. Data are collected according to the BIOR Guidelines for coastal monitoring. Monitoring is carried out annually in seven coastal areas of Gulf of Riga and Baltic sea in the period from February to December. Key species perch (Perca fluviatilis) and flounder (Platichthys flesus). Together with fishing measurements of water temperature, salinity, Secchi depth are performed.
Features
Coastal fish
Coastal fish
Coastal fish
Coastal fish
Elements
  • Platichthys flesus
  • Fish community
GES criteria
D1C2
NotRelevan
Parameters
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
  • Biomass
  • Other
  • Size distribution
  • Abundance (number of individuals)
Parameter Other
Age
Spatial scope
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
Marine reporting units
  • BAL-LV-AAA-007
  • BAL-LV-AAA-009
Temporal scope (start date - end date)
2021-2026
Monitoring frequency
Yearly
Monitoring type
  • In-situ sampling coastal
Monitoring method
  • HELCOM Guidelines for coastal fish monitoring
Monitoring method other
For fisheries data collection: Latvian National Fisheries and Aquaculture Data Collection Programme (DCF)
Quality control
Description of QA/QC procedures - no
Data management
Data holder is Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment "BIOR" . Data are available in BIOR and in HELCOM COOL.
Data access
Related indicator/name
Contact
Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR":
References
Guidelines for Coastal Fish Monitoring Sampling Methods of HELCOM: http://helcom.fi/Lists/Publications/Guidelines for Coastal fish Monitoring of HELCOM.pdf and BIOR documentation: https://www.bior.lv/sites/default/files/inline-files/Piekrastes_uzskaites_bentiska_uskaite_RJL.pdf