Member State report / Art11 / 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 2020-10-15
GES Descriptor D1 Fish
Member State Latvia
Region/subregion Baltic Sea
Reported by Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology
Report date 2021-06-09
Report access

Descriptor
D1.4
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.
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
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Gaps and plans
None
None
Related targets
  • JVM1
  • JVM1
Coverage of targets
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014
Related measures
Coverage of measures
Related monitoring programmes
  • LV-4.1.1.2.3. (D1C2)
  • LV-4.1.1.2.3. (D1C2)
Programme code
LV-4.1.1.2.3. (D1C2)
LV-4.1.1.2.3. (D1C2)
Programme name
Mobile species distribution, abundance and/or biomass (coastal fish species)
Mobile species distribution, abundance and/or biomass (coastal fish species)
Update type
New programme
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.
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
  • Environmental state and impacts
Other policies and conventions
  • Data Collection Framework Multi-Annual Plan (Common Fisheries Policy)
  • HELCOM Monitoring programmes
  • Habitats Directive
  • Data Collection Framework Multi-Annual Plan (Common Fisheries Policy)
  • HELCOM Monitoring programmes
  • Habitats Directive
Regional cooperation - coordinating body
  • HELCOM
  • HELCOM
Regional cooperation - countries involved
Regional cooperation - implementation level
Coordinated data collection
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.
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
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)
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
Marine reporting units
  • BAL-LV-AAA-007
  • BAL-LV-AAA-009
  • BAL-LV-AAA-007
  • BAL-LV-AAA-009
Temporal scope (start date - end date)
2021-2026
2021-2026
Monitoring frequency
Yearly
Yearly
Monitoring type
  • In-situ sampling coastal
  • In-situ sampling coastal
Monitoring method
  • HELCOM Guidelines for coastal fish monitoring
  • HELCOM Guidelines for coastal fish monitoring
Monitoring method other
For fisheries data collection: Latvian National Fisheries and Aquaculture Data Collection Programme (DCF)
For fisheries data collection: Latvian National Fisheries and Aquaculture Data Collection Programme (DCF)
Quality control
Description of QA/QC procedures - no
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 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":
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
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