Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D4 / 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 | D4 Food webs/D1 Ecosystems |
| Member State | Latvia |
| Region/subregion | Baltic Sea |
| Reported by | Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology |
| Report date | 2021-06-09 |
| Report access |
Descriptor |
D4/D1 |
D4/D1 |
|---|---|---|
Monitoring strategy description |
1. At this stage the program relies on zooplankton as an intermedia component linking primary producers (phytoplankton) with consumers (fish).
2. The monitoring sub-program shall be based on balanced guilds. However, at present the program is underdeveloped due to knowledge gaps. Only one component, zooplankton, has been fully developed. |
1. At this stage the program relies on zooplankton as an intermedia component linking primary producers (phytoplankton) with consumers (fish).
2. The monitoring sub-program shall be based on balanced guilds. However, at present the program is underdeveloped due to knowledge gaps. Only one component, zooplankton, has been fully developed. |
Coverage of GES criteria |
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024 |
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024 |
Gaps and plans |
1. The spatial and temporal coverage is insufficient. This will be remedied after additional funding will be made available.
2. Knowledge gaps on guilds. |
1. The spatial and temporal coverage is insufficient. This will be remedied after additional funding will be made available.
2. Knowledge gaps on guilds. |
Related targets |
|
|
Coverage of targets |
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024 |
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024 |
Related measures |
||
Coverage of measures |
||
Related monitoring programmes |
|
|
Programme code |
LV-4.1.4. (D1C6) |
LV-4.4.1. (D4C1) |
Programme name |
Ecosystems, including food webs (zooplankton) |
Pelagic habitats community characteristics; Mobile species distribution, abundance and/or biomass (diversity of trophic guild zooplankton) |
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 indicators biodiversity by the state of one of the key elements in marine food webs zooplankton (species composition, abundance and biomass of zooplankton is determined) and changes in these parameters to assess the impact on environment caused by eutrophication and other kinds of anthropogenic pressures.
Monitoring is carried out within the framework of the HELCOM monitoring program, in cooperation with the other Member States.
Corresponding HELCOM monitoring programme topic Zooplankton and
programme Zooplankton species composition, abundance and biomass. The monitoring of this programme is partially coordinated among HELCOM countries. Missing component(s): common quality assurance programme; common database.
Corresponding document in HELCOM COMBINE manual is Guidelines for monitoring of mesozooplankton.
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. |
The purpose of the monitoring is to assess the ecological status of the Baltic Sea, including one of the environmental status indicators state of food web by the determination of state of one of the main elements in marine food webs zooplankton (species composition, abundance and biomass is determined) and changes of these parameters to assess the impact on environment caused by eutrophication and other kinds of anthropogenic pressures.
Monitoring is carried out within the framework of the HELCOM monitoring program, in cooperation with the other Member States.
Corresponding HELCOM monitoring programme topic is Zooplankton and programme Zooplankton species composition, abundance and biomass.
The monitoring of this programme is partially coordinated among HELCOM countries common quality assurance programme and common database is missing.
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. |
Monitoring purpose |
|
|
Other policies and conventions |
|
|
Regional cooperation - coordinating body |
|
|
Regional cooperation - countries involved |
||
Regional cooperation - implementation level |
Coordinated data collection |
Coordinated data collection |
Monitoring details |
Observations are made at fixed stations, the coordinates of which have been determined in advance. Values of the parameters are measured on certain depths. Frequency of sampling - up to 9 times per year.
Core indicator Zooplankton mean size and total stock (MSTS) is used. In the calculations only holoplankton organisms which are not predators are used (meroplankton and predators such as Cladocera species are excluded). MSTS indicator is used for the summer season since it directly describe the feeding conditions for herring, as well as the ability to control primary production. |
Observations are made at fixed stations, the coordinates of which have been determined in advance. Values of the parameters are measured on certain depths. Frequency of sampling - up to 9 times per year. Samples are collected with standard net construction with opening 57 cm and mesh size 100 microns. Species composition and biomass is determined according to the HELCOM recommendations in COMBINE manual in Guidelines for monitoring of mesozooplankton. The method is suitable for qualitative (species composition) and quantitative (biomass) detection of zooplankton organisms in nature water samples.
Core indicator Zooplankton mean size and total stock (MSTS) is used. In the calculations only holoplankton organisms which are not predators are used (meroplankton and predators such as Cladocera species are excluded). MSTS indicator is used for the summer season since it directly describe the feeding conditions for herring, as well as the ability to control primary production. |
Features |
Other pelagic habitats
|
Pelagic broad habitats
|
Elements |
|
|
GES criteria |
D1C6 |
NotRelevan |
Parameters |
|
|
Parameter Other |
Abundance, biomass, species compostion |
|
Spatial scope |
|
|
Marine reporting units |
|
|
Temporal scope (start date - end date) |
2021-2026 |
2021-2026 |
Monitoring frequency |
Other |
Other |
Monitoring type |
|
|
Monitoring method |
|
|
Monitoring method other |
||
Quality control |
QA procedures according to Manual for Marine Monitoring in the COMBINE Programme of HELCOM. Part B. General Guidelines on Quality Assurance for Monitoring in the Baltic Sea" and in Guidelines for monitoring of mesozooplankton in this Manual.
QC procedures: R - control charts based on agreed quality criterion, participation in ring-testing activities in line with HELCOM recommendations. |
QA procedures according to Manual for Marine Monitoring in the COMBINE Programme of HELCOM. Part B. General Guidelines on Quality Assurance for Monitoring in the Baltic Sea" and in Guidelines for monitoring of mesozooplankton in this Manual.
QC procedures: R - control charts based on agreed quality criterion, participation in ring-testing activities in line with HELCOM recommendations. |
Data management |
Data holder is Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE).
QC on data according to the Manual for Marine Monitoring in the COMBINE Programme of HELCOM. Part B. General Guidelines on Quality Assurance for Monitoring in the Baltic Sea and in Guidelines for monitoring of mesozooplankton in this Manual.
Data are available in LIAE, ICES, EMODNET. |
Data holder is Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE).
QC on data according to the Manual for Marine Monitoring in the COMBINE Programme of HELCOM. Part B. General Guidelines on Quality Assurance for Monitoring in the Baltic Sea and in Guidelines for monitoring of mesozooplankton in this Manual.
Data are available in LIAE, ICES, EMODNET. |
Data access |
||
Related indicator/name |
|
|
Contact |
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology
e-mail: juris.aigars@lhei.lv |
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology
e-mail: juris.aigars@lhei.lv |
References |