MS/Art9/2012/D1-B/Malta/Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea

Member State report / Art9 / 2012 / D1-B / Malta / Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea

Report type	Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article	Art. 9 Determination of GES (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due	2012-10-15
GES Descriptor	D1 Birds
Member State	Malta
Region/subregion	Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea
Reported by	Malta Environment and Planning Authority
Report date	-
Report access	MSFD9GES_20131105_121546.xml HTML Factsheet

Simplified table

GES component	D1	1.1 Species distribution	1.1.1 Species distributional range	1.1.1 Species distributional range	1.1.1 Species distributional range	1.1.1 Species distributional range	1.1.1 Species distributional range	1.1.1 Species distributional range	1.1.2 Species distributional pattern	1.1.2 Species distributional pattern	1.1.2 Species distributional pattern	1.1.2 Species distributional pattern	1.1.2 Species distributional pattern	1.1.2 Species distributional pattern	1.1.3 Area covered by species	1.2 Population size	1.2.1 Population abundance	1.2.1 Population abundance	1.2.1 Population abundance	1.2.1 Population abundance	1.2.1 Population abundance	1.2.1 Population abundance	1.3 Population condition	1.3.1 Population demographic characteristics	1.3.1 Population demographic characteristics	1.3.1 Population demographic characteristics	1.3.1 Population demographic characteristics	1.3.1 Population demographic characteristics	1.3.1 Population demographic characteristics
Method used	MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.	MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.														MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.							MIC-MT-MS: The Good Environmental Status identified for each descriptor constitutes a qualitative description of the desired status. For some descriptors, more than one statement is being proposed, to reflect the MSFD criteria and indicators. Reference to existing environmental thresholds/limits was made in relation to Descriptor 8 (contaminants) and Descriptor 9 (contaminants in fish and seafood), however no quantitative GES is being put forward for the first reporting cycle.
Marine reporting units	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area	Ad-hoc areas based on risk based approach Assessment area Assessment areas Assessment areas/ad-hoc risk based areas Descriptor 3 Assessment area Geographical Sub Area 15 (GFCM) MIC-MT-MS Malta Gozo Channel Assessment area NIS Assessment area West Gozo Cliffs Assessment area West Malta Cliffs Assessment area
Feature	WaterColumnHabitatsAll	BirdsOffshorePelagic														BirdsOffshorePelagic FishDemersal MammalsToothedWhales							BirdsOffshorePelagic MammalsToothedWhales
Criterion/indicator	D1	1.1	1.1.1	1.1.1	1.1.1	1.1.1	1.1.1	1.1.1	1.1.2	1.1.2	1.1.2	1.1.2	1.1.2	1.1.2	1.1.3	1.2	1.2.1	1.2.1	1.2.1	1.2.1	1.2.1	1.2.1	1.3	1.3.1	1.3.1	1.3.1	1.3.1	1.3.1	1.3.1
GES description	GES is a qualitative description of the desired status at the habitat and species level. Statements describing this GES are being defined for specific MSFD criteria.	The natural range and extent of marine habitats and species are stable, or otherwise in line with the physiographic and climatic conditions, taking into consideration the sustainable use of the marine environment.														The population abundance of key marine species is stable and their population dynamics are indicative of long-term viability.							The population abundance of key marine species is stable and their population dynamics are indicative of long-term viability.
Threshold values
Threshold value unit
Proportion of area to achieve threshold value	Assessment Areas	Assessment Areas identified for seabirds														Assessment Areas identified for seabirds							Assessment Areas identified for seabirds
Reference point type
Baseline	Current conditions	Specified period/year														Specified period/year							Specified period/year
Assessment method	To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme	To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme														To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme							To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme
Development status	Given the current state of knowledge which is limited for specific habitat types and/or marine species, the proposed GES is expected to be operational by 2018 subject to the generation of the required data through the implementation of the MSFD monitoring programme or other necessary research activities.	Proposed GES would be achieved through regulation of identified pressures. Proposed indicators for targets related to such pressures need further development. Therefore GES for seabirds is expected to be operational by 2018 (if adopted).														Proposed GES would be achieved through regulation of identified pressures. Proposed indicators for targets related to such pressures need further development. Therefore GES for seabirds is expected to be operational by 2018 (if adopted).							Proposed GES would be achieved through regulation of identified pressures. Proposed indicators for targets related to such pressures need further development. Therefore GES for seabirds is expected to be operational by 2018 (if adopted).