Member State report / Art9 / 2012 / D5 / 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 D5 Eutrophication
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
GES component
D5
5.1 Nutrients level
5.1.1 Nutrient concentration
5.2 Direct effects of nutrient enrichment
5.2.1 Chlorophyll concentration
5.2.2 Water transparency
5.2.3 Abundance of macroalgae
5.2.4 Shift in floristic species composition
5.3 Indirect effects of nutrient enrichment
5.3.1 Abundance of seaweeds and seagrasses
5.3.2 Dissolved oxygen
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
Feature
  • NutrientOrgEnrich
  • NutrientOrgEnrich
  • NutrientOrgEnrich
  • NutrientOrgEnrich
Criterion/indicator
D5
5.1
5.1.1
5.2
5.2.1
5.2.2
5.2.3
5.2.4
5.3
5.3.1
5.3.2
GES description
The proposed GES attempts to address the criteria/indicators collectively, with the broad aim of safeguarding functions of marine ecosystems from the adverse effects of eutrophication. Parameters or indicators which will be used for assessing progress towards achieving this GES should be selected on the basis of a risk-based approach.
Nutrient levels (or ratios as applicable) and chlorophyll-a levels in the marine environment do not depart significantly from natural levels of the Mediterranean Sea.
Biological communities (assessed at relevant scales) are indicative of either undisturbed conditions or of slight or localised changes associated with nutrient enrichment.
Biological communities (assessed at relevant scales) are indicative of either undisturbed conditions or of slight or localised changes associated with nutrient enrichment.
Threshold values
Threshold value unit
Proportion of area to achieve threshold value
Assessment Area
Assessment Area
Assessment Area
Assessment Area
Reference point type
Baseline
WFD Baseline Surveys (2012)
WFD Baseline Surveys (2012)
Baseline or reference conditions still need to be established
Baseline or reference conditions still need to be established
Assessment method
To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme
Levels of nutrients and chlorophyll-a within assessment areas
To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme
To be established through the MSFD monitoring programme
Development status
Proposed indicator for GES is deemed to be operational by 2014 following the development of the MSFD monitoring programme
Knowledge on type-specific conditions based on which the effects of nutrient enrichment can be assessed is very limited at this stage. Therefore this GES and associated indicators requires further development and is expected to be operational by 2018 if adopted.
Knowledge on type-specific conditions based on which the effects of nutrient enrichment can be assessed is very limited at this stage. Therefore this GES and associated indicators requires further development and is expected to be operational by 2018 if adopted.