MS/Art9/2018/D6/Malta/Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea

Member State report / Art9 / 2018 / D6 / 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	2018-10-15
GES Descriptor	D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats
Member State	Malta
Region/subregion	Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea
Reported by	Environment and Resources Authority
Report date	2020-04-16
Report access	ART9_GES.xml

Simplified table

GES component	D6	D6C1	D6C2	D6C3	D6C3	D6C4	D6C4	D6C5	D6C5
Marine reporting units				MIC-MT-MS-02	MIC-MT-MS-02	MIC-MT-MS-02	MIC-MT-MS-02	MIC-MT-MS-02	MIC-MT-MS-02
Features				Circalittoral rock and biogenic reef Littoral rock and biogenic reef Upper bathyal rock and biogenic reef	Benthic broad habitats	Circalittoral rock and biogenic reef Littoral rock and biogenic reef Other benthic habitats Upper bathyal rock and biogenic reef	Benthic broad habitats	Circalittoral rock and biogenic reef Littoral rock and biogenic reef Upper bathyal rock and biogenic reef	Benthic broad habitats
GES description				The structure and functions of benthic habitats listed in Directive 92/43/EEC, in terms of species composition and relative abundance (as relevant), are in high/good status on the basis of biotic indices used under Directive 2000/60/EC for more than 75% of the area covered by the habitat.	The structure and functions of MSFD predominant habitat types do not deviate from normal conditions and are in high/good status on the basis of biotic indices used under Directive 2000/60/EC, where established.	The area covered by benthic habitats listed in Directive 92/43/EEC is stable and is not smaller than the Favourable Reference Area values where established under Directive 92/43/EEC.	The area covered by MSFD broad benthic habitats is stable and is representative of all its natural distributional range.	The structure and functions of benthic habitats listed in Directive 92/43/EEC, in terms of species composition and relative abundance (as relevant), are in high/good status on the basis of biotic indices used under Directive 2000/60/EC for more than 75% of the area covered by the habitat.	The structure and functions of MSFD predominant habitat types do not deviate from normal conditions and are in high/good status on the basis of biotic indices used under Directive 2000/60/EC, where established.
Determination date				201912	201912	201912	201912	201912	201912
Update type				Modified from reported determination	Modified from reported determination	Modified from reported determination	Modified from reported determination	Modified from reported determination	Modified from reported determination
Justification for non-use of criterion		D6C1 is considered to be covered through the following GES: “The area covered by benthic habitats listed in Directive 92/43/EEC is stable and is not smaller than the Favourable Reference Area values where established under Directive 92/43/EEC”.	D6C2 is considered to be covered through the following GES: “The structure and functions of benthic habitats listed in Directive 92/43/EEC, in terms of species composition and relative abundance (as relevant), are in high/good status on the basis of biotic indices used under Directive 2000/60/EC for more than 75% of the area covered by the habitat” and “The structure and functions of MSFD predominant habitat types do not deviate from normal conditions and are in high/good status on the basis of biotic indices used under Directive 2000/60/EC, where established”.
Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements