MS/Art13/2022/D7/Malta/Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea

Member State report / Art13 / 2022 / D7 / Malta / Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea

Report type	Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article	Art. 13 Programme of measures (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due	2022-10-15
GES Descriptor	D7 Hydrographical changes
Member State	Malta
Region/subregion	Mediterranean: Ionian Sea & Central Mediterranean Sea
Reported by	Environment and Resources Authority
Report date	2024-02-07
Report access	363

Simplified table

Marine reporting units	MIC-MT-TeW-01	MIC-MT-TeW-01	MIC-MT-TeW-01	MIC-MT-MS-01 MIC-MT-TeW-01
RegionSubregion	MED Ionian Sea and Central Mediterranean Sea	MED Ionian Sea and Central Mediterranean Sea	MED Ionian Sea and Central Mediterranean Sea	MED Ionian Sea and Central Mediterranean Sea
Measure code	MICMT-M002	MICMT-M018	MICMT-M047	MICMT-M001
Measure old code	MICMT-M002	MICMT-M018	MICMT-M047	MICMT-M001
Measure name	Environmental Permitting System	Improve operational standards for the aquaculture sector via the environmental permitting process	Continue to refine the regulatory framework for industrial operational practices	Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations & Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations
Measure description
Update type	Measure same as in 2015 PoM	Measure same as in 2015 PoM	Measure modified since 2015 PoM	Measure same as in 2015 PoM
Measure category	Category 1.b (WFD)	Category 1.a	Category 1.b (WFD)	Category 1.a
Policy conventions
Policy national
Responsible competent authority
Responsible organisation
Coordination level
Regional cooperation countries
CEA
CEA reference
CBA
CBA reference
Financing
Spatial scope	Territorial waters	Territorial waters	Territorial waters	EEZ (or similar)
Measure purpose	Indirectly prevent further inputs of a pressure (e.g. by governance mechanisms, financial incentives, awareness campaigns)	Indirectly prevent further inputs of a pressure (e.g. by governance mechanisms, financial incentives, awareness campaigns)	Indirectly prevent further inputs of a pressure (e.g. by governance mechanisms, financial incentives, awareness campaigns)	Indirectly prevent further inputs of a pressure (e.g. by governance mechanisms, financial incentives, awareness campaigns)
Pressures	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence Input of anthropogenic sound (impulsive, continuous) Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter) Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events Input of water - point sources (e.g. brine)	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events	Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events Input of water - point sources (e.g. brine)	Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence Input of anthropogenic sound (impulsive, continuous) Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter) Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events Input of water - point sources (e.g. brine)
Relevant KTMs	Improving hydromorphological conditions of water bodies other than longitudinal continuity (e.g. river restoration MSFD27 Measures for the phasing-out of emissions Measures to prevent or control the input of pollution from urban areas Measures to reduce interferences with hydrological processes in the marine environment (beyond WFD Coastal waters) Measures to reduce physical loss of seabed habitats in the marine environment (beyond WFD coastal waters)	MSFD27 Measures to reduce contamination by hazardous substances (synthetic substances Measures to reduce nutrient and organic matter inputs to the marine environment from sea-based or air-based sources	Measures for the phasing-out of emissions Measures to reduce interferences with hydrological processes in the marine environment (beyond WFD Coastal waters)	MSFD27 Measures for the phasing-out of emissions Measures to reduce interferences with hydrological processes in the marine environment (beyond WFD Coastal waters) Measures to reduce physical loss of seabed habitats in the marine environment (beyond WFD coastal waters)
Relevant targets	MT_Target_2019_D10C1_C2a MT_Target_2019_D1C2_C3_C4 MT_Target_2019_D5C1 MT_Target_2019_D8C1a	No specific target adressed	MT_Target_2019_D10C1_C2a MT_Target_2019_D1C2_C3_C4 MT_Target_2019_D5C1 MT_Target_2019_D8C1a	MT_Target_2019_D10C1_C2a MT_Target_2019_D1C2_C3_C4 MT_Target_2019_D5C1 MT_Target_2019_D8C1a
Related indicator	Proportion of days and geographical distribution where loud, low and mid-frequency impulsive sounds exceed levels that are likely to entail significant impact on marine animals Concentration of key harmful contaminants measured in the relevant matrix Trends in the amount of litter in the water column including microplastics and on the seafloor Trends in the amount of litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines (including analysis of its composition, spatial distribution and, where possible, source) Condition of the habitat’s typical species and communities Population demographic characteristics - Seabirds Species distributional range Species population abundance Location and extent of the habitats impacted directly by hydrographic alterations	Concentration of key harmful contaminants measured in the relevant matrix Concentration of key nutrients in water column Condition of the habitat’s typical species and communities Chlorophyll-a concentration in water column	Concentration of key harmful contaminants measured in the relevant matrix Location and extent of the habitats impacted directly by hydrographic alterations	Proportion of days and geographical distribution where loud, low and mid-frequency impulsive sounds exceed levels that are likely to entail significant impact on marine animals Concentration of key harmful contaminants measured in the relevant matrix Trends in the amount of litter in the water column including microplastics and on the seafloor Trends in the amount of litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines (including analysis of its composition, spatial distribution and, where possible, source) Condition of the habitat’s typical species and communities Population demographic characteristics - Seabirds Species distributional range Species population abundance Location and extent of the habitats impacted directly by hydrographic alterations
GEScomponent	D1-B D1-F D1-M D1-P D1-R D10 D11 D4 D6 D7 D8	D4 D5 D6 D7 D8	D7 D8	D1-B D1-F D1-M D1-P D1-R D10 D11 D5 D6 D7 D8
Feature	Benthic broad habitats CharaPhyHydro Contaminants - UPBT substances Contaminants - non UPBT substances Demersal shelf fish Hydrographical changes Impulsive sound in water Other benthic habitats Pelagic broad habitats Pelagic-feeding birds Small toothed cetaceans Surface-feeding birds Turtles	Benthic broad habitats CharaPhyHydro Contaminants - UPBT substances Contaminants - non UPBT substances Eutrophication Other benthic habitats Pelagic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats CharaPhyHydro Contaminants - UPBT substances Contaminants - non UPBT substances Hydrographical changes Other benthic habitats Pelagic broad habitats	Benthic broad habitats CharaPhyHydro Contaminants - UPBT substances Contaminants - non UPBT substances Demersal shelf fish Hydrographical changes Impulsive sound in water Litter in the environment Other benthic habitats Pelagic broad habitats Pelagic-feeding birds Small toothed cetaceans Surface-feeding birds Turtles
Element
Temporal scope	9999	9999	9999	9999
Implementation status	Measure ongoing	Measure ongoing	Measure withdrawn	Measure ongoing
Implementation delay	0	0	0	0
Implementation reason	No obstacles to implementation	No obstacles to implementation		No obstacles to implementation
Progress description	Measure previously reported as ""Continue to strengthen the relationship between environmental and planning regulatory processes (including Marine Strategy Framework Directive concerns)"". For the purpose of this update, this measure will be renamed as “Environmental Permitting System” to ensure alignment with Malta’s third River Basin Management Plan, which at the time of reporting is subject to public consultation. Such measure is wider in scope and will include all necessary action related to the environmental permitting process. Measures MICMT-M047 and MICMT-M048 are being merged into this measure and withdrawn as seperate measures.	Mitigation measures in relation to aquaculture are continuously being updated as part of the environmental permitting process.		The national EIA Regulations were amended in 2020. These amendments allow to consolidate certain aspects of the transposition of the EIA Directive into the EIA process. Other Union legislation which applies to this is SEA Directive 2001/42/EC.
Reason description			This measure can be considered to be part of the broader measure M002 as modified for this update: ""Environmental Permitting System"". In this regard, it is being merged with measure M002 and withdrawn as a separate measure.