Member State report / Art9 / 2012 / D8 / 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 | D8 Contaminants |
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 |
D8
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8.1 Concentration of contaminants |
8.1.1 Concentration of contaminants |
8.2 Effects of contaminants |
8.2.1 Level of pollution effects |
8.2.2 Occurrence and impact of acute pollution |
8.2.2 Occurrence and impact of acute pollution |
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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. |
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Marine reporting units |
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Feature |
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Criterion/indicator |
D8 |
8.1 |
8.1.1 |
8.2 |
8.2.1 |
8.2.2 |
8.2.2 |
GES description |
GES is a description of the desired status in terms of concentration of contaminants in the marine environment and in terms of significant pollution events. Statements describing this GES are associated with specific MSFD criteria and/or indicators as applicable. |
Concentration of selected contaminants in relevant matrices is in line with set environmental quality standards, or otherwise in line with undisturbed conditions. |
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Threshold values |
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Threshold value unit |
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Proportion of area to achieve threshold value |
Assessment Area |
Assessment Area |
Assessment Area |
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Reference point type |
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Baseline |
WFD baseline monitoring survey (2012)
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WFD baseline monitoring survey (2012)
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WFD baseline monitoring survey (2012)
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Assessment method |
Concentration of contaminants (to be confirmed by the MSFD monitoring programme) |
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Development status |
Further development needed (expected to be operational by 2018 if adopted) in view of the lack of established Environmental Quality Standards in sediment and biota, and in view of the limited knowledge with respect to background levels of contaminants. |
Knowledge of the effects of contaminants on ecosystems or biota is very limited in Malta and is not deemed sufficient in articulating the desired levels of pollution effects on ecosystem components as per MSFD indicator 8.2.1. This is also in view of the fact that the effects of contaminants, which as per outcome of the MSFD Initial Assessment have exceeded established or proposed Environmental Quality Standards through one or more monitoring events, or, in the absence of set or proposed EQS, are associated with detectable concentrations in the marine environment, have not been studied in Malta. |