Member State report / Art9-2024 / 2024 / D1-M / Netherlands / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art9
Report due 2024-10-15
GES Descriptor D1 Mammals
Member State Netherlands
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Report date 2026-04-10 12:40:24

GES component
D1C1
D1C1
D1C1
D1C2
D1C2
D1C2
D1C3
D1C3
D1C3
D1C4
D1C4
D1C5
D1C5
D1C5
Marine reporting units
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
  • ANS-NL-MS-1
Features
  • Benthic-feeding birds
  • Pelagic-feeding birds
  • Surface-feeding birds
  • Wading birds
  • Coastal fish
  • Demersal shelf fish
  • Pelagic shelf fish
  • Seals
  • Small toothed cetaceans
  • Benthic-feeding birds
  • Pelagic-feeding birds
  • Surface-feeding birds
  • Wading birds
  • Coastal fish
  • Demersal shelf fish
  • Pelagic shelf fish
  • Seals
  • Small toothed cetaceans
  • Benthic-feeding birds
  • Pelagic-feeding birds
  • Surface-feeding birds
  • Wading birds
  • Seals
  • Demersal shelf fish
  • Coastal fish
  • Demersal shelf fish
  • Pelagic shelf fish
  • Seals
  • Small toothed cetaceans
  • Benthic-feeding birds
  • Pelagic-feeding birds
  • Surface-feeding birds
  • Wading birds
  • Coastal fish
  • Demersal shelf fish
  • Pelagic shelf fish
  • Seals
  • Small toothed cetaceans
GES description
Incidental by-catch in the Dutch part of the North Sea does not pose a threat to marine bird populations. Indicator(s) and (reference): Pilot: B5 Marine bird by-catch (OSPAR); Threshold in development. Qualitative (expert judgement)
Incidental by-catch in the International North Sea does not pose a threat to the conservation of fish populations. Indicator(s) and (reference): [In development]: Thresholds: [In development]
Incidental by-catch in the International North Sea poses no threat to populations of harbour porpoise and grey seal, and remains below OSPAR threshold values. Indicator(s) and (reference): M6 - Incidental by-catch of marine mammals (OSPAR): Thresholds: Harbour Porpoise: 1622/yr, grey seal: 7171/yr (OSPAR)
The population abundance of marine species indicates healthy populations and meets OSPAR threshold values in the International North Sea. Indicator(s) and (reference): B1 Bird abundance (OSPAR); Thresholds current number is ≥70% (or ≥80%) of the number in 1991-2000 (OSPAR). Bird abundance Netherlands (national); Thresholds current number ≥70% (or ≥80%) of the number in 1991-2000, or current number ≥GRP (national).
The population size of fish species indicates healthy populations and at least meets the objectives of OSPAR (vulnerable fish species) and the CFP (commercially-exploited species) in the International North Sea, and the HR in the Dutch part of the North Sea. Indicator(s) and (reference): FC1 vulnerable fish species (OSPAR); threshold: No decrease from previous period. Commercially-exploited species (CFP); threshold: SSB > MSY Btrigger (CFP), averaged over the plan period. Population (HR): Thresholds: FRP (HR).
The population sizes of harbour porpoise, harbour seal and grey seal indicate healthy populations and meet the threshold values of OSPAR (Sub-areas of the International North Sea) and the Habitats Directive (Dutch part of the North Sea). Indicator (reference) and threshold: M4 abundance and distribution of cetaceans (OSPAR); Threshold: Annual population decline <1.6% plus no decline > 30% compared to base year 1994 (OSPAR). M3 abundance and distribution of seals (OSPAR); Threshold: No decline in numbers > 1% per year (approx. 6% in the last 6 years) plus no decline > 25% compared to base year 1992 (OSPAR). Population (HR): Threshold: Harbour porpoise: 60,000, grey seal: 1000-5000, harbour seal: 2000-5000 (FRP from HR).
Breeding productivity of marine birds indicates healthy populations in the International North Sea and meets OSPAR threshold values. Indicator(s) and (reference): B3 Breeding productivity of marine birds (OSPAR); Threshold average breeding productivity over 6 years is sufficient to prevent a population decline of ≥30% over 3 generations (OSPAR). Breeding productivity of shorebirds (national): Threshold average breeding productivity is sufficient to avoid a population decline (national).
The pup production of grey seal (International North Sea sub-areas) and harbour seal (Dutch part of the Wadden Sea) indicates healthy populations and meets the OSPAR threshold value for grey seal. Indicator(s) and (reference): OSPAR: M5 Grey seal pup production Trilateral Wadden consultations: Harbour seal pup production Thresholds: OSPAR: The grey seal birth rate must not decrease by more than 1% annually since the last assessment and 25% since 1992 (OSPAR) Trilateral Wadden consultations: Not available
Increase in the proportion of large fish in the fish community (OSPAR assessment value)
The distributional range of migratory fish in the Dutch part of the North Sea meets the threshold value of the Habitats Directive. Indicator(s) and (reference): Ditributional range of migratory fish (HR): Thresholds: FRR (HR)
The distributional range of harbour seal, grey seal and harbour porpoise in the Dutch part of the North Sea meets the threshold value of the Habitats Directive. Indicator(s) and thresholds: Distributional range (HR); Porpoise: 724, grey seal: 728, harbour seal: 762 (FRR from HR) M3 Distribution, harbour seal (OSPAR; no threshold M3 Distribution, grey seal (OSPAR); no threshold
The spatial extent and condition of the habitat are suitable for marine bird populations in the Dutch part of the North Sea. Indicator(s) and (reference) Qualitative (expert judgement): Thresholds n/a.
The spatial extent and condition of habitat in the Dutch part of the North Sea is suitable for migratory fish under the HR. Indicator(s) and (reference): Habitat of the species (HR): Thresholds: n/a
The spatial extent and condition of the habitat are suitable for harbour seal, grey seal and harbour porpoise in the Dutch part of the North Sea. Indicator(s) and (reference): Qualitative (expert judgement): Thresholds: n/a
Determination date
202512
202512
202512
202512
202512
202512
202512
202512
201807
202512
202512
202512
202512
202512
Update type
DeterminationNew
DeterminationNew
DeterminationModified
DeterminationModified
DeterminationModified
DeterminationModified
DeterminationModified
DeterminationNew
DeterminationNotNeeded
DeterminationNew
DeterminationNew
DeterminationNew
DeterminationNew
DeterminationModified
Justification for non-use of criterion
MRU and GES description changed
Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements