Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D1-P / Netherlands / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Report type | Member State report to Commission |
MSFD Article | Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates) |
Report due | 2020-10-15 |
GES Descriptor | D1 Pelagic habitats |
Member State | Netherlands |
Region/subregion | NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea |
Reported by | Rijkswaterstaat Water, Verkeer en Leefomgeving Zuiderwagenplein 2 8224 AD Lelystad Postbus 2232 3500 |
Report date | 2020-11-17 |
Report access |
Descriptor |
D1.6 |
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Monitoring strategy description |
The principal purpose of the MSFD monitoring programme is to review the progress that has been made towards achieving good environmental status prescribed for each criterion in the Marine Strategy Part I (2018). This review is based on established indicators. The monitoring can also be used to evaluate the environmental targets defined for each descriptor. The environmental targets are operational in nature and are linked to specific actions and/or measures in the Marine Strategy Part 3. The effects of individual measures cannot generally be linked directly to environmental status or the criteria. Monitoring data can, however, indirectly give an indication of the effectiveness of measures.
The monitoring (methods, spatial and temporal coverage) aims to achieve sufficient statistical confidence in the assessment. The risk of not achieving GES or deterioration from GES is addressed in the Marine Strategy, Parts 1 and 3.
The European Commission requests that the electronic reports explain how the DPSIR cycle is monitored and to which part of the cycle the monitoring surveys are linked. The MSFD monitoring programme helps to generate better insight into the relationships between the use of the sea and the marine ecosystem. This can be accomplished by monitoring pressures and the underlying activities (D1C1: incidental bycatch, D2: non-indigenous species, D3C1: fish mortality, D5: eutrophication, D6C1/D6C4: physical loss of seabed/habitats and D6C2: fisheries intensity and sand extraction, D8 and D9: pollutants, D10: litter, D11: underwater noise), and by monitoring species and habitats (D1: biodiversity (with the exception of D1C1), D3C2: spawning stock biomass, D4: food web, D6C3/D6C5: habitats ) and hydrographical characteristics (D7). The numerous relationships between the various elements of the marine ecosystem are complex, and many are still not known. Consequently, it is often only possible to give an indication of the impact of specific activities on the marine ecosystem.
Experts generally derive DPSIR relationships from the monitoring of pressures/activities and of species and habitats (from the MSFD monitoring programme), in combination with data derived from permits and research programmes. However, some surveys have been established to measure pressures and their effects and/or to learn more about the effectiveness of measures. In designing the monitoring survey for benthic animals (habitats), the Netherlands explicitly took account of the need to |
Coverage of GES criteria |
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024 |
Gaps and plans |
The monitoring and assessment for pelagic habitats are not yet fully developed. For the time being, a pragmatic approach has been chosen for the purposes of the MSFD. Currently, data provided by by the United Kingdom (gathered from the Continuous Plankton Recorder) are used for the assessment of zooplankton, but the monitoring methodology and ecological interpretation are still evolving. The monitoring of phytoplankton is also still under development. The aim is to implement a coherent international system of monitoring and assessment as far as possible and jointly expand the number of monitoring sites. |
Related targets |
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Coverage of targets |
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024 |
Related measures |
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Coverage of measures |
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024 |
Related monitoring programmes |
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Programme code |
ANSNL-D1-pelagic |
Programme name |
Pelagic habitats-community characteristics |
Update type |
New programme |
Old programme codes |
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Programme description |
To assess whether pelagic habitats comply with GES it should be possible to identify changes in the composition, the biomass and the abundance of the plankton community. The Marine Strategy Part 1 (2018) contains two indicators for this aspect, based on the OSPAR CEMP Guidelines: PH2 (changes in phytoplankton biomass and zooplankton abundance) and PH3 (changes in plankton diversity).
The monitoring of phytoplankton is covered by Rijkswaterstaat’s MWTL programme. The monitoring of phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a concentrations) is described under D5C2. The monitoring of the species composition of phytoplankton will commence in 2020 (since 2014 only the phytoplankton species Phaeocystis has been measured). There are three monitoring locations along the Dutch coast divided among the eco-hydrodynamic units (on the basis of assessment units proposed by the JMP-EUNOSAT project). Every year, the species composition of phytoplankton is measured once a month during the growing season from March to September. The species composition is determined using microscopic analysis.
In addition, an international monitoring survey performed by SAHFOS (Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science, UK ) monitors the composition of species and the abundance of both phytoplankton and zooplankton with the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR). The survey’s monitoring sites encompass a wide area of the UK’s and neighbouring waters (see OSPAR, CEMP guideline PH1/FW5). The surveys are carried out by ships carrying the sampling equipment on board and following the relevant routes. Samples are taken continuously and are analysed every month. The CPR collects data on the species composition and abundance of both phytoplankton and zooplankton.
Both the CPR and the RIjkswaterstaat plankton monitoring surveys adhere as closely as possible to OSPAR’s CEMP Guidelines.
The monitoring and assessment for pelagic habitats is not yet fully developed (see also ‘Gaps plans’). For the time being, a pragmatic solution has been chosen for the purposes of the MSFD. Pending further international developments, the Netherlands has started using microscopic analysis to determine the species composition at a small number of monitoring locations (see above). In addition, Rijkswaterstaat has decided to store phytoplankton samples frozen in anticipation of the potential development of relevant new DNA-related analysis techniques. |
Monitoring purpose |
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Other policies and conventions |
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Regional cooperation - coordinating body |
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Regional cooperation - countries involved |
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Regional cooperation - implementation level |
Coordinated data collection |
Monitoring details |
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Features |
Other pelagic habitats
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Elements |
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GES criteria |
D1C6 |
Parameters |
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Parameter Other |
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Spatial scope |
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Marine reporting units |
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Temporal scope (start date - end date) |
1990-9999 |
Monitoring frequency |
Monthly |
Monitoring type |
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Monitoring method |
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Monitoring method other |
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Quality control |
Quality assurance (ISO 9001) and accreditation (NEN-EN-ISO / IEC17025) are required from executing parties. |
Data management |
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Data access |
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Related indicator/name |
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Contact |
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References |