Member State report / Art8 / 2018 / D7 / Portugal / NE Atlantic: Bay of Biscay & Iberian Coast

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 8 Initial assessment (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2018-10-15
GES Descriptor D7 Hydrographical changes
Member State Portugal
Region/subregion NE Atlantic: Bay of Biscay & Iberian Coast
Reported by DGRM
Report date 2021-03-03
Report access ART8_GES_PT_setembro2020.xml

Portuguese Continent Subdivision (ABI-PT-SD-CONT)

GES component
D7
D7
Feature
Hydrographical changes
Hydrographical changes
Element
Littoral sediment
Element code
HabBenLitSed
Element code source
Habitats (D1-D6) http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabulary/msfd/broadHabitatTypes/view
Element 2
Element 2 code
Element 2 code source
Element source
EU
Criterion
D7C1
D7C2
Parameter
Extent
Habitat condition
Parameter other
Threshold value upper
Threshold value lower
Threshold qualitative
Stable compared to 2012, no affected habitats
Threshold value source
Threshold value source other
Value achieved upper
Value achieved lower
Value unit
square kilometre
Value unit other
Proportion threshold value
Proportion value achieved
Proportion threshold value unit
Trend
Unknown
Stable
Parameter achieved
Unknown
Yes, based on low risk
Description parameter
The trend is not known since the variables used for the assessment in this cycle are different from those used in the 1st cycle (2012).
Stable compared to 2012, no affected habitats are known.
Related indicator
Criteria status
Good
Good, based on low risk
Description criteria
The Protection and Exploitation Action Plan for the coastal zone 2012-2015 (PAPVL, 2012) indicates that around 14 % of the coastline is artificialised (ports, acceding works, jetties, port infrastructures) and 25 % of the territory is affected by coastal erosion (some 232 km with an erosion or confirmed erosion). About 180 km of the coastline on the coast of low, sandy, low and rocky, bearing dunes, is in critical condition of erosions ? approximately 20 % of the total ? with varying amounts of variable magnitude. Until 2010, Portugal had lost 12.2 km² of coastline and there is a potential risk of loss of territory in 67 % of the national coastline. In the last 60 years approximately, the average rates of retreat from the coastline were found to be between 0.5 m/yr and 9.0 m/year and that close to 1600 rock falls in rock cliffs. An assessment of the past 50 years pointed to an overall decrease (R) of ~ -0.24 m.an-1 mostly concentrated on the NW coast (cells 1,2,3,4). Based on the geomorphological and sedimentary dynamics characteristics, it has been possible to identify on the coast of mainland Portugal eight sedimentary cells whose boundaries correspond to the discontinuities in the magnitude and direction of the sediment transport, corresponds to a separate unit and is considered as the unit of the territory that allows a consistent management of the sediment balance and the extension of the impacted area (Km2). The domain of each of these cells corresponds to the corridor where the waves are the main mechanism of sedimentary transport. The level of confidence in the analysis was medium (area B and C) and low to A.
(summary of written report)
Element status
Good
Description element
Integration rule type parameter
SPATIAL
SPATIAL
Integration rule description parameter
Integration rule type criteria
Other
Other
Integration rule description criteria
According to the new metrics, it is only with the finalisation of the programme cycle and measures that the spatial extent (Km2) of the permanent changes can be assessed in the meantime, but it is not necessary to assess whether good environmental status is achieved or not (OINONEN et al., 2016, ABP Mer, 2017). According to Commission Decision 848/2017/EU, the physical loss is defined as a permanent change in the seabed which lasted or could last for two reporting cycles (12 years). The assessment of GES is restricted to the subdivision of the mainland as the pressures identified continue, as in the initial report, to have a very limited area of interference in view of the extent of the area under review. D7C1 and D7C2 were integrated through expert judgment in the absence of evidence of affected habitats and because there were no changes compared to the initial 2012 report (criterion D7C2).
According to the new metrics, it is only with the finalisation of the programme cycle and measures that the spatial extent (Km2) of the permanent changes can be assessed in the meantime, but it is not necessary to assess whether good environmental status is achieved or not (OINONEN et al., 2016, ABP Mer, 2017). According to Commission Decision 848/2017/EU, the physical loss is defined as a permanent change in the seabed which lasted or could last for two reporting cycles (12 years). The assessment of GES is restricted to the subdivision of the mainland as the pressures identified continue, as in the initial report, to have a very limited area of interference in view of the extent of the area under review. D7C1 and D7C2 were integrated through expert judgment in the absence of evidence of affected habitats and because there were no changes compared to the initial 2012 report (criterion D7C2).
GES extent threshold
GES extent achieved
GES extent unit
Proportion of area in good status
Proportion of area in good status
GES achieved
GES achieved
GES achieved
Description overall status
In the reference situation (MAMAOT, 2012) it was considered that GES was achieved, albeit with an average degree of confidence, for the three marine units in the subdivision. According to the new D7 assessment criteria, the assessment of the current and reference situation was re-analyzed, considering new risks of changes in the seabed and benthic habitats, such as sediment remobilization or sand extraction. The reference situation was defined as the situation prior to the existence of an anthropogenic, significant and negative disturbance in the sedimentary balance (construction of dams, engineering works on the coast, port dredging and construction of jetties to secure the entrance of the port bars, extraction sands), such as the one that would exist in the middle of the XIX century in most of the coast (Santos et al., 2017). In order to quantify the sedimentary balance, it will be necessary to inventory and characterize the natural sediment supply and distribution processes (solid flow, coastal accretion / erosion, coastal drift) and anthropic nature (dredging, extraction, beach feeding and retention in dam reservoirs).
In the reference situation (MAMAOT, 2012) it was considered that GES was achieved, albeit with an average degree of confidence, for the three marine units in the subdivision. According to the new D7 assessment criteria, the assessment of the current and reference situation was re-analyzed, considering new risks of changes in the seabed and benthic habitats, such as sediment remobilization or sand extraction. The reference situation was defined as the situation prior to the existence of an anthropogenic, significant and negative disturbance in the sedimentary balance (construction of dams, engineering works on the coast, port dredging and construction of jetties to secure the entrance of the port bars, extraction sands), such as the one that would exist in the middle of the XIX century in most of the coast (Santos et al., 2017). In order to quantify the sedimentary balance, it will be necessary to inventory and characterize the natural sediment supply and distribution processes (solid flow, coastal accretion / erosion, coastal drift) and anthropic nature (dredging, extraction, beach feeding and retention in dam reservoirs).
Assessments period
2013-2018
2013-2018
Related pressures
  • All physical pressures
  • Changes to hydrological conditions
  • Physical disturbance to seabed
  • Physical loss of the seabed
  • All physical pressures
  • Changes to hydrological conditions
  • Physical disturbance to seabed
  • Physical loss of the seabed
Related targets