Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.

Marine species of food interest and commercially relevant in the subdivision of the Azores have been considered for this descriptor. The values of concentrations of heavy metals found by species of food interest, in particular fish (concentration of contaminant analysed in muscle) crustaceans and molluscs are reported (for these 2 types of resources data were reported in which the concentration of contaminants in edable tissue was analysed) and a study analysing the presence of PCB?s. the values found in the literature consulted are compared with the regulatory values of Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 and No 629/2008 (EC) of 2 July 2008. For the assessment of GES under this descriptor, the information available in scientific articles published during this evaluation cycle from 2013 to 2018, the study area of which falls within the assessment area of the subdivision of the Azores (AMA-SD-AZO), was used. However, in this MSFD evaluation cycle, it was considered that the available data are not sufficient to assess the environmental status for the subdivision of the Azores in relation to contaminants present in the edgeable resources, as a contaminants monitoring programme for these resources has not yet been implemented in the subdivision and there is therefore no regular sampling and time series representative of this assessment cycle and spatial coverage is also limited. It is therefore considered that the available information presented in this cycle allows only a preliminary snapshot as to the level of contaminants that the marine resources considered present at a given point in time. It is therefore considered that the existing data for the subdivision of the Azores on the level of contaminants in marine resources for human consumption are insufficient to assess the environmental status of this descriptor or even its elements. However, the information and results reported here for setting environmental targets under this descriptor and in guiding the development of the resulting programmes of measures and monitoring of this MSFD evaluation cycle were considered. For more details on the re-evaluation of the environmental status of Descriptor 9 for the subdivision of the Azores, please refer to section D.9.6 Determination and assessment of GES of the report of the 1th cycle of the MSFD for the subdivision of the Azores.