It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.

It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.

It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.

It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.

It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.

It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.

It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.

It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.

It was not possible to assess GES for D4 quantitatively and GES is not yet defined at criteria level. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. Nevertheless, it is possible to describe general patterns in the food web on the level of marine regions, or sub-regions. Information is provided under the element “All trophic guilds” for criteria D4C1, D4C3 and D4C4 where indicators from descriptor 1 and descriptor 3 have been used for a qualitative assessment. For D4C2 only one indicator was used describing the variation of functional fish species groups in coastal waters. This assessment was only done in the Baltic Sea. During the current assessment cycle, it is only possible to describe different parts of the food web qualitatively (chapter Marina näringsvävar, sid 50). Both regionally and nationally, there is no agreed method for assessing food webs. A qualitative description has been carried out based on 1) thematic descriptions from HELCOM and OSPAR 2) a pilot study in the North Sea of a model-based assessment of the food web. In addition, certain indicators for the assessment of biodiversity under descriptor 1 have been taken into account in order to qualitatively describe the state and effects of food webs at certain trophic levels. The descriptions show imbalances in nutrient webs both in the North Sea and the Baltic. As a complement to the qualitative description, the text report also presents a method for setting the status of relevant ecosystem components in relation to each other (""""Baltic Sea Health Index"""") which shows a slightly poorer normalized state for ecosystem components in the Baltic Sea, compared to the North Sea, even if these threshold values are not reached in any of the areas. The description of the North Sea (OSPAR) points to a downward trend in both phytoplankton and zooplankton in recent decades, and that populations of pelagic or demersal fish species do not achieve good status in the North Sea. Overall, the food web in the North Sea is not described as reaching good status. In a pilot assessment of food webs in the Kattegat with ecosystem models carried out in 2023 (HELCOM 2023g; Safi et al. 2019; Scotti et al. 2022), the Kattegat is assessed to have undergone a radical change during the period 1992–2008, from a pelagically dominated food web to a benthically dominated one, but with positive signs as a result of reduced fishing pressure.