The assessment for D4 at criteria level is not done quantitatively due to lack of integration methods. 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. We included in the qualitative description of D4C1 indicators describing abundance for both top-predators (seals), producers (phytoplankton) and different consumer levels (birds, fish). There is no common trend for the different trophic levels. However, it is obvious that for both the North Sea and Baltic Sea demersal fish and benthic feeding birds do not achieve GES as a group. On the opposite, most pelagic species or pelagic system dependent species, achieve GES.

The assessment for D4 at criteria level is not done quantitatively due to lack of integration methods. 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. For D4C3 two indicators were used to describe the size distribution of both zooplankton and fish in the North Sea along the coast. The information is too fragmented to draw conclusions. However, it is obvious from long term studies of fish populations in both the Baltic Sea and North Sea that size distribution of the fish communities has shifted towards small individuals and that this might have effects on the food webs. There are, to some degree, signs of recovery in the North Sea.

The assessment for D4 at criteria level is not done quantitatively due to lack of integration methods. For integration of indicators, it is necessary to know more about food web dynamics in the respective assessment area. It has not been possible to describe general patterns in the food web for D4C4 in the North Sea as the underlying indicators are representative for the Baltic Sea.