Good environmental status for marine litter is achieved when waste and its decomposition products do not have harmful effects on marine life and habitats. In addition, waste and its decomposition products shall not contribute to the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species. The Commission Decision for D10C3 further specifies marine species should only consume waste and micro-litter in quantities that do not adversely affect the health of the species concerned.

The criteria for assessing GES for D10 set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 are as follows: D10C1, D10C2, D10C3, D10C4.

Explanation: Germany does not update the general description of good environmental status (GES) from 2012 at descriptor level in this reporting exercise. Over the reporting period, Germany has worked with the North Seas countries in the framework of the EU's MSFD process and OSPAR to develop methodological standards (indicators, evaluation procedures). Specific aspects of criteria and indicators that contribute to a quantitative assessment of good environmental status are reported in the reporting scheme Art. 8_GES. For the assessment of the criteria in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 under Article 8_GES, where relevant, assessments under other EU directives are taken into account. Where possible, regional evaluations that have been agreed on so far are taken into account (currently the IA 2017) and, complemented by national assessments on a case by case basis.

GES: That where the amount of marine litter, including its degradation products, on the coast and in the marine environment decreases (or is reduced) over time and is at levels that do not result in harmful effects on the marine and coastal environment.

D10C1 ? Composition, quantity and spatial distribution of
litter along the coastline, in the surface layer of
water column and seabed, levels are at levels
they do not endanger the coastal and marine environment.
D10C2 ? spatial composition, quantity and distribution of
micro-litter along the coastline, in the layer
surface of the water column and bottom sediments of the sea are at levels that do not endanger the coastal and marine environment.
D10C3 ? The amount of litter and micro-litter (classified as ?artificial polymer? and ?other? categories) ingested by marine animals is at a level that does not adversely affect the health of the species concerned.
D10C4 ? The number of individuals of each species that are negatively affected by litter (e.g. by entanglement or undergoing other types of injury or death or health effects).


GES not determined at sub-region level as laid down in Article 3 (5) (b) of the MSFD


GES not determined at sub-regional level as laid down in Article 3 (5) (b) of the MSFD. The assessment under Article 8 was based on the level of risk, considering that if the level of risk is low, as the pressure resulting from human activities is low, GES is achieved.


The Good Environmental State (GES) for Descriptor 10, in the Azores subdivision ?will be reached if the amount of marine litter, and the resulting disaggregated and degraded products do not present risks for marine ecosystems and biota.? The absence of defined limit values for each OSPAR region make it impossible to assess GES for each criterion of Descriptor 10 as set out in Article 3 (5) (b) of the MSFD. However, in the Article 8 report, the assessment carried out for each criterion is described in more detail, according to the available information, which contributed to a preliminary quantitative assessment of good environmental status. It is expected that when the limit values are set for each of the parameters of Descriptor 10, the GES definition is updated, integrating existing criteria and indicators.

The composition, quantity and spatial distribution of litter along the coast and on the seabed are at levels that do not harm the coastal and marine environment.

A significant decrease in the total amount of waste on the seabed.


A significant downward trend in the number of Northern storm petrels with more than 0.1 g of plastic particles in the stomach during the past 10 years.


A significant downward trend in the total of the most common categories of waste (which contribute to 80% of the total amount of waste) found on the beach.

The composition, amount and spatial distribution of litter on the coastline, in the surface layer of the water column, and on the seabed, are at levels that do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment. Pending internationally agreed thresholds for these levels, a decrease in waste quantity is envisaged.

The composition, quantity and spatial distribution of waste in the coastal zone, on the surface of the water column and on the seabed are at levels that do not adversely affect the coastal and marine environment (Decision 2017/848/EU).

The composition, amount and spatial distribution of micro-litter in the surface layer of the water column and in the seabed sediment are at levels that do not harm the coastal and marine environment.

The composition, quantity and spatial distribution of micro-waste on the coastline, in the upper layer of the water column and in the seabed sediment, are at a level that causes no damage to the coastal and marine environment.

The composition, quantity and spatial distribution of micro-waste in the coastal zone, on the surface of the water column and in seabed sediments are at levels that do not adversely affect the coastal and marine environment (Decision 2017/848/EU).

The amount of litter and micro-litter that marine animals consume is at a level that does not adversely affect the health of the species concerned.

A significant downward trend in the number of Northern storm petrels with more than 0.1 g of plastic particles in the stomach during the past 10 years.

The amount of waste and micro-waste taken up by marine animals is at a level that is not harmful to the health of the species concerned.

The amount of waste and micro-waste ingested by marine animals is at a level that is not detrimental to the health of the species concerned (Decision 2017/848/EU).

D10C4: Indicators of marine waste impact on wildlife in the HELCOM or OSPAR area have not yet been developed. D10C4 is a secondary criterion, and since no indicators have been developed at present, good environmental status is not set in Marine Strategy II for this criterion.

D10: Thresholds at EU level, taking into account subregional specificities, in discussion in OSPAR working groups TG-Litter and ICG-ML, where PT participates

D10: There is not yet a sufficient scientific basis and consensus on the methods for setting thresholds for composition, quantity and distribution of litter and micro-litter, marine animals' intake of marine litter and marine litter's impact on wildlife. Going forward, thresholds for D10C1 and D10C2 must be established through cooperation at EU level. Work on setting EU thresholds has begun, and it is expected that thresholds for litter on beaches will be prepared first. Therefore, good environmental status for criteria D10C1, D10C2 and D10C3 in Denmark's Marine Strategy II is only determined descriptively in accordance with the GES Decision.


D10C1: There is not yet a sufficient scientific basis and consensus on the methods for setting thresholds for composition, quantity and distribution of litter and micro-litter, marine animals' intake of marine litter and marine litter's impact on wildlife. Going forward, thresholds for D10C1 and D10C2 must be established through cooperation at EU level. Work on setting EU thresholds has begun, and it is expected that thresholds for litter on beaches will be prepared first. Therefore, good environmental status for criteria D10C1, D10C2 and D10C3 in Denmark's Marine Strategy II is only determined descriptively in accordance with the GES Decision.


D10C2: There is not yet a sufficient scientific basis and consensus on the methods for setting thresholds for composition, quantity and distribution of litter and micro-litter, marine animals' intake of marine litter and marine litter's impact on wildlife. Going forward, thresholds for D10C1 and D10C2 must be established through cooperation at EU level. Work on setting EU thresholds has begun, and it is expected that thresholds for litter on beaches will be prepared first. Therefore, good environmental status for criteria D10C1, D10C2 and D10C3 in Denmark's Marine Strategy II is only determined descriptively in accordance with the GES Decision.


D10C3: There is not yet a sufficient scientific basis and consensus on the methods for setting thresholds for composition, quantity and distribution of litter and micro-litter, marine animals' intake of marine litter and marine litter's impact on wildlife. Going forward, thresholds for D10C1 and D10C2 must be established through cooperation at EU level. Work on setting EU thresholds has begun, and it is expected that thresholds for litter on beaches will be prepared first. Therefore, good environmental status for criteria D10C1, D10C2 and D10C3 in Denmark's Marine Strategy II is only determined descriptively in accordance with the GES Decision.


D10C4: There is not yet a sufficient scientific basis and consensus on the methods for setting thresholds for composition, quantity and distribution of litter and micro-litter, marine animals' intake of marine litter and marine litter's impact on wildlife. Going forward, thresholds for D10C1 and D10C2 must be established through cooperation at EU level. Work on setting EU thresholds has begun, and it is expected that thresholds for litter on beaches will be prepared first. Therefore, good environmental status for criteria D10C1, D10C2 and D10C3 in Denmark's Marine Strategy II is only determined descriptively in accordance with the GES Decision.

D10: During the reporting period, regional cooperation focused on the development of methodological standards to assess the various aspects of stress and resilience on the basis of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU was developed. The OSPAR regional cooperation has largely failed to agree thresholds for these indicators in order to make (quantitative) statements about the state of the pressures concerned or the ecosystem components. Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 establishes for the first time an explicit obligation for EU Member States to agree on evaluation elements, thresholds and integration rules in the framework of the EU MSFD (marine litter by Marine Litter) and regional or sub-regional cooperation. Germany is actively working with the North Seas countries in the framework of ongoing EU MSFD work programmes and OSPAR bodies to establish where a coordinated definition is still missing.

D10C2: The methods and knowledge about the presence and effects of microplastics are not yet ready to set direct goals. In 2017, a study will be conducted for standardization and measurement uncertainty of the method for microplastics in sediment. A GES for D10C2 will not be drawn up until the next assessment. If a (common) indicator is formulated in 2020 (start monitoring programme MSFD2), it will be included in the monitoring programme.

D10C2: Concrete actions are ongoing to prepare an operational monitoring of micro waste. Coordination of the methodology and the setting of thresholds will be achieved through cooperation at EU level.

D10C1: Methodological developments (protocols, thresholds or integration rule) and the acquisition of additional data are necessary to be able to assess the status of the D10C1 criterion. The indicators relating to this criterion are considered operational because the collection or observation protocols and the methods for calculating the metrics have been mastered. However, the lack of thresholds and long data series does not allow to conclude whether the GES has been achieved or not. In addition, developments are underway to harmonise the MSFD categories and the OSPAR categories, which will allow the three parameters relating to the quantities of waste on the shoreline, floating waste and waste on the bottom to be integrated for the next assessment by category. The methodological standards relating to this criterion will be specified following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.



D10C2: Concerning criterion D10C2, three indicators are being developed, namely "Micro-waste on the shoreline", "Floating micro-waste" and "Micro-waste in bottom sediments". However, the indicators "Micro-waste on the shoreline" and "Micro-waste in bottom sediments" could not be assessed due to the lack of operational protocols and the indicator "Floating micro-waste" could not be assessed due to the lack of data and the absence of a threshold for the parameter "Quantity (number) in water" of micro-waste. The methodological standards for criterion D10C2 will be further developed following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.



D10C2: Concerning criterion D10C2, three indicators are being developed, namely "Micro-waste on the shoreline", "Floating micro-waste" and "Micro-waste in bottom sediments". However, the indicators "Micro-waste on the shoreline" and "Micro-waste in bottom sediments" could not be assessed due to the lack of operational protocols and the indicator "Floating micro-waste" could not be assessed due to the low number of samples in this MRU. The methodological standards relating to criterion D10C2 will be specified following additional studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.



D10C2: None

D10: The GES was defined in 2012 at descriptor level D10. Given the specific characteristics of microplastics and the environmental effects that may arise, different from those of macro-litter, it could be of interest in defining a specific GES at indicator level. However, current scientific knowledge is not sufficient to be able to define thresholds or threshold concentrations above which any adverse effects on the marine environment may be suspected and therefore it seems difficult to be able to propose an alternative definition to that at the level of the descriptor. The definition of GES is therefore maintained.

D10: thresholds not established: Insufficient data on pressure and effects on the marine environment