Member State report / Art9 / 2018 / D4 / North East Atlantic
| Report type | Member State report to Commission |
| MSFD Article | Art. 9 Determination of GES (and Art. 17 updates) |
| Report due | 2018-10-15 |
| GES Descriptor | D4 Food webs/D1 Ecosystems |
| Region/subregion | North East Atlantic |
| Reported by | Member state |
| Member state | Sweden |
Denmark |
Germany |
Netherlands |
Belgium |
France |
United Kingdom |
Ireland |
Spain |
Portugal |
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| Marine reporting units | MRUs used |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Species | All birds |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Species | All fish |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Species | All mammals |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Habitats | Pelagic habitats |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs | Coastal ecosystem |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs | Oceanic/deep-sea ecosystem |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs | Shelf ecosystem |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs | Ecosystems, including food webs |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs | All trophic guilds |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: No theme | All marine ecosystem elements |
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| Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment: Biological | Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities) |
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| Pressure levels and impacts in marine environment: Chemical | Eutrophication |
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| GES description | D4 Food webs/D1 Ecosystems |
All known elements of marine food webs are present and occur with normal density and diversity as well as at levels which ensure a stable species density and maintain the full reproductive ability of the species.
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The GES for D1 is defined, inter alia, by:
... the coastal waters in accordance with the Water Framework Directive are in good environmental status and in good chemical status. ... are in a favourable conservation status for the habitat types of Annex I (habitat type 11) to the Habitats Directive relevant to the marine sector in the North Sea. ... the species of Annex II to the Habitats Directive, relevant for the marine sector in the North Sea, as well as species of the Birds Directive relevant to the marine sector in the North Sea, are in favourable conservation status due to the quality of their food habitat. ... the species, species groups and habitats listed in the Wadden Sea are in good condition. ... the objectives are achieved by single species or group specific conventions (e.g. ASCOBANS, seaport). ... the Ecological Quality Objectives (EcoQO), as defined by OSPAR. For the purpose of assessing GES in relation to D1/D4-Nahrungsnetze, the following criteria are used in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848: D4C1, D4C2, D4C3, D4C4. 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 in 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 set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848, the relevant assessments under other EU directives shall be taken into account under Article 8_GES, taking into account, as far as possible, the regional assessments that have been coordinated so far and, on a case-by-case basis, supplemented by national assessments. |
The diversity, abundance and productivity of the main trophic groups are maintained so that the sustainability of the trophic chains is ensured, and of existing predator-prey relationships. The natural bottom-up and top-down control processes operate efficiently by regulating the transfer of energy from marine communities.
The populations of the species selected as predators at the top of the trophic chain are maintained in values that ensure their maintenance in the ecosystem and existing predator-prey relationships. Eutrophication, selective extraction, or other effects deriving from human activities, occur at levels that do not put at risk the maintenance of existing trophic relationships. |
All elements of the marine food webs, to the extent that they are known, occur at normal abundance and diversity and levels capable of ensuring the long-term abundance of the species and the retention of their full reproductive capacity.
GES not determined at sub-regional level as laid down in Article 3 (5) (b) of the MSFD, notwithstanding the D4 has been assessed in the context of Article 8 by analysing the statistical trends and distribution of the indicators used to assess criteria D4C1 and D4C2, considering that if the trend of used indicators is increasing or constant and the trend in the overall three trophic groups as a whole is similar, there are no significant anthropogenic pressures and GES is achieved. |
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| GES description | D4C1 Trophic guild species diversity (1.7, 1.7.1) | D4C1 Den trofiska gruppens mångfald (artsammansättning och arternas relativa abundans) är inte negativt påverkad till följd av mänskliga belastningar. God miljöstatus: Metod för sammanvägning för kvantitativ bedömning per kriterium saknas. D4C1 The diversity of the trophic guild (species composition and their relative abundance) is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. GES:Definition of GES at criteria level is not yet available. |
The diversity (species composition and their relative density) of the individual trophic levels is not negatively affected by man-made pressures.
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Justification: No GES determination available, this is provided to make the coupling to the MRU |
The diversity (species composition and relative densities) in the trophic guilds (D4C1) and the balance of total densities between the trophic guilds (D4C2) should not be adversely affected by anthropogenic pressure.
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The environmental status under criterion D4C1 - the diversity (species composition and their relative abundance) of the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures - is currently unknown within Ireland’s maritime area. |
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| GES description | D4C2 Abundance across trophic guilds (1.7, 1.7.1, 4.3, 4.3.1) | D4C2 Balansen i total abundans mellan de trofiska grupperna är inte negativt påverkad till följd av mänskliga belastningar. God miljöstatus: Se under D4C1 D4C2 The balance of total abundance between the trophic guilds is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. GES:See under D4C1 |
The balance between the trophic levels is not adversely affected by man-made pressures.
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Justification: No GES determination available, this is provided to make the coupling to the MRU |
The environmental status under criterion D4C2 - the balance of total abundance between the trophic guilds is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures - is currently unknown within Ireland’s maritime area. |
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| GES description | D4C3 Trophic guild size distribution (4.2, 4.2.1) | D4C3 Individernas storleksfördelning inom den trofiska gruppen är inte negativt påverkad till följd av mänskliga belastningar. God miljöstatus:Se under D4C1 D4C3 The size distribution of individuals across the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. GES:See under D4C1 |
The size distribution of individuals across the trophic levels is not negatively affected by man-made pressures.
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The size structure (length) of fish populations remains above the historic value.
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| GES description | D4C4 Trophic guild productivity (4.1, 4.1.1) | D4C4 Produktiviteten inom den trofiska gruppen är inte negativt påverkad till följd av mänskliga belastningar God mljöstatus:Se under D4C1 D4C4:Productivity of the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. GES:See under D4C1 |
The productivity of individual trophic levels is not adversely affected by man-made pressures.
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| Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements | D4C1: Under this criterion, we have used proxies from other descriptors (D1) for the assessement. Both coastal and offshore part of the basins are covered. The reason for using proxies is that the concept of trophic guilds is new, and it has not been possible to establish indicators following the trophic guilds yet. More research and development of indicators is needed. We do not have a definition of GES at criteria level yet. The assessments under article 8 are thus semi-quantitative and descriptive for the different species groups and habitats. D4C2: Under this criterion, we have only one fish-indicator for coastal fish and only for The Baltic Sea. The reason is that the concept of trophic guilds is new, and it has not yet been possible to establish indicators following the trophic guilds. More research and development of indicators is needed. We do not have a definition of GES at criteria level yet. The assessments under article 8 are mostly qualitative. D4C3: Under this criterion, we have used proxies from other descriptors (D1) for the assessement. In the North Sea only coastal parts of basins are covered and in The Baltic Sea only the offshore parts. The reason for using proxies is that the concept of trophic guilds is new, and it has not been possible to establish indicators following the trophic guilds yet. More research and development of indicators is needed. We do not have a definition of GES at criteria level yet. The assessments under article 8 are thus semi-quantitative and descriptive for the different species groups and habitats. D4C4: Under this criterion, we have used proxies from other descriptors (D1) for the assessement. Both coastal and offshore part of the basins are covered. The reason for using proxies is that the concept of trophic guilds is new, and it has not been possible to establish indicators following the trophic guilds yet. More research and development of indicators is needed. We do not have a definition of GES at criteria level yet. The assessments under article 8 are thus semi-quantitative and descriptive only for Mammals. |
D4/D1: At present, it is not possible to assess whether the food network as a whole will be in good environmental condition by 2020. However, the balance of marine food is expected to improve as the environmental targets for pressure factors and condition under the other descriptors are achieved.
D4C1: Overall, the species diversity for neither phytoplankton nor zooplankton can be stated as being in good environmental condition, as the data base is currently too flimsy to be able to assess this. D4C2: Despite assessments of individual sub-elements of the food network, it is currently not possible to assess whether the food network as a whole is in good environmental condition by 2020. Going forward, work therefore remains in the regional conventions with the development of relevant indicators and the setting of relevant thresholds. For this, it must be ensured that there is sufficiently good data. D4C3: There is still insufficient technical basis and agreement on the methods for setting threshold values for D4. Reference is sometimes made to the assessments for the individual species groups under descriptor 1. D4C4: There is still insufficient technical basis and agreement on the methods for setting threshold values for D4. Reference is sometimes made to the assessments for the individual species groups under descriptor 1. |
D4/D1: Regional cooperation in the reporting period focused on the development of methodological standards for assessing the various pressure and condition aspects based on Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. In the regional or subregional cooperation, within the framework of OSPAR, it has mostly not been possible to agree threshold values for these indicators in order to make (quantitative) statements about the state of the affected loads or the ecosystem components. Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 results in an explicit obligation for the EU member states to agree assessment elements, threshold values and integration rules within the framework of the EU MSFD CIS process and through regional or subregional cooperation. Germany is actively working with the states bordering the North Sea, within the framework of the current work programmes of the EU MSFD CIS process and the OSPAR bodies, to establish them, where a coordinated definition is still missing.
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D4C1: The relationship between all the components of the marine food web is one of the most difficult analyses in the marine strategy. Due to the adaptation in the structure of the European Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards on Good Environmental Status, there are currently no indicators, both at regional level and within the Netherlands, that meet the requirements of the MSFD. It is therefore not possible at this stage to assess whether the diversity (species composition and their relative abundance) of the trophic guild is prejudiced by anthropogenic pressures (D4C1).
D4C2: The relationship between all the components of the marine food web is one of the most difficult analyses in the marine strategy. Due to the adaptation in the structure of the European Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards on Good Environmental Status, there are currently no indicators, both at regional level and within the Netherlands, that meet the requirements of the MSFD. Thus, it is not possible at this stage to assess whether the balance of the total density between the trophic guilds is affected by anthropogenic pressures (D4C2). |
D4C1: Cooperation will take place within a regional framework to define the environmental targets and threshold values. The definition of (at least) three relevant trophic levels for which diversity, densities and ratios will be defined will be sought.
D4C2: Cooperation will take place within a regional framework to define the environmental targets and threshold values. The definition of (at least) three relevant trophic levels for which diversity, densities and ratios will be defined will be sought. |
D4C1: France has been involved in regional cooperation work to develop indicators on trophic networks, particularly in the framework of the OSPAR Convention (see interim evaluation of 2017, https://oap.ospar.org/[…]/). These indicators are included in the ministerial order on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. However, given the current state of knowledge, it has not been possible to produce a coherent assessment of Descriptor 4. It should be noted that no operational indicator has been developed to date within the framework of the Barcelona Convention.
D4C2: France has been involved in regional cooperation work to develop indicators on trophic networks, particularly in the framework of the OSPAR Convention (see interim evaluation of 2017, https://oap.ospar.org/[…]/). These indicators are included in the ministerial order on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. However, given the current state of knowledge, it has not been possible to produce a coherent assessment of Descriptor 4. It should be noted that no operational indicator has been developed to date within the framework of the Barcelona Convention. |
D4C1: There are currently no threshold values associated with trophic guild species diversity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values for trophic guild species diversity have not been undertaken at this time. D4C2: There are currently no threshold values associated with abundance across trophic guilds. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values for abundance across trophic guilds have not been undertaken at this time. |
D4/D1: Thresholds and values not established.
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