Member State report / Art9 / 2018 / D6 / 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 | D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats |
| 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: Habitats | Benthic habitats |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Habitats | Benthic broad habitats |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Habitats | Other benthic habitats |
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| Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Habitats | Other habitat types |
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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: No theme | All marine ecosystem elements |
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| Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment: Physical | Physical disturbance to seabed |
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| Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment: Physical | Changes to hydrological conditions |
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| Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment: Physical | Physical loss of the seabed |
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| Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment: Substances, litter and energy | Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events |
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| Pressure levels and impacts in marine environment: Physical and hydrological | Hydrographical changes |
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| Pressure levels and impacts in marine environment: Chemical | Eutrophication |
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| GES description | D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats |
The integrity of the seabed is at a level where the structure and functions of ecosystems are preserved and where benthic ecosystems in particular are not adversely affected. The description also covers D6C1, D6C2 and D6C3.
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It can be said that overall GES for D6 cannot yet be established, but at the minimum, good environmental status is achieved if:
... 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, seal agreement). ... the Ecological Quality Objectives (EcoQO), as defined by OSPAR. The criteria for assessing GES for D6-benthos are set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848: D6C1, D6C2, D6C3, D6C4, D6C5. 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 integrity of the seabed is such that the structure and functions of the ecosystems are ensured and that benthic ecosystems in particular are not disproportionately affected.
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D5C1 - nutrient concentrations do not reach levels that indicate negative effects as a result of eutrophication
D5C2 - chlorophyll concentrations do not reach levels that indicate negative effects as a result of nutrient enrichment. D5C4 - The photic limit (transparency) of the water column is not reduced (due to increase in suspended algae) to a level that indicates negative effects of nutrient enrichment. D5C5 - The dissolved oxygen concentration is not reduced due to nutrient enrichment to levels that indicate negative effects on benthic habitats (including on biota and their associated mobile species) or other eutrophication effects. GES has not been determined at sub-region level as established in Article 3(5)(b) of the MSFD. GES was not determined at the subregion level as established in Article 5(3)(b) of the MSFD. The evaluation under Art. 8 was based on the level of risk, considering that if the level of risk is reduced, given that activities that condition or alter the integrity of the seabed are unknown, GES is reached. The evaluation of the Red List of Habitats in Europe considers that, for most habitats that occur in the Northeast Atlantic, the existing data are insufficient and GES cannot be evaluated (Gubbay et al., 2016), although pressures, conservation trends and measures can be determined. According to the list, in the Azores subdivision there are six threatened habitats, four classified as Vulnerable and two as Endangered. The habitats identified in the region are distributed over a variety of ecological contexts and in a range of depths ranging from 3 to 4 meters above the coast to depths of more than 4,000 m (from supra-coastal to abyssal, Schmiing et al., 2015 ). |
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| GES description | D6C1 Physical loss of the seabed (6.1) |
No significant loss of the natural seabed compared to the situation in 2012 resulting from human activities.
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Permanent changes to the seabed (km² or per cent relative to the natural size of the habitat) due to different human activities (including permanent changes to the seabed substrate or natural seabed morphology through physical restructuring, infrastructure development and loss of substrate through the extraction of seabed raw materials). Physical loss shall be understood as a permanent change to the seabed which has lasted or is expected to last for a period of two reporting cycles (12 years) or more. The assessment includes quantification of the lost area compared to the total natural size of all benthic habitats in the area under assessment (e.g. due to the magnitude of the anthropogenic change).
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Spatial extent and distribution of physical loss (permanent change) of the natural seabed (Decision 2017/848/EU).
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Ireland has achieved Good Environmental Status within its maritime area under primary criterion D6C1 - spatial extent and distribution of physical loss (permanent change) of the natural seabed. |
The physical loss of sea bottoms produced by human activities does not reach a spatial extent that would jeopardise the maintenance of the benthic habitats.
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| GES description | D6C2 Physical disturbance to the seabed (6.1) |
No increase in time of the physical disturbance of the entire sea bed of the whole North Sea and the NCP.
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Physical disturbances (km² or per cent relative to the natural size of the habitat) due to different human activities (such as seabed disturbances) which change the seabed, but whose seabed can recover if the activities causing disturbances are eliminated.
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Spatial extent and distribution of pressures from physical disturbance of the seabed (Decision 2017/848/EU).
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The environmental status under primary criterion D6C2 - spatial extent and distribution of physical disturbance pressures on the seabed - is currently unknown within Ireland’s maritime area. |
Seabed potentially affected by physical disturbance does not reach a spatial extent that would jeopardise the maintenance of benthic habitats.
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| GES description | D6C3 Adverse effects from physical disturbance (6.1.2) | D6C3 Rumslig omfattning av varje livsmiljötyp som påverkas negativt av fysisk störning, genom ändring av dess biotiska och abiotiska struktur och dess funktioner (t.ex. genom förändringar i artsammansättningen och i arternas relativa abundans, genom frånvaro av särskilt känsliga eller ömtåliga arter eller arter som tillhandahåller en viktig funktion, arternas storleksstruktur). Fysisk störning av livsmiljötyper: God miljöstatus: Metod för kvantitativ bedömning av detta kriterium saknas. D6C3 Spatial extent of each habitat type which is adversely affected by physical disturbance, through change in its biotic and abiotic structure and its functions (e.g. through changes in species composition and their relative abundance, absence of particularly sensitive or fragile species or species providing a key function, size structure of species). GES:Definition of GES at criteria level is not yet available. |
The assessment must consider whether the physical disturbance in question has a negative impact. This assessment must be made for the various physical disturbances that could potentially have a negative impact on the seabed. Whether a physical disturbance will cause a negative impact depends on the seabed's vulnerability and tolerance to the disturbance and how quickly the seabed ecosystem regenerates after the disturbance. For example, a sandy type is exposed to high current and wave influence is expected to be less vulnerable to certain disturbances than a type of habitat that is not normally affected by natural agitation of the water bodies. The extent of each adversely affected habitat type must be calculated in km2 or as a percentage (percent) of the total natural extent of the habitat in the assessment area. The results of the assessment of criterion D6C2 are used for the further assessment in criterion D6C3.
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Improvement in the quality of the assessed areas and habitats in the Dutch part of the North Sea (Benthic Indicator Species Index).
No increase in time of the physical disturbance of the habitats described under the MSFD. |
The spatial extent of each habitat type (km² or % relative to the natural size of the habitat) that has been harmed by changes in the biotic and abiotic structure and its functions (e.g. due to changes in species composition and their relative density, non-habitat occurrence of particularly sensitive or vulnerable species or species having an essential function, the size composition of species), due to physical disturbances. Member States should set thresholds for the harmful effects of physical disruptions through regional or sub-regional cooperation.
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Spatial extent of each habitat type adversely affected by changes in its biotic and abiotic structure and functions (e.g. change in species composition and relative abundance, absence of particularly sensitive or fragile species or species performing a key function, size structure of species) due to physical disturbance (Decision 2017/848/EU).
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The extent of each benthic habitat type adversely affected by physical disturbances keeps negative or stable trends in a way that ensures their conservation.
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| GES description | D6C4 Benthic habitat extent (1.4, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.5, 1.5.1, 6.1.1) |
Extent of loss per habitat type does not exceed a certain proportion of the habitat type's natural extent.
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No significant loss due to human activities of the habitats described under the MSFD.
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The extent of the loss of the habitat type as a result of anthropogenic loads is no greater than a determined part of the natural size of the habitat type in the area under assessment. Member States shall determine the maximum allowable extent of habitat loss as part of the total natural size of the habitat type, through cooperation at Union level, taking into account regional or sub-regional specificities.
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Ireland has achieved Good Environmental Status within its maritime area under primary criterion D6C4 - the extent of loss of the habitat type, resulting from anthropogenic pressures. |
The proportion of the loss surface of each benthic habitat type due to anthropogenic pressures does not threaten the maintenance of the habitat type.
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| GES description | D6C5 Benthic habitat condition (1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, 6.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4) | D6C5 Omfattningen av negativa effekter av mänskliga belastningar på livsmiljötypens tillstånd, inklusive ändring av dess biotiska och abiotiska struktur och dess funktioner (t.ex. typisk artsammansättning och dessa arters relativa abundans, frånvaro av särskilt känsliga eller ömtåliga arter eller arter som tillhandahåller en viktig funktion, arternas storleksstruktur) överstiger inte en viss andel av livsmiljötypens naturliga omfattning i bedömningsområdet. God miljöstatus: När 90 % av arealen för respektive livsmiljötyp klarar tröskelvärdena för relevanta indikatorer. D6C5 The extent of adverse effects from anthropogenic pressures on the condition of the habitat type, including alteration to its biotic and abiotic structure and its functions (e.g. its typical species composition and their relative abundance, absence of particularly sensitive or fragile species or species providing a key function, size structure of species), does not exceed a specified proportion of the natural extent of the habitat type in the assessment area. GES:When at least 90 % of the area of each habitat type achieve the threshold values for the relevant indicators. |
Biodiversity has been maintained and the extent of adverse effects (D6C5) per habitat type does not exceed future EU thresholds for changes in biotic and abiotic structures and functions.
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The diversity of benthos does not show a decreasing trend in the assessed areas (OSPAR- assessment value).
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The extent of the harmful effects of anthropogenic loads on the state of the habitat type, including modification of the biotic and abiotic structure and its functions (eg their characteristic species composition and their relative density, the non-occurrence of particularly sensitive or vulnerable species or species that have an essential function, the size composition of species), is no greater than a fixed proportion of the natural size of the habitat type in the area under assessment.
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The environmental status under primary criterion D6C5 - the extent of adverse effects from anthropogenic pressures on the condition of the habitat type, including alteration to its biotic and abiotic structure and its functions - is currently unknown within Ireland’s maritime area. |
The extent of each habitat type in which benthic communities are kept within values to ensure their durability and performance is maintained or presented with increasing trends.
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| Justification for non-use of criterion | D6C1: All Swedish determinations of GES are implemented in a regulation (HVMFS 2012:18) issued from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. From the update made in 2018 only criteria supported with at least one indicator are included in the regulation. Furthermore, only indicators underpinned with a regular monitoring programme are included. For this criterion, it is not relevant to have a definition of GES since the permanent changes to the seabed from different human activities shall be assessed to underpin the assessment under D6C4. In the assessment under article 8, an estimate of permanent changes is included. Concerning methods for estimation of permanent changes, we will follow and take active part in the work of TG Seafloor. D6C2: All Swedish determinations of GES are implemented in a regulation (HVMFS 2012:18) issued from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. From the update made in 2018 only criteria supported with at least one indicator are included in the regulation. Furthermore, only indicators underpinned with a regular monitoring programme are included. For this criterion, it is not relevant to have a definition of GES since disturbance to the seabed from different human activities shall be assessed to underpin the assessment under D6C3. In the assessment under article 8, an estimate of disturbance is included. Concerning methods for estimation of physical disturbance, we will follow and take active part in the work of TG Seafloor. |
D6/D1: For the Habitats Directive habitat types 1110 sandbanks and 1170 reefs, the conservation status in the biogeographical region is used for the assessment of the benthic habitat (HD assessment 2013). There is no assessment of the individual MSFD criteria D6C3, D6C4 and D6C5.
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D6C3: This assessment did not cover criterion D6C3 (i.e. spatial extent of each habitat type which is adversely affected, through change in its biotic and abiotic structure and its functions [e.g. through changes in species composition and their relative abundance, absence of particularly sensitive or fragile species or species providing a key function, size structure of species], by physical disturbance). This was because agreed OSPAR Common Indicators or other coordinated indicators (e.g. at EU member state level) were not available for this criterion in OSPAR Region III or Region V, which are applicable to Ireland. |
D6/D1: Thresholds for the adverse effects of physical disturbance on each habitat type, and the maximum permissible extent of habitat loss and adverse effects on the condition of each habitat type are not yet established at regional and / or subregional level: insufficient data for the level of pressure and effects on the marine environment; under discussion in the TG Seabed working group in which Portugal participates.
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| Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements | D6C3: All Swedish determinations of GES are implemented in a regulation (HVMFS 2012:18) issued from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. From the update made in 2018 only criteria supported with at least one indicator are included in the regulation. Furthermore, only indicators underpinned with a regular monitoring programme are included. For this criterion, we only have an indicator for the North Sea giving a qualitative assessment. We do not have a definition of GES at criteria level yet. The reason is lack of enough and adequate information and knowledge on the benthic habitats. Sweden has an ongoing project on mapping the benthic habitats aiming att closing this knowledge gap. We are active in groups discussing this in Helcom, Ospar and ICES and we will be active in the TG Seafloor. D6C4: All Swedish determinations of GES are implemented in a regulation (HVMFS 2012:18) issued from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. From the update made in 2018 only criteria supported with at least one indicator are included in the regulation. Furthermore, only indicators underpinned with a regular monitoring programme are included. We on not have any indictors under this criterion. The reason is lack of enough and adequate information and knowledge on the benthic habitats and that threshold values shall be established at union level. We will include thesholds when they are established at union level. We are active in groups discussing this in Helcom, Ospar and ICES and we will be active in, and look forward to, the work on this in CIS-MSDF. D6C5: All Swedish determinations of GES are implemented in a regulation (HVMFS 2012:18) issued from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management. From the update made in 2018 only criteria supported with at least one indicator are included in the regulation. Furthermore, only indicators underpinned with a regular monitoring programme are included. Under this criterion, we have used proxies from other descriptors (D5) for the assessement, which includes assessments under Directive 2000/60/EC. In addition we have used assessment from the Directive 92/43/EEC, but the assessment is not complete in relation to the broad habitat types. The reason is lack of enough and adequate information and knowledge on the benthic habitats and that threshold values shall be established at union level. We will include thesholds when they are established at union level. We are active in groups discussing this in Helcom, Ospar and ICES and we will be active in the work on this in CIS-MSFD. |
D6/D1: None
D6C3: At regional or sub-regional levels, thresholds must be established for when a physical disturbance will have a negative effect on each habitat type. Such thresholds have not yet been set by HELCOM or OSPAR. D6C4: Thresholds are expected to be set for the extent of losses and negative effects per year, respectively habitat type under EU auspices. These thresholds have not yet been set. D6C5: Thresholds for negative effects on the state of each habitat type are also expected to be set in relation to the influence of other pressure factors (descriptors) as well as the extent of negative effects per year on habitat type under EU auspices. These thresholds have not yet been set. |
D6/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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D6C1: Criterion D6C1 does not have a threshold required in Decision 2017/848/EU.
D6C2: Criterion D6C2 does not have a threshold required in Decision 2017/848/EU. D6C3: Criterion D6C3 requires the establishment, through cooperation between Member States at regional or sub-regional level, of threshold values for adverse effects of physical disturbance. Such thresholds have not yet been defined for the French marine sub-regions, but work in this direction is under way at the European level, particularly within the framework of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The methodological standards associated with 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. D6C4: No indicators are available for the assessment of criterion D6C4. The methodological standards associated with criterion D6C4 will be further developed following additional studies, as provided for in the Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. The evaluation is available at: https://doi.org/10.13155/60192 D6C5: The assessment of the D6C5 criterion is informed by the calculation of the BenthoVal indicator (Labrune et al., in preparation) selected at the national level. Due to the absence of a defined threshold, criterion D6C5 is not assessed. It should be noted that for this assessment, the BenthoVal indicator could not be calculated for rocky habitats, despite the acquisition of data, because the applicability of BenthoVal to these types of habitats requires further testing. The methodological standards associated with criterion D6C5 will be specified following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good ecological status of marine waters. The evaluation is available at: https://doi.org/10.13155/60192 |
D6C1: There are currently no threshold values proposed for sea-floor integrity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values has not been undertaken at this time but is a work in progress at a European member state level. D6C2: There are currently no threshold values proposed for sea-floor integrity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values has not been undertaken at this time but is a work in progress at a European member state level. D6C4: There are currently no threshold values proposed for sea-floor integrity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values has not been undertaken at this time but is a work in progress at a European member state level. D6C5: There are currently no threshold values proposed for sea-floor integrity. The development of regional and sub-regional threshold values has not been undertaken at this time but is a work in progress at a European member state level. |
D6C1: It is necessary to establish the GES to meet the new criteria for D6. However, the definitions should be quite general as threshold and/or reference values have not yet been established.
D6C2: It is necessary to establish the GES to meet the new criteria for D6. However, the definitions should be quite general as threshold and/or reference values have not yet been established. D6C3: It is necessary to establish the GES to meet the new criteria for D6. However, the definitions should be quite general as threshold and/or reference values have not yet been established. D6C4: It is necessary to establish the GES to meet the new criteria for D6. However, the definitions should be quite general as threshold and/or reference values have not yet been established. D6C5: It is necessary to establish the GES to meet the new criteria for D6. However, the definitions should be quite general as threshold and/or reference values have not yet been established. |