Permanent alteration of the hydrographic properties does not adversely affect marine ecosystems.

Good environmental status (GES) is achieved when permanent changes in hydrographical conditions only have local impacts due to human intervention and these impacts, individually or cumulatively, do not have adverse impacts on the marine ecosystems (species, habitats, ecosystem functions) and do not result in biogeographic population effects. Good environmental status (GES) is achieved, if the permanent hydrographical changes addressed in accordance with D 7 do not prevent the good ecological status of the water in accordance with the WFD. The habitat types listed in Annex I relevant to the marine sector and the habitats of the marine species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive, as well as the marine habitats of species covered by the Birds Directive, are not adversely affected by permanent alterations in hydrographical activities such as the construction of bridges, tunnels or offshore wind installations, etc. and are in a favourable conservation status. The conservation status of a habitat is considered favourable when its natural range and the area it covers in this area are stable or increasing, and the structures and specific functions necessary for its long-term survival exist and are likely to continue to exist in the foreseeable future. Species are subject to favourable conditions for their diet and reproduction.

Hydrographic and hydrodynamic conditions in the area are natural, except locally, in certain zones affected by infrastructure, the extent of which is reduced compared to natural areas and does not cause irreversible damage to biogenic habitats and protected habitats.
Marine habitats are evolving in line with prevailing climatic conditions.

D7C1 ? Spatial coverage of the permanent change in hydrographical conditions (e.g. wave changes, currents, salinity, temperature) in the seabed and in the water column, linked in particular to physical loss of seabed.
D7C2 ? Spatial Extent of each benthic habitat type adversely affected (physical and hydrographic characteristics and associated biological communities) due to permanent change in hydrographical conditions


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 there is no record of human activities or anthropogenic structures resulting in permanent or temporary changes in the hydrographical conditions of the seabed of this subdivision, the GES is achieved.


GES not determined at sub-regional level as set out in Article 3(5)(b) of the MSFD. In the Article 8 assessment it was considered that if the area of interference resulting from coastal interventions (not exceeding three nautical miles from the coastline) for marine habitats is small, the GES is achieved.

The initial assessment (2012) indicated that the decline of the seabed ecosystem and diadromous fish species in the coastal zone can be explained in part by permanent hydrographic effects of the Delta Works and Maasvlakte 1 and 2. These works are of national importance and are considered irreversible. It was therefore concluded in 2012 that there is a need for good environmental status. This good environmental status has been maintained in the recent period by imposing requirements on new activities when granting permits.

The spatial extent and spread of the permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions (for example, changes to the waveform, currents, salinity, temperature) on the sea ends and the water column do not have a pronounced negative impact on species, populations or an ecosystem level.

Spatial extent and distribution of the permanent change in hydrographic conditions on the seabed and in the water column associated, inter alia, with a physical loss of the natural seabed (Decision 2017/848/EU).

Good Environmental Status was considered achieved as the values of the parameters analysed do not exceed the thresholds established in the applicable legislation. Coastal artificialization in the Azores archipelago shows values for natural levels that exceed 80%. The values that may have exceeded these same limits concern very occasional and non-significant sampling and events.

The initial assessment (2012) indicated that the decline of the seabed ecosystem and diadromous fish species in the coastal zone can be explained in part by permanent hydrographic effects of the Delta Works and Maasvlakte 1 and 2. These works are of national importance and are considered irreversible. It was therefore concluded in 2012 that there is a need for good environmental status. This good environmental status has been maintained in the recent period by imposing requirements on new activities when granting permits.

Spatial size of each benthic habitat type that undergoes negative effects (physical and hydrographic properties and associated communities) as a result of the permanent change in hydrological conditions.

Spatial extent of each benthic habitat type adversely affected (physical and hydrographic features and associated biological communities) due to permanently altered hydrological conditions (Decision 2017/848/EU).

Good Environmental Status was considered achieved as the values of the parameters analysed do not exceed the thresholds established in the applicable legislation. Coastal artificialization in the Azores archipelago shows values for natural levels that exceed 80%. The values that may have exceeded these same limits concern very occasional and non-significant sampling and events.

D7: In relation to descriptor 7, good environmental status is considered descriptive, since no threshold values have been set in either OSPAR or HELCOM.

D7: 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. The indicators vary in their level of maturity and require further development or testing. Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 gives, for the first time, an explicit obligation on the part of the EU Member States to agree on evaluation elements, thresholds and integration rules in the framework of the EU MSFD CIS process and through regional or subregional cooperation. Germany is actively working with the countries bordering the Baltic Sea in the framework of the ongoing work programmes of the EU MSFD and the HELCOM bodies to establish where a coordinated definition is still missing.

D7C1: According to the advice given in guidance 14 (Walmsley et al., 2017) no threshold is to be specified for D7C1: GES achievement is therefore not assessed for D7C1.



D7C2: Consistent with the advice provided in Guidance 14 (Walmsley et al. 2017), the evaluation of D7C2 should be conducted for each habitat type that is affected by changing hydrographic conditions and the results of D7C2 are not integrated. In addition, no GES thresholds have been defined to date for impacts on major habitat types, so GES achievement is not assessed for criterion D7C2. The methodological standards associated with this criterion will be further developed through further studies, as foreseen in the Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of Good Environmental Status of Marine Waters.

D7: As there has been no update of the definition of GES for this descriptor, the proposed definition is maintained during the first cycle of Marine Strategies.

D7: Mainland and Madeira: It was not possible to establish thresholds for adverse effects on the marine environment: Insufficient data