Member State report / Art10 / 2018 / D5 / Baltic

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 10 Environmental targets (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2018-10-15
GES Descriptor D5 Eutrophication
Region/subregion Baltic
Reported by Member state
Member state
Finland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Germany
Denmark
Sweden
Member state report
Reporting area(s) MRUs used
  • BAL-FI
  • BAL-FI-AS
  • BAL-FI-BB
  • BAL-FI-BS
  • BAL-FI-GF
  • BAL-FI-NB
  • BAL-FI-QK
  • BAL-EE-AA
  • BAL-LV-AAA-006
  • BAL-LT-AA-01
  • BAL-LT-AA-03
  • BAL-LT-MS-01
  • L2-SEA-007-POL
  • L2-SEA-008-POL
  • L2-SEA-009-POL
  • L4-POL-001
  • L4-POL-002
  • L4-POL-003
  • L4-POL-004
  • L4-POL-005
  • L4-POL-006
  • L4-POL-007
  • L4-POL-008
  • L4-POL-009
  • L4-POL-010
  • L4-POL-011
  • L4-POL-012
  • L4-POL-013
  • L4-POL-014
  • L4-POL-015
  • L4-POL-016
  • L4-POL-017
  • L4-POL-018
  • L4-POL-019
  • BALDE_MS
  • BAL-DK-HELCOM-KATTEGAT
  • BAL-DK-HELCOM-OSTERSO
  • BAL-DK-HELCOM-STRAITS
  • DK-TOTAL-CW-part-BAL
  • BAL-SE-RG-Ostersjon
Features Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Species
  • All fish (2)
  • All birds (1)
  • Seals (1)
Features Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Habitats
  • Circalittoral coarse sediment (2)
  • Circalittoral mixed sediment (2)
  • Circalittoral mud (2)
  • Circalittoral rock and biogenic reef (2)
  • Circalittoral sand (2)
  • Infralittoral coarse sediment (1)
  • Infralittoral mixed sediment (1)
  • Infralittoral mud (1)
  • Infralittoral rock and biogenic reef (1)
  • Infralittoral sand (1)
  • All habitats (2)
  • Benthic broad habitats (1)
  • Pelagic broad habitats (1)
Features Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs
  • Nutrients (N, P) (51)
  • Organic carbon (15)
  • Turbidity (silt/sediment loads) (35)
  • All trophic guilds (1)
  • Dissolved oxygen (1)
  • Ecosystems, including food webs (1)
  • Nutrients (N, P) (1)
  • Transparency (1)
Features Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: No theme
  • All marine ecosystem elements (1)
  • All marine ecosystem elements (5)
  • All marine ecosystem elements (22)
Features Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment: Physical
  • Physical disturbance to seabed (3)
  • Physical disturbance to seabed (2)
  • Physical loss of the seabed (2)
Features Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment: Substances, litter and energy
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources (10)
  • Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter) (1)
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition (3)
  • Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events (1)
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition (198)
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition (7)
  • Input of organic matter - diffuse sources and point sources (5)
  • Input of nutrients - diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition (7)
Features Pressure levels and impacts in marine environment: Chemical
  • Eutrophication (5)
Features Uses and human activities in or affecting the marine environment: Production of energy
  • All activities related to production of energy (10)
Features Uses and human activities in or affecting the marine environment: Cultivation of living resources
  • All activities related to cultivation of living resources (1)
  • Aquaculture - marine, including infrastructure (1)
Features Uses and human activities in or affecting the marine environment: Transport
  • Transport - shipping (1)
GES components
  • D1 Biodiversity (1)
  • D1 Fish (10)
  • D10 Litter (1)
  • D11 Energy, incl. underwater noise (1)
  • D2 Non-indigenous species (1)
  • D3 Commercial fish and shellfish (11)
  • D4 Food webs/D1 Ecosystems (1)
  • D5 Eutrophication (62)
  • D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats (1)
  • D7 Hydrographical changes (1)
  • D8 Contaminants (1)
  • D9 Contaminants in seafood (1)
  • D1 Biodiversity (1)
  • D10 Litter (2)
  • D2 Non-indigenous species (1)
  • D4 Food webs/D1 Ecosystems (1)
  • D5 Eutrophication (3)
  • D5C1 Nutrient concentrations (5.1, 5.1.1) (2)
  • D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats (1)
  • D8 Contaminants (2)
  • D9 Contaminants in seafood (1)
  • D5 Eutrophication (5)
  • D5 Eutrophication (5)
  • D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats (3)
  • D1C6 Pelagic habitat condition (1.5.2, 1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3) (22)
  • D5 Eutrophication (198)
  • D5C1 Nutrient concentrations (5.1, 5.1.1) (22)
  • D5C2 Chlorophyll-a concentration (5.2.1) (22)
  • D5C3 Harmful algal blooms (5.2.4) (22)
  • D5C4 Photic limit (5.2.2) (22)
  • D5C5 Dissolved oxygen concentration (5.3.2) (22)
  • D5C6 Opportunistic macroalgae of benthic habitats (5.2.3) (22)
  • D5C7 Macrophyte communities of benthic habitats (5.3.1) (22)
  • D5C8 Macrofaunal communities of benthic habitats (22)
  • D1 Biodiversity (7)
  • D4 Food webs/D1 Ecosystems (7)
  • D5 Eutrophication (7)
  • D6 Sea-floor integrity/D1 Benthic habitats (7)
  • D5 Eutrophication (7)
  • D1 Birds (1)
  • D1 Fish (1)
  • D1 Mammals (1)
  • D1C6 Pelagic habitat condition (1.5.2, 1.6, 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3) (1)
  • D4C1 Trophic guild species diversity (1.7, 1.7.1) (1)
  • D4C2 Abundance across trophic guilds (1.7, 1.7.1, 4.3, 4.3.1) (1)
  • D4C3 Trophic guild size distribution (4.2, 4.2.1) (1)
  • D4C4 Trophic guild productivity (4.1, 4.1.1) (1)
  • D5C1 Nutrient concentrations (5.1, 5.1.1) (1)
  • D5C2 Chlorophyll-a concentration (5.2.1) (1)
  • D5C3 Harmful algal blooms (5.2.4) (1)
  • D5C4 Photic limit (5.2.2) (1)
  • D5C5 Dissolved oxygen concentration (5.3.2) (1)
  • D5C7 Macrophyte communities of benthic habitats (5.3.1) (1)
  • D5C8 Macrofaunal communities of benthic habitats (1)
  • 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) (1)
Target Number defined
8
4
1
2
9
4
2
1
Target code/description
RAV2: Nutrient inputs from aquaculture do not prevent achieving or maintaining good state of the marine waters.
RAV5: Management possibilities of the sediment nutrient reserves are improved.
ALUE1: Maritime spatial planning is carried out in a way that it advances the achievement of good environmental status in marine environment.
RAVyleinen: Phosphorus and nitrogen inputs decrease below the maximal allowable inputs and the inputs of suspended solids decline.
LUONTO4: Migration barriers for river-migrating fish decrease and area of suitable spawning habitats increases.
RAV1: Inputs of nutrients, organic matter and suspended solids decline from the sources of agriculture and forestry.
RAV4: Waste water nutrient inputs decrease during 2018-2024 from urban waste water treatment plants, scattered buildings, industry, ships and boats.
RAV3: Atmospheric nitrogen inputs from maritime traffic decrease.
LUONTO4: Migration barriers for river-migrating fish decrease and area of suitable spawning habitats increases
RAV2: Nutrients inputs from aquaculture do not prevent achieving or maintaining good state of the marine waters.
BALEE-T33: BALEE-T33 - reducing the environmental impact from stormwater runoffs (point sources) to the sea.
BALEE-T34: BALEE-T34 - supporting the development of environmentally friendly marine aquaculture, including its infrastructure.
BALEE-T35: BALEE-T35 - ships visiting Estonian ports are fulfilling environmental requirements set by international conventions.
Target 16: Target 16 - reducing anthropogenic inputs of nutrients in accordance to HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan targets (country allocated reduction targets - CART) for Estonia.
JVM3: Eutrophication is not causing adverse effects on marine ecosystem
3: Reduce the release of nutrients contributing to eutrophication into the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea environment.
5: Ensure that marine economic activities do not have a significant negative impact on seabed habitats, avoid their degradation and deterioration.
PL_Target_D5C6: Limiting the excessive growth of opportunistic macroalgae, leading to disturbance of balance in benthic communities by maintaining a decreasing trend of input of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds to the sea.
PL_Target_D5C7: Maintaining the decreasing trend of nitrogen and phosphorus input to the sea in order to reduce the adverse effects of reduced water transparency and oxygenation of bottom waters, which will result in increased share of long-living species in the structure of macrophytes in the places of their existence and increased depth of their occurrence.
PL_Target_D5C4: Maintaining the decreasing trend of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter input into the sea resulting in the lack of reduction of seawater transparency below acceptable threshold values, which are consistent with the recommendations of currently valid national and international legal acts, leading to disrupt the development of underwater vegetation
PL_Target_D5C2: Maintaining the decreasing trend of nitrogen and phosphorus input to the sea influencing the limitation of excessive algae growth and, as a consequence, lowering the concentration of chlorophyll "a" in the water column below the acceptable threshold values, which are in line with the recommendations of currently valid national and international legal acts.
PL_Target_D5C1: Maintaining the current decreasing trend of changes in the level of annual nitrogen and phosphorus loads to the Baltic Sea from the Vistula, Oder, Pomeranian and coastal rivers, and decreasing tendency of nitrogen and phosphorus atmospheric deposition to achieve a reduction in nutrient concentrations to levels not exceeding the thresholds that are in line with recommendations of currently valid national and international legal acts and which guarantee the achievement or maintenance of good environmental status.
PL_Target_D5C8: Maintaining the decreasing trend of nitrogen and phosphorus input in order to achieve the improvement of the macrozoobenthos communities in the sea.
PL_Target_D5: Maintaining the annual nitrogen and phosphorus loads from rivers and in the form of atmospheric deposition into the Baltic Sea below the Maximum Allowable Input (MAI) established under the regional arrangements (HELCOM), which will allow the nutrient concentration in the sea to be reduced to a level not exceeding the threshold values that are in line with existing national and European Union recommendations and which guarantee the achievement or maintenance of good environmental status and do not cause adverse effects in the form of excessive algae growth, elevated concentrations of chlorophyll "a" in the water column, lowering the seawater transparency and the level of bottom water oxygenation, which in turn favors the proper development of pelagic and benthic habitats
PL_Target_D5C3: Maintaining the decreasing trend of the input of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds to the sea to limit the excessive development of plankton, including toxic cyanobacteria blooms.
PL_Target_D5C5: Achieving a higher level of oxygenation of bottom waters, especially in the deep sea zone as a result of maintaining a decreasing trend of nitrogen and phosphorus input to the sea, which will result in reduction in conditions causing the increase of oxygen consumption in bottom waters, mainly an excessive increase in the production of organic matter, which will result in lack of negative impacts on organisms living on the seabed and in adjacent waters and will limit the occurrence of internal recurrent enrichment of the ecosystem with phosphorus released from sediments.
UZO1: The aim is to have 'seas without adverse effects from eutrophication'. The objective is implemented by means of the operational objectives UZO1.1, UZO1.2 and UZO1.3. The environmental objectives established in 2012 and their description under the 2012 MSFD report continue to apply. They are the basis for the 2016-2021 programme of measures, notified to the European Commission in 2016. Since the implementation of the measures was only started in 2016, an assessment of the progress and effectiveness of the measures as a basis for updating the environmental objectives is often not yet possible. Where possible, the text of the text shows the achievement of objectives and/or the state of implementation of the measures. The indicator evaluation on progress towards achieving targets is reported in the Progress Report on operational objectives. In the Baltic Sea Action Plan, HELCOM has established a maximum permissible nutrient input of 21.000 tonnes of phosphorus and 600.000 tonnes of nitrogen for the whole Baltic Sea. As a result, concrete nutrient reduction targets have been set based on the MARE-NEST model for the countries bordering the Baltic Sea (HELCOM, 2007). Germany has committed to reduce its nutrient inputs into the Baltic Sea by 240 tonnes for phosphorus by 2016 and for nitrogen by 5.620 tonnes. Reduction targets are based on the parameter visibility depth. The nutrient reduction targets have been reviewed scientifically and new targets have been set in HELCOM's Ministerial meeting in 2013. At the 2013 HELCOM Ministerial meeting, Germany committed itself to reducing the annual nitrogen inputs into the Baltic Sea by around 7.670 tonnes (water and air-borne inputs combined) and a reduction of phosphorus inputs by around 170 tonnes compared to the base period 1997-2003.
UZO1.2: Operational environmental objective for the overarching environmental objective 'seas without adverse effects from anthropogenic eutrophication': Nutrient inputs via remote entries from other marine areas should be reduced. This should be done in the framework of the regional cooperation of HELCOM.
UZO1.1: Operational environmental objective for the overarching environmental objective 'seas without adverse effects from anthropogenic eutrophication': Nutrient inputs via the rivers are to be further reduced. Reduction targets have been set in the programs of measures of the WFD. The phosphorus and nitrogen compound loads from German tributaries to the Baltic Sea have been declining since the 1980s. However, since 2000, there has hardly been a decreasing trend and, very strong annual fluctuations have occurred. In 2014, about 2,800 tons of nitrogen and about 112 tons of phosphorus were introduced into the Baltic Sea via the river basin districts Schlei / Trave and Warnow / Peene (UBA 2017). If one additionally considers the entries of smaller inflows, e.g. into the small lagoon in the Oder catchment area, as well as the German entries into the Oder, then approx. 9,600 tons of nitrogen and approx. 360 tons of phosphorus were registered in the Baltic Sea in 2014 (UBA 2017). The nutrient inputs of the surface waters draining into the Baltic Sea with the substance input model MoRe decreased by 19% (5,119 tons) for nitrogen and 17% (168 tons) for phosphorus compared to the evaluation periods 2012-2014 and 2006-2011 (UBA 2017, Fuchs et al 2016). Compared to the 2012-2014 and 1983-1987 evaluation periods, nutrient inputs decreased by 65% ​​(40,835 tonnes) for nitrogen and 78% (2,844 tonnes) for phosphorus (Source: MoRe). According to the MoRe substance input model, agriculture (78% of nitrogen inputs and 51% of phosphorus inputs) followed by point sources (eg sewage treatment plants) (9% of nitrogen inputs and 20% of phosphorus inputs) were the main contributors to nutrient inputs over the period 2012-2014. Entries from urban areas and atmospheric deposition on surface waters in the catchment area of ​​the Baltic Sea played a subordinate role.
UZO1.3: Operational objective for the overall environmental objective 'Seas without impacts from anthropogenic eutrophication: Nutrient inputs from the atmosphere should be further reduced.
DK-T5.2: Danish inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus (TN, TP) comply with the maximum acceptable inputs stipulated under HELCOM. (Den centrale Østersø)
DK-T5.2: Danish inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus (TN, TP) comply with the maximum acceptable inputs stipulated under HELCOM. (Kattegat)
DK-T5.3: Coastal waters: Target loads and needs for measures for fjords, estuaries and coastal waters determined in accordance with the Water Framework Directive are complied with. Targets and needs are described in the Danish river basin management plans.
DK-T5.2: Danish inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus (TN, TP) comply with the maximum acceptable inputs stipulated under HELCOM. (Danish Straits)
BALSE-A.1_Tillförsel_näringsämnen: A.1 The supply of nutrients from human activities shall decrease until it does not cause concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the marine environment which prevent good environmental status from being achieved. A.1 Input of nutrients from human activities shall decrease until it does not cause concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the marine environment which prevent good environmental status from being achieved.
Target value No. of parameters/elements with quantitative values
  • Not reported (52 - 83.9%)
  • Reported (10 - 16.1%)
  • Not reported (2 - 100.0%)
  • Reported (0 - 0.0%)
  • Not reported (5 - 100.0%)
  • Reported (0 - 0.0%)
  • Not reported (0 - 0.0%)
  • Reported (5 - 100.0%)
  • Not reported (198 - 100.0%)
  • Reported (0 - 0.0%)
  • Not reported (4 - 57.1%)
  • Reported (3 - 42.9%)
  • Not reported (1 - 14.3%)
  • Reported (6 - 85.7%)
  • Not reported (1 - 100.0%)
  • Reported (0 - 0.0%)
Target status No. of assessments per category
  • Target not yet achieved (62 - 100.0%)
  • Status not reported (2 - 100.0%)
  • Target not yet achieved (5 - 100.0%)
  • Target achieved (1 - 20.0%)
  • Target not yet achieved (4 - 80.0%)
  • Status not reported (198 - 100.0%)
  • Target not yet achieved (7 - 100.0%)
  • Target achieved (5 - 71.4%)
  • Target not yet achieved (2 - 28.6%)
  • Target not yet achieved (1 - 100.0%)
Assessment period No. of targets per period
2011-2016 (10 - 16.1%)
2018-2024 (47 - 75.8%)
2018-2027 (5 - 8.1%)
2011-2016 (2 - 100.0%)
2011-2016 (5 - 100.0%)
2012-2017 (5 - 100.0%)
2011-2016 (198 - 100.0%)
2011-2015 (2 - 28.6%)
2012-2014 (3 - 42.9%)
2014 (1 - 14.3%)
2015 (1 - 14.3%)
2018-2024 (7 - 100.0%)
2011-2016 (1 - 100.0%)
Timescale to achieve targets No. of targets per date
2024-12 (57 - 91.9%)
2027-12 (5 - 8.1%)
2020-12 (2 - 40.0%)
2027-12 (2 - 40.0%)
2028-01 (1 - 20.0%)
2050-12 (5 - 100.0%)
2030-12 (5 - 100.0%)
2022-12 (198 - 100.0%)
2020-12 (7 - 100.0%)
2024-10 (7 - 100.0%)
2020-12 (1 - 100.0%)
Update date No. of targets per date
2018-07 (62 - 100.0%)
2019-03 (5 - 100.0%)
2016-07 (5 - 100.0%)
2017-02 (2 - 40.0%)
2017-12 (3 - 60.0%)
2018-09 (198 - 100.0%)
2018-10 (7 - 100.0%)
2019-04 (7 - 100.0%)
2018-12 (1 - 100.0%)
Update type No. of targets per category
  • Modified from 2012 definition (30 - 48.4%)
  • New target (25 - 40.3%)
  • Same as 2012 definition (7 - 11.3%)
  • Modified from 2012 definition (2 - 40.0%)
  • New target (3 - 60.0%)
  • New target (5 - 100.0%)
  • Same as 2012 definition (5 - 100.0%)
  • New target (198 - 100.0%)
  • Modified from 2012 definition (2 - 28.6%)
  • Same as 2012 definition (5 - 71.4%)
  • New target (7 - 100.0%)
  • Modified from 2012 definition (1 - 100.0%)
Related indicators No. of different indicators reported
20
2
5
5
11
2
1
1
Related measures No. of different measures reported
11
4
1
2
1
4
1
1