Hydrographical changes on the beach or the seabed do not give rise to a significant reduction in natural habitats. Permanent changes in hydrographical conditions are estimated as the share of the modified area of the total surface area.


The construction or operation of installations at the beach, the seabed or sea do not significantly alter the hydrographic conditions of the area, such as waves, currents, salinity and temperature. Permanent changes in hydrographical conditions are estimated as the share of the modified area of the total sea area.

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.

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

D7C1: Hydrographic characteristics (temperature, salinity, oxygen, pH, water transparency) were performed in 2006–2011 and 2012–2017. a comparative analysis that did not show significant changes in physico-chemical conditions in pelagic and benthic habitats. So far, there is only one type of man-made structures in the Lithuanian sea area, which can affect certain hydrographic parameters - hydrotechnical equipment, more precisely - Klaipeda port gate piers. Their potential impact on the coastal hydrological regime is examined in the report. The physical parameters (temperature, salinity, current velocity, circulating) have no effect on sand embankment, although they can locally reduce the impact of waves on shore erosion. For the D7C1 and D7C2 criteria at regional level, indicators are proposed that should be developed at regional and national level in the future.


D7C2: Hydrographic characteristics (temperature, salinity, oxygen, pH, water transparency) were performed in 2006–2011 and 2012–2017. a comparative analysis that did not show significant changes in physico-chemical conditions in pelagic and benthic habitats. So far, there is only one type of man-made structures in the Lithuanian sea area, which can affect certain hydrographic parameters - hydrotechnical equipment, more precisely - Klaipeda port gate piers. Their potential impact on the coastal hydrological regime is examined in the report. The physical parameters (temperature, salinity, current velocity, circulating) have no effect on sand embankment, although they can locally reduce the impact of waves on shore erosion. For the D7C1 and D7C2 criteria at regional level, indicators are proposed that should be developed at regional and national level in the future.

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.

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