The good environmental status for the descriptor "pollutants" is achieved when the concentrations of pollutants in biota, sediment and water comply with the environmental quality standards in accordance with the WFD, the UQN Directive 2008/105/EC and the Surface Water Regulation (OGewV). and meet the environmental objectives and environmental objectives of the "Hazardous substances segment" of helCOM BSAP. Due to the considerable uncertainties and knowledge gaps that still exist in the current UQNs and EACs (Environmental Assessment Criteria), the precautionary principle should be used as an additional criterion for assessment. In addition, for good environmental status, other specific requirements arising from the MSRL must be met, in particular compliance with other environmental quality standards/environmental quality objectives for sediments and biota and the Taking into account biological pollutant effects." In order to assess the good environmental status of D8, the following criteria are used in accordance with Commission (EU) 2017/848 decision: D8C1, D8C2, D8C3, D8C4. Explanation: In this round of reports, Germany does not update the general description of the good environmental status of 2012 at descriptor level. During the reporting period, Germany worked with the Countries bordering the Baltic Sea within the framework of the EU's MSRL-CIS process and in HELCOM to develop methodological standards (indicators, evaluation procedures). Specific details 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 evaluation of the criteria of the Commission's Decision (EU) 2017/848, Article 8_GES, where relevant, shall include the assessments under other EU directives, take into account, as far as possible, the regional assessments agreed so far and, in individual cases, national assessments.

Concentrations of benzo-a-pyrene and fluoranthene in molluscs are below the environmental quality standards (5 and 30 µg kg-1 ww) and the concentrations of anthracene in sediment are below 24 µg kg-1 dw (TOC 5%). The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is first assessed for the offshore and offshore sections of marine areas separately for each substance or indicator and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.









Concentrations of compounds below the environmental quality standards for fish, crustaceans and molluscs are as follows: sum of PBDEs 28, 47,99,100, 153 and 154 0.0085 μg kg-1 ww, HBCDD 167 μg kg-1, PFOS 9.1 µg kg-1 ww, PCB sum of congener 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180 sum of 75 µg kg-1 ww, sum of dioxins (including dioxin-like PCB congeners) 0.0065 TEQ kg-1 ww. The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is first assessed for the offshore and offshore sections of marine areas separately for each substance or indicator and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.


Concentrations of lead, mercury and cadmium (annual average) below environmental quality standards in water (1.3 μg Pb L-1 and 0.2 μg Cd L-1) and in fish (mercury only, 200 μg kg-1 ww). The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is first assessed for the offshore and offshore sections of marine areas separately for each substance or indicator and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool


Lead concentrations in fish and cadmium concentrations in bivalve molluscs are below the thresholds of 24 µg Pb kg-1 ww and 960 µg Cd kg-1 dw agreed at HELCOM. The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is first assessed for the offshore and offshore sections of marine areas separately for each substance or indicator and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.


PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS: The concentrations of blue myrky nodularin are lower than 1,0 µg in L-1 in seawater.
The status of undesirable substances in the marine environment is assessed for coastal and offshore elements of marine waters, first for each substance or indicator separately and then as a weighted average of indicators, using HELCOM Chase.


The concentration of radioactive Cesium-137 in the herring is below 2.5 Bq kg-1. The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is first assessed for the offshore and offshore sections of marine areas separately for each substance or indicator and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.


The concentration of tributyltin (TBT) in sediment is lower than the agreed threshold of 1.6 μg kg-1 dw (5% TOC) in HELCOM or the corresponding environmental quality standard in water (0.2 ng L-1). The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is first assessed for the offshore and offshore sections of marine areas separately for each substance or indicator and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.

Concentrations of pollutants in coastal and territorial waters do not exceed these threshold values. The condition is assessed according to the indicators: 1) Pollutants in water. 2) Contaminants in bottom sediments. 3) Pollutants in biota. During the assessment period of 2012-2017, all substances referred to in Directive 2008/105/EC (as amended by 2013/39/EC) were examined, and their relevance in the Lithuanian sea area was clarified.

The concentrations of pollutants in coastal and territorial waters do not exceed the environmental quality requirements set by the Water Framework Directive. The concentrations of pollutants outside coastal and territorial waters do not exceed the thresholds set.

D8C1 Concentrations of hazardous substances in relevant matrix (biota, sediment or water) do not exceed the values for marine environment in regulation HVMFS 2013:19 or values established through regional or subregional cooperation. GES:When all substances achieve the threshold values in the assessment area. The assessment is made separately for uPBT-substances and non-uPBT-substances.

Females > 90 % of births in females aged 6 and over will lead to birth.
The status of undesirable substances in the marine environment is assessed for coastal and offshore elements of marine waters, first for each substance or indicator separately and then as a weighted average of indicators, using HELCOM Chase.


More than 90% of the Baltic females'> 5 year old females give birth to a live pup. The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is assessed for coastal and offshore sections of the sea, first for each substance or indicator, and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.


The population of the white-tailed eagle is in good condition if the litter production is 0.97; breeding success is 59% and litter size is 1.64. The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is assessed for coastal and offshore sections of the sea, first for each substance or indicator, and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.

Levels of imposex / intersex in sea snails in all Danish marine areas do not exceed the set thresholds. Note: No relevant feature for D8C2 was found in the list of features

Oil content in seawater is less than 1.0 µg L-1 (annual average in the sea). The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is assessed for coastal and offshore sections of the sea, first for each substance or indicator, and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.


Oil discharges observed in the sea are below the HELCOM thresholds: 5.2447 m3 in the Gulf of Finland, 14.3056 m3 in the Northern Baltic Sea, 0.1363 m3 in the Åland Sea, 0.0007 m3 in the Kvarken and 0.1135 m3 in the Gulf of Bothnia. The status of harmful substances in the marine environment is assessed for coastal and offshore sections of the sea, first for each substance or indicator, and then as a weighted average of indicators using the HELCOM CHASE tool.

D8C3 The spatial extent and duration of significant acute pollution events are minimised. GES:When the threshold values are achieved in the assessemnt areas.

The adverse effects of major acute pollution events on species health and habitat status have been minimized and, as far as possible, eliminated.

D8C3: There is a lack of a regionally developed methodology for assessing the criterion. Monitoring of acute pollution focuses on oil, but spills of other substances are also possible. Due to the lack of sufficiently sensitive sensors, it is difficult to identify individual substances in accordance with MARPOL Annex II. The classification of significant pollution incidents and the follow-up to such incidents should be defined and developed. Cases of pollution are recorded in the Lithuanian sea area, but monitoring of acute pollution events is not sufficient.

D8C3: There is a lack of a regionally developed methodology for assessing the criterion. Monitoring of acute pollution focuses on oil, but spills of other substances are also possible. Due to the lack of sufficiently sensitive sensors, it is difficult to identify individual substances in accordance with MARPOL Annex II. The classification of significant pollution incidents and the follow-up to such incidents should be defined and developed. Cases of pollution are recorded in the Lithuanian sea area, but monitoring of acute pollution events is not sufficient.

D8: 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.