Good environmental status of the pelagic habitat type is achieved when the physical, chemical and hydrological conditions in the water column allow the smooth development of pelagic communities and species that need access to the pelagic habitat type for their life cycle. However, the smooth movement of water masses and organisms must also be possible. Good marine status for pelagic habitat types in conjunction with the Biodiversity Quality Descriptor (D1) is achieved when the values ​​relevant to the status assessment (if available) set in the previous chapters for the relevant elements are reached and parameters. At the same time, these values ​​also represent environmental objectives. If the values ​​for the assessment of the achievement of good status are not available, an expert assessment of the achievements of the good status of the marine environment is given.

D1C6: None

D1C6: It was not possible to analyse the state of pelagic habitats.

D1C6: The evaluation of component D1 "Pelagic habitats" is based exclusively on the study of planktonic communities. This assessment is based on the use of 3 indicators developed within the framework of the OSPAR Regional Sea Convention, in particular within the EcApRHA project. In the absence of threshold values and due to a lack of data (in particular for offshore areas and for zooplankton), none of these indicators made it possible to assess the D1C6 criterion for any major type of pelagic habitat. The methodological standards associated with this criterion will be clarified following further studies, as provided for in the 2019 Ministerial Order relating to the definition of good ecological status for marine waters. The summary of the evaluation is available via this link: https://doi.org/10.13155/60193.