The spatial distribution, temporal extension and levels of impulsive and continuous low-frequency sound sources, of anthropogenic origin, do not exceed levels that adversely affect populations of marine animals.

The introduction of energy, including underwater noise, is at levels that do not harm the marine environment. It is understood that the timing and spatial distribution and the level of noise sources do not have significant adverse effects on marine organisms.

The spatial distribution, temporal extent and levels of anthropogenic impulsive sound sources do not exceed levels harmful to marine animal populations (Decision 2017/848/EU).

G 11.1 Level impulse levels of high low and medium frequency impulsive sounds, introduced into the marine environment
human activity is such that it does not lead to long-term negative effects on ecosystems.
marine and human activities introducing such sounds are regulated and managed to ensure that there is no impact.
significant long-term marine species at population level.

The spatial distribution, temporal extent and level of anthropogenic continuous sound do not exceed levels harmful to marine animal populations (Decision 2017/848/EU).

G 11.2 continuous low frequency levels of sounds introduced into the marine environment through human activity are:
do not have any long-term adverse effects on marine ecosystems and are such that they are not likely to lead to:
the risk of possible behavioural or perceptual impacts on marine species at population level.

D11: Due to the lack of data and the fact that the threshold values have not yet been established, the definition of the Good Environmental Statement (GES) for Descriptor 11 is still in line with that established by Decision 2017/848 for the criteria for this descriptor.

D11C1: Criterion D11C1 could not be filled in during this assessment mainly due to a lack of knowledge on the impacts of noise on ecosystems. The D11C1 indicators are not, for the time being, operational to carry out a quantitative assessment because there is no consensus on the values of the temporal and spatial thresholds at both national and European level. The threshold values of the parameters related to the D11C1 criterion will be specified following further studies, as provided for in the Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. These threshold values will relate in particular to the temporal right-of-way, expressed in number of cumulative days per mesh, and to the spatial right-of-way, expressed in number of meshes where the threshold values for temporal right-of-way are exceeded, beyond which the risk of disturbance or excess mortality of marine mammals is considered significant.



D11C2: Criterion D11C2 could not be filled in during this assessment mainly due to a lack of knowledge on the impacts of noise on ecosystems. The D11C2 indicator is not, for the time being, operational to perform a quantitative assessment because no threshold for the increase of the maximum sound level per grid cell could be established (lack of knowledge, high uncertainties, little in-situ data available). The threshold values of the parameters related to criterion D11C2 will be specified following further studies, as provided for in Ministerial Order 2019 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. These threshold values will relate in particular to the trend of the continuous noise level and to the spatial extent, expressed as a percentage of the marine sub-region, where the trend threshold is exceeded, beyond which the risk of masking for cetaceans is considered significant.