Member State report / Art9 / 2018 / D4 / Mediterranean

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 9 Determination of GES (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2018-10-15
GES Descriptor D4 Food webs/D1 Ecosystems
Region/subregion Mediterranean
Reported by Member state
Member state
United Kingdom
Spain
France
Italy
Malta
Slovenia
Croatia
Greece
Cyprus
Member state report
Marine reporting units MRUs used
  • MWE-ES-SD-ESAL
  • MWE-ES-SD-LEV
  • IT-AS-0001
  • IT-ISCMS-0001
  • IT-WMS-0001
  • MIC-MT-MS-01
  • MAD-SI-MRU-1
  • MAD-HR-MRU_1
  • MAL-CY-MS
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs Coastal ecosystem
  • D4/D1 (2)
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs Oceanic/deep-sea ecosystem
  • D4/D1 (2)
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs Shelf ecosystem
  • D4/D1 (2)
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs Ecosystems, including food webs
  • D4C1 (3)
  • D4C2 (3)
  • D4/D1 (1)
  • D4C1 (1)
  • D4C2 (1)
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs All trophic guilds
  • D4C1 (1)
  • D4/D1 (1)
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs Planktivores
  • D4C2 (1)
  • D4C3 (1)
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs Apex predators
  • D4C2 (1)
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs Primary producers
  • D4C1 (1)
  • D4C2 (1)
  • D4C4 (1)
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems: Ecosystems, including food webs Secondary producers
  • D4C1 (1)
  • D4C2 (1)
  • D4C4 (1)
Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment: Biological Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)
  • D4/D1 (2)
Pressure levels and impacts in marine environment: Chemical Eutrophication
  • D4/D1 (2)
GES description D4 Food webs/D1 Ecosystems
The diversity, abundance and productivity of the main trophic groups are maintained so that the sustainability of the trophic chains is ensured, and of existing predator-prey relationships. The natural bottom-up and top-down control processes operate efficiently by regulating the transfer of energy from marine communities.
The populations of the species selected as predators at the top of the trophic chain are maintained in values that ensure their maintenance in the ecosystem and existing predator-prey relationships.
Eutrophication, selective extraction, or other effects deriving from human activities, occur at levels that do not put at risk the maintenance of existing trophic relationships.
The good status of the marine environment in view of the quality descriptor for the food webs (D4) has been achieved when the appropriate ratio of production to different levels of cernet diets has been achieved in the selected ecosystem.
The marine environment of Cyprus is considered to be in good environmental status by the year 2020 if all elements of the marine food webs, to the extent that they are known, occur at normal abundance and diversity and levels capable of ensuring the long-term abundance of the species and the retention of their full reproductive capacity.
GES description D4C1 Trophic guild species diversity (1.7, 1.7.1)
G 4.1 The diversity of selected domestic trophic guilds of at least primary producers (phytoplankton), demersal mesopredatory (fish species) and top predators is not significantly adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures.
Composition and abundance of representative trophic guilds are indicative of natural biotic and abiotic conditions of marine ecosystems.
The diversity (species composition and their relative abundance) of the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. GES is achieved regarding D4 food webs.
The GES with regards to Descriptor 4 cannot be conclusively stated using only the indicators of phytoplankton and mesozooplankton.DFMR will continue to collect data in order to address the indicators of the D4 Food web.
GES description D4C2 Abundance across trophic guilds (1.7, 1.7.1, 4.3, 4.3.1)
G 4.2 The balance of (or proxied) biomass between selected trophic guilds of at least primary producers (e.g. phytoplankton), demersal mesopredatory (fish species) and top predators is not significantly adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures.
The balance of total abundance between the trophic guilds is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. GES is achieved.
Quantitative indicators have not been developed yet, but an initial study in an MPA provides a blueprint for these indicators in all marine waters of Cyprus.
GES description D4C3 Trophic guild size distribution (4.2, 4.2.1)
The size distribution of individuals across the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. GES is achieved.
GES description D4C4 Trophic guild productivity (4.1, 4.1.1)
Productivity of the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. GES is achieved.
Determination date
  • 2019-06 (D4/D1)
  • 2018-12 (D4C1, D4C2)
  • 2019-12 (D4C1)
  • 2020-01 (D4/D1)
  • 2019-05 (D4C4, D4C1, D4C3, D4C2)
  • 2013-04 (D4C1, D4C2, D4/D1)
Update type
  • Same as last reported determination (D4/D1)
  • New determination (D4C1, D4C2)
  • Modified from reported determination (D4C1)
  • Modified from reported determination (D4/D1)
  • Same as last reported determination (D4C4, D4C1, D4C3, D4C2)
  • Modified from reported determination (D4C1, D4C2, D4/D1)
Justification for non-use of criterion
D4C2: The GES “Composition and abundance of representative trophic guilds are indicative of natural biotic and abiotic conditions of marine ecosystems” covers criteria D4C1 and D4C2.
D4/D1: The GES definition is placed at the descriptor level according to the data currently available for the assessment of the situation.
Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements
D4C1: France has been involved in regional cooperation work to develop indicators on trophic networks, particularly in the framework of the OSPAR Convention (see interim evaluation of 2017, https://oap.ospar.org/[…]/). These indicators are included in the ministerial order on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. However, given the current state of knowledge, it has not been possible to produce a coherent assessment of Descriptor 4. It should be noted that no operational indicator has been developed to date within the framework of the Barcelona Convention.



D4C2: France has been involved in regional cooperation work to develop indicators on trophic networks, particularly in the framework of the OSPAR Convention (see interim evaluation of 2017, https://oap.ospar.org/[…]/). These indicators are included in the ministerial order on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. However, given the current state of knowledge, it has not been possible to produce a coherent assessment of Descriptor 4. It should be noted that no operational indicator has been developed to date within the framework of the Barcelona Convention.
D4/D1: Quantitative indicators have not been developed yet, but an initial study in an MPA provides a blueprint for these indicators in all marine waters of Cyprus.


D4C1: Quantitative indicators have not been developed yet, but an initial study in an MPA provides a blueprint for these indicators in all marine waters of Cyprus.


D4C2: Quantitative indicators have not been developed yet, but an initial study in an MPA provides a blueprint for these indicators in all marine waters of Cyprus.