Member State report / Art9 / 2018 / D9 / 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 D9 Contaminants in seafood
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
  • MWE-FR-MS-MO
  • IT-AS-0001
  • IT-ISCMS-0001
  • IT-WMS-0001
  • MIC-MT-MS-01
  • MAD-SI-MRU-1
  • MAD-HR-MRU_1
  • MAL-CY-MS
Pressure levels and impacts in marine environment: Chemical Contaminants - in seafood
  • D9 (2)
  • D9C1 (1)
  • D9C1 (3)
  • D9C1 (1)
  • D9 (1)
  • D9 (1)
  • D9C1 (1)
  • D9 (1)
GES description D9 Contaminants in seafood
LEVEL OF INTEGRATION 1: Pollutant vs species
* 1a: Ratios of indicators (number of individuals of one species and site) that should be below threshold value to decide whether the BEA is/are met. Threshold value (V-1a): 95 % (frequency of individuals of a species/site presenting concentrations for each standard pollutant under the CMP).
* 1b: Total contaminants vs. species Proportions of indicators (no. of contaminants/species) that meet the EAB at integration level 1a to decide whether or not the EAB is met at integration level 1b. Threshold value (VU-1b) of n < 2, where n is the number of legislated pollutants not complying with the EAB for a given species. A species that exceeds the CMP for two pollutants would not comply with the BEA. BEA: >66.6% of the legislated contaminants do not exceed their respective CMP in fish, crustaceans, cephalopods and algae: proposed VU-1b = 70%. >75% of the legislated contaminants do not exceed their respective PMC in bivalve mollusks: proposed VU-1b = 80%.

*INTEGRATION LEVEL 2: Total species vs. category (taxonomic group(s) legislated).
 Proportion of indicators (no. of species/taxonomic group legislated) complying with the BEA at integration level 1b, to decide whether or not the BEA is complied with at integration level 2. Threshold value (VU-2): 95% (frequency of species/taxonomic group legislated complying with the BEA). In each MD, the number of species per taxonomic group legislated for human consumption differs.
OAB: >95% of the % of fish species comply with the OAB according to integration level 1b. >95% of the % of crustacean species comply with the OAB according to integration level 1b. >95% of the % of bivalve species comply with the OAB according to integration level 1b. >95% of the % of cephalopod species comply with the OAB according to integration level 1b. >95% of the % of algae species comply with the OAB according to integration level 1b.

INTEGRATION LEVEL 3: Total species by categories vs. demarcation. Proportions of indicators (total of species integrated by categories taxonomic group) in the demarcation), which comply with the BEA at integration level 2, to decide whether or not the BEA is complied with at integration level 3. Threshold value (VU-3): 95%.

Each one of the five categories evaluated at integration level 2 contributes 20% to the determination of the EAB for all the demarcations. Same weighting for each category, under review.
Good state of the marine environment according to the quality descriptor Pollutants in fish and other seafood (D9) is achieved when the concentrations of pollutants do not exceed the limit values ​​set by law.
Contaminants in fish and other seafood for human consumption do not exceed levels established by Community legislation or other relevant standards.
The marine environment of Cyprus is considered to be in good environmental status by the year 2020 if contaminants in fish and other seafood for human consumption do not exceed levels established by Community legislation or other relevant standards..
GES description D9C1 Contaminants in seafood (9.1, 9.1.1)
The level of contaminants in edible tissues (muscle, liver, eggs, flesh or other soft tissues, as appropriate) of seafood (fish, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, algae and other marine plants) caught or collected from the natural environment (excluding finfish from mariculture) does not exceed the threshold values (Decision 2017/848/EU).
G 9.1 Contaminants concentrations in samples of fishery products from waters
they are within the legal limits for human consumption (Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, as amended).
Concentrations of contaminants in edible tissues of seafood caught or harvested in the wild are within the regulatory limits for consumption by humans set by Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006
The level of contaminants in edible tissues (muscle, liver, roe, flesh or other soft parts, as appropriate) of seafood (including fish, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, seaweed and other marine plants) caught or harvested in the wild (excluding fin-fish from mariculture) does not exceed: (a) for contaminants listed in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, the maximum levels laid down in that Regulation, which are the threshold values for the purposes of this Decision; (b) for additional contaminants, not listed in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, threshold values, which Member States shall establish through regional or subregional cooperation.
Determination date
  • 2019-06 (D9)
  • 2019-10 (D9C1)
  • 2018-12 (D9C1)
  • 2019-12 (D9C1)
  • 2020-01 (D9)
  • 2019-06 (D9C1, D9)
  • 2013-04 (D9)
Update type
  • Same as last reported determination (D9)
  • New determination (D9C1)
  • Same as last reported determination (D9C1)
  • Modified from reported determination (D9C1)
  • Same as last reported determination (D9)
  • New determination (D9C1)
  • Same as last reported determination (D9)
  • Same as last reported determination (D9)
Justification for non-use of criterion
D9: The GES definition is placed at the descriptor level according to the data currently available for the assessment of the situation.
D9: justification of non use other substances Cyprus does not have sources of contamination in general since there are no heavy industry installations onshore and there are no river inputs due to the decision of the State to construct dams and intercept all waterways to the sea. In this way, the possible input of contaminants is minimized to the two main ports of Cyprus, Lemesos and Vasilikos. In this context Cyprus decided in the beginning of WFD to monitor contaminants in seawater in these two areas of interest, while monitoring in biota was conducted in more areas. Also, sediment monitoring has been conducted for the last years. The number of contaminants measured in all matrices are dependent on local resources and available analytical technology. Cyprus, has not been able to fully develop the desired technology at once but is intending to do so to fully implement 2017/848.
Justification for delay in setting EU/regional requirements
D9: None