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Environmental information systems
Eutrophication in marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystems is a consequence of nutrient over-enrichment, mostly inputs of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter from land-based sources (agriculture, urbanisation), marine activities (aquaculture) and from atmospheric deposition (e.g. from road transport and shipping emissions to the air). Eutrophication has been a problem in Europe’s coastal and marine waters for decades.
Which are the related MSFD Descriptors?
Human-induced eutrophication is minimized, especially adverse effects thereof, such as losses in biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, harmful algae blooms and oxygen deficiency in bottom waters
Eutrophication leads to increased plant or algae growth, changes in the balance of organisms and water quality degradation. This can lead to shifts in species composition and species displacement. As vegetal material decays, increased oxygen consumption in bottom waters is promoted, potentially leading to a reduction of oxygen in water (hypoxia). Hypoxia results in the deterioration of the impacted ecosystems and the loss of marine life. The environmental problems created by eutrophication lead to the loss of aquatic biodiversity and a reduction of ecosystem services related to fisheries, aquaculture, and recreation. Toxins released from potential harmful algal blooms have socio-economic impacts causing shellfish poisoning in humans.
Europe's four marine regions have different sensitivities to nutrient enrichment and eutrophication due to difference in natural characteristics, such as the depth of the ocean, the internal mixing properties of the water, and fresh water inputs to the marine region. Seawater warming due to climate change would make it more difficult to naturally process nutrient inputs.
General outcomes from the regional assessments
Outcomes from the MSFD assessments
In 2018, Member States had to update the Good Environmental Status (GES) assessments performed under Marine Strategy Framework Directive Article 8. The present dashboard displays the overall status reported by countries for the features, where the results show which is the percentage of assessments where GES has been achieved, not achieved or is unknown or not assessed.
References
- ↵EC, 2008. Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (Text with EEA relevance) (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/56/oj)
- ↵EC, 2017. Commission Directive (EU) 2017/845 of 17 May 2017 amending Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the indicative lists of elements to be taken into account for the preparation of marine strategies (Text with EEA relevance) (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2017/845/oj)
- ↵OSPAR Commission, Shipping and ballast water (https://helcom.fi/baltic-sea-trends/holistic-assessments/state-of-the-baltic-sea-2018/reports-and-materials/)
- ↵HELCOM, 2018. State of the Baltic Sea – Second HELCOM holistic assessment 2011-2016 (https://helcom.fi/baltic-sea-trends/holistic-assessments/state-of-the-baltic-sea-2018/reports-and-materials/)
- ↵BSC, 2019. State of the Environment of the Black Sea (2009-2014/5) (http://www.blacksea-commission.org/SoE2009-2014/SoE2009-2014.pdf)
- UNEP MAP, 2017. Mediterranean 2017 Quality Status Report - Non-Indigenous Species (EO 2)↵