The aim of the monitoring programme is to collect data on human activities that directly or indirectly impact the marine environment. The monitored human activities are those listed in the MSFD Annex III Table 2b (2017/845/EC) and relevant for point (c) of Article 8(1), and Articles 10 and 13. The following activities are covered: Coastal defence and flood protection; Offshore structures (other than for oil/gas/renewables); Restructuring of seabed morphology, including dredging and depositing of materials; Extraction of minerals; Extraction of oil and gas, including infrastructure; Extraction of water; Renewable energy generation (wind, wave and tidal power), including infrastructure; Transmission of electricity and communications (cables); Fish harvesting (professional, recreational); Fish and shellfish processing; Marine plant harvesting; Hunting and collecting for other purposes; Aquaculture — marine, including infrastructure; Transport infrastructure; Transport — shipping; Waste treatment and disposal; Tourism and leisure infrastructure; Tourism and leisure activities; Military operations and Research, survey and educational activities. Data are gathered at least once during a six-year assessment period, but in some cases also annually. The system of such data collection activities is still under development. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Activities extracting living resources (fisheries including recreational, marine plant harvesting, hunting and collecting); Activities extracting non-living resources (sand, gravel, dredging); Activities producing food (aquaculture); Activities with permanent infrastructures (e.g. renewable energy, oil & gas, ports) or structural changes (e.g. coastal defences); Sea-based mobile activities (shipping, boating); Coastal human activities (e.g. tourism, recreational sports, ecotourism). The programme is the further development of the programme presented in 2014. The code of the programme also changed.

The aim of the programme is to collect data on the physical and chemical characteristics of the seabed, such as bathymetry, seabed substrate and morphology, as well as organic matter content in the sediments. Hydrographic surveying is the task of the Hydrographic service and data are made available via Maritime Administration. The seabed mapping process is continuous and the whole sea area is planned to be covered by 2030. Data on the seabed substrate and morphology is collected by project-based activities, and the distributions of seabed substrate and morphology in the Estonian waters are available at the Geological Survey and Land Board as well via the EMODnet Geology portal. Organic matter content is monitored at the macrozoobenthos stations and transects in the frames of the national environmental monitoring programme open sea monitoring programme. Data on organic matter are reported every year by 1 March and are made available via environmental database KESE. Monitoring is not HELCOM regionally coordinated, partly coordinated in collaboration with EMODnet Geology. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Seabed habitats – physical and chemical characteristics.

The aim of the programme is to assess physical loss and disturbance of seabed caused by human activities. It provides data to monitoring strategies „ SD6/SD1 Sea-floor integrity/Biological diversity – benthic habitats“ and “SD7 – Changes in hydrographic conditions”. The programme is related to GES Descriptor D6, Criteria D6C1, D6C2, D6C3 and D6C4; Descriptor D7, Criteria D7C1 and D7C2. Data are gathered through permitting database KOTKAS as well as project-based research. The program data collection is regionally coordinated (data delivered separately by each country) via HELCOM. There have been some updates, changes in programme structure and indicator developments since 2014. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Physical loss - distribution and extent (from e.g. infrastructure, coastal protection); Physical disturbance - from dredging and disposal of dredged material; Physical disturbance - from sand and gravel extraction.

The aim of the programme is to monitor physical characteristics (water temperature, salinity, transparency) in the water column to assess the indirect effects of eutrophication and describe the physical conditions of the pelagic habitats. It provides data to monitoring strategy “SD5 – Eutrophication” and is related to GES Descriptor D5, Criterion D5C4. Data are gathered to assess the environmental status in the coastal water bodies and off-shore sub-basins of the Baltic Sea (HELCOM sub-divisions). Monitoring is conducted yearly or at least once in six years with a frequency of 6 to 12 times a year at the designated monitoring stations (at least three stations in each coastal water body and 18 in the Estonian off-shore areas). The program data collection is regionally coordinated via HELCOM and the HELCOM guidelines are followed, but data are delivered separately by each country (except CMEMS/BOOS monitoring with joint data collection). The data are yearly reported to the environmental monitoring database KESE (by 1 March), HELCOM ICES database (by 1 May) and online data delivery into CMEMS/BOOS databases. The programme is essentially the same as in 2014, only minor changes in some monitoring stations and frequencies were undertaken. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Water column – physical characteristics.

The aim of the programme is to monitor hydrological characteristics in the marine areas to describe the physical/hydrological conditions of the benthic and pelagic habitats. Data on sea level, waves, and currents are acquired at sea, mostly using autonomous devices and numerical models. Both, coastal water bodies and the off-shore sub-basins of the Baltic Sea (HELCOM division) are monitored. Monitoring is conducted continuously. The program is regionally coordinated via BOOS and Baltic CMEMS (joint data collection). The data are delivered near real-time. The programme is essentially the same as in 2014, only minor changes in some monitoring stations and frequencies were undertaken. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Water column – hydrological characteristics.

The aim of the programme is to monitor characteristics of the ice cover. Data are collected by visual observations and remote sensing. Both, coastal water bodies and off-shore sub-basins of the Baltic Sea (HELCOM sub-divisions) are monitored. Monitoring is conducted continuously during winter. The program is regionally coordinated (joint data collection) via Baltic Sea Ice Services and a common product is produced. The data are delivered daily. The programme corresponds to the following monitoring programmes in the indicative list: Ice cover.

The aim of the programme is to collect data on coastal morphology and dynamics (including erosion processes). It assesses changes of coasts (incl erosion, etc.) due to natural processes (storms, wave activity) and human-induced pressures. The coastal profile on-shore and in near-shore water, as well as the characteristics of the substrate, are recorded. Data on the substrate and morphology are collected yearly at the selected monitoring sites along the Estonian coasts by the Geological Survey. Data are reported every year by 1 March and are made available via national environmental database KESE.