MWE-EN-MS-MO: Good environmental status is the good functioning of marine ecosystems, their good health and the environmental sustainability of their use for human activities. The definition of good environmental status takes into account the existence of human activities at sea or on land that have an impact on the environment. As such, it is not a state unaffected by human activities, sometimes called "pristine". In defining good environmental status, certain contextual elements need to be taken into account. In addition to the existence of anthropogenic pressures, it is therefore necessary to consider their impacts on the environment, the long-term or short-term natural variability of ecosystems and their resilience, and global changes, in particular climate change. On the basis of the content elements of the Directive, France has chosen to define good environmental status as the long-term level of ambition for the environmental status of the marine environment, i.e. the acceptable level of impact of human activities on environmental status that does not affect the proper functioning of ecosystems. The methodology for defining good environmental status distinguishes between two bases: 1: the description of the Good Environmental Status at the level of descriptors and, where appropriate, at the level of criteria. 2: the characterization of the Good Environmental Status, which includes several elements: - the identification of "units of assessment" and relevant scales ; - definition of the method for identifying issue areas/characteristic areas ; - The development of indicators to judge the achievement of the GES of the marine environment, based on the above choices; - the definition of levels/thresholds/trends associated with these indicators and the setting of these levels/thresholds/trends; - the development of an intra-descriptor aggregation method. It should be noted that the proper functioning of an ecosystem is a scientific concept, based on an ecosystem approach, which can be qualified or even quantified, in some cases today, in other cases in the future, subject to further studies, research and data acquisition. This definition will have to be revised every 6 years on the basis of new knowledge and data and will have to take into account the evolution of anthropogenic pressures and global changes. The effects of climate change are being felt on the marine environment and its functioning: they will be taken into account in the revision of the definition of Good Environmental Status as part of the context.

MWE-EN-MS-MO: Good environmental status is the good functioning of marine ecosystems, their good health and the environmental sustainability of their use for human activities. The definition of good environmental status takes into account the existence of human activities at sea or on land that have an impact on the environment. As such, it is not a state unaffected by human activities, sometimes called "pristine". In defining good environmental status, certain contextual elements need to be taken into account. In addition to the existence of anthropogenic pressures, it is therefore necessary to consider their impacts on the environment, the long-term or short-term natural variability of ecosystems and their resilience, and global changes, in particular climate change. On the basis of the content elements of the Directive, France has chosen to define good environmental status as the long-term level of ambition for the environmental status of the marine environment, i.e. the acceptable level of impact of human activities on environmental status that does not affect the proper functioning of ecosystems. The methodology for defining good environmental status distinguishes between two bases: 1: the description of the Good Environmental Status at the level of descriptors and, where appropriate, at the level of criteria. 2: the characterization of the Good Environmental Status, which includes several elements: - the identification of "units of assessment" and relevant scales ; - definition of the method for identifying issue areas/characteristic areas ; - The development of indicators to judge the achievement of the GES of the marine environment, based on the above choices; - the definition of levels/thresholds/trends associated with these indicators and the setting of these levels/thresholds/trends; - the development of an intra-descriptor aggregation method. It should be noted that the proper functioning of an ecosystem is a scientific concept, based on an ecosystem approach, which can be qualified or even quantified, in some cases today, in other cases in the future, subject to further studies, research and data acquisition. This definition will have to be revised every 6 years on the basis of new knowledge and data and will have to take into account the evolution of anthropogenic pressures and global changes. The effects of climate change are being felt on the marine environment and its functioning: they will be taken into account in the revision of the definition of Good Environmental Status as part of the context.

MWE-EN-MS-MO: Good environmental status is the good functioning of marine ecosystems, their good health and the environmental sustainability of their use for human activities. The definition of good environmental status takes into account the existence of human activities at sea or on land that have an impact on the environment. As such, it is not a state unaffected by human activities, sometimes called "pristine". In defining good environmental status, certain contextual elements need to be taken into account. In addition to the existence of anthropogenic pressures, it is therefore necessary to consider their impacts on the environment, the long-term or short-term natural variability of ecosystems and their resilience, and global changes, in particular climate change. On the basis of the content elements of the Directive, France has chosen to define good environmental status as the long-term level of ambition for the environmental status of the marine environment, i.e. the acceptable level of impact of human activities on environmental status that does not affect the proper functioning of ecosystems. The methodology for defining good environmental status distinguishes between two bases: 1: the description of the Good Environmental Status at the level of descriptors and, where appropriate, at the level of criteria. 2: the characterization of the Good Environmental Status, which includes several elements: - the identification of "units of assessment" and relevant scales ; - definition of the method for identifying issue areas/characteristic areas ; - The development of indicators to judge the achievement of the GES of the marine environment, based on the above choices; - the definition of levels/thresholds/trends associated with these indicators and the setting of these levels/thresholds/trends; - the development of an intra-descriptor aggregation method. It should be noted that the proper functioning of an ecosystem is a scientific concept, based on an ecosystem approach, which can be qualified or even quantified, in some cases today, in other cases in the future, subject to further studies, research and data acquisition. This definition will have to be revised every 6 years on the basis of new knowledge and data and will have to take into account the evolution of anthropogenic pressures and global changes. The effects of climate change are being felt on the marine environment and its functioning: they will be taken into account in the revision of the definition of Good Environmental Status as part of the context.

MWE-EN-MS-MO: Good environmental status is the good functioning of marine ecosystems, their good health and the environmental sustainability of their use for human activities. The definition of good environmental status takes into account the existence of human activities at sea or on land that have an impact on the environment. As such, it is not a state unaffected by human activities, sometimes called "pristine". In defining good environmental status, certain contextual elements need to be taken into account. In addition to the existence of anthropogenic pressures, it is therefore necessary to consider their impacts on the environment, the long-term or short-term natural variability of ecosystems and their resilience, and global changes, in particular climate change. On the basis of the content elements of the Directive, France has chosen to define good environmental status as the long-term level of ambition for the environmental status of the marine environment, i.e. the acceptable level of impact of human activities on environmental status that does not affect the proper functioning of ecosystems. The methodology for defining good environmental status distinguishes between two bases: 1: the description of the Good Environmental Status at the level of descriptors and, where appropriate, at the level of criteria. 2: the characterization of the Good Environmental Status, which includes several elements: - the identification of "units of assessment" and relevant scales ; - definition of the method for identifying issue areas/characteristic areas ; - The development of indicators to judge the achievement of the GES of the marine environment, based on the above choices; - the definition of levels/thresholds/trends associated with these indicators and the setting of these levels/thresholds/trends; - the development of an intra-descriptor aggregation method. It should be noted that the proper functioning of an ecosystem is a scientific concept, based on an ecosystem approach, which can be qualified or even quantified, in some cases today, in other cases in the future, subject to further studies, research and data acquisition. This definition will have to be revised every 6 years on the basis of new knowledge and data and will have to take into account the evolution of anthropogenic pressures and global changes. The effects of climate change are being felt on the marine environment and its functioning: they will be taken into account in the revision of the definition of Good Environmental Status as part of the context.

Good ecological status is achieved when the biological community is in balance and retains all necessary functions in the absence of adverse disturbances associated with eutrophication (e.g. excessive phytoplankton growth, low oxygen concentrations, etc.) and/or when there are no impacts related to excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services. Good ecological status is achieved when: - either nutrient levels are not high (criterion 5.1) and there are no direct (criterion 5.2) or indirect (criterion 5.3) impacts related to excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services; - or there are no direct impacts (criterion 5. 2) or indirect (criterion 5.3) impacts of excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services, despite high nutrient levels (criterion 5.1).

Good ecological status is achieved when: - either nutrient levels are not high (criterion 5.1) and there are no direct (criterion 5.2) or indirect (criterion 5.3) impacts related to excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services; - or there are no direct impacts (criterion 5. 2) or indirect (criterion 5.3) impacts of excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services, despite high nutrient levels (criterion 5.1).

Good ecological status is achieved when: - either nutrient levels are not high (criterion 5.1) and there are no direct (criterion 5.2) or indirect (criterion 5.3) impacts related to excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services; - or there are no direct impacts (criterion 5. 2) or indirect (criterion 5.3) impacts of excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services, despite high nutrient levels (criterion 5.1).

Good ecological status is achieved when: - either nutrient levels are not high (criterion 5.1) and there are no direct (criterion 5.2) or indirect (criterion 5.3) impacts related to excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services; - or there are no direct impacts (criterion 5. 2) or indirect (criterion 5.3) impacts of excessive nutrient enrichment of waters on the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services, despite high nutrient levels (criterion 5.1).

Aggregation at descriptor level is carried out according to the rules described in the table on page 32 of Annex 2 of the Order of 17 December 2012 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters.

The indicators related to criterion 5.1 that are relevant for characterising good ecological status are defined as follows : Indicator 5.1.1 Nutrient concentration in the water column The indicator consists of the winter concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus in the water column, assessed according to the relevant parameters relating to the physico-chemical quality element "nutrients" described in the Order of 25 January 2010 on methods and criteria for assessing the ecological status, chemical status and ecological potential of surface waters or by modelling. The levels and trends characterising good ecological status are, in coastal waters, within the meaning of the decree of 12 January 2010 relating to the methods and criteria to be implemented to delimit and classify bodies of water and to draw up the inventory of fixtures provided for in Article R. 212-3 of the environmental code, the levels between good and average ecological status, as defined in the aforementioned decree of 25 January 2010. Indicator 5.1.2 Nutrient levels (silicate, nitrogen and phosphorus). Aggregation at the level of the criterion is done by following the rule of the most downgrading element.

The indicators related to criterion 5.2 that are relevant for characterising good ecological status are defined as follows : Indicator 5.2.1 Chlorophyll concentration in the water column. The indicator consists of the concentration of chlorophyll-a in the water column, assessed according to the relevant parameters relating to the biological quality element "phytoplankton" described in the Order of 25 January 2010 on the methods and criteria for assessing the ecological status, chemical status and ecological potential of surface waters . The levels and trends characterising good ecological status are, in coastal waters, within the meaning of the decree of 12 January 2010 relating to the methods and criteria to be implemented to delimit and classify bodies of water and to draw up the inventory of fixtures provided for in Article R. 212-3 of the environmental code, the levels between good ecological status and average ecological status, as defined in the aforementioned decree of 25 January 2010. Indicator 5.2.2 Transparency of the water in relation to an increase in the quantity of algae in suspension Indicator 5.2.3 Abundance of opportunistic macroscopic algae. The indicator consists of the abundance of opportunistic macroscopic algae, assessed according to the relevant parameters relating to the biological quality element "macroalgae" described in the aforementioned Order of 25 January 2010. The levels and trends characterising good ecological status are, in coastal waters, within the meaning of the aforementioned Order of 12 January 2010, the levels between good and average ecological status, as defined in the aforementioned Order of 25 January 2010. Indicator 5.2.4 Changes in species composition of the flora, such as the diatom/flagellate ratio, the shift from benthic to pelagic species, as well as the flowering of nuisance species or the proliferation of toxic algae (e.g. cyanobacteria), caused by human activities Aggregation at the level of the criterion is done following the most downgrading element rule.

The indicators related to criterion 5.3 that are relevant for characterising good ecological status are defined as follows : Indicator 5.3.1 Abundance of perennial algae and seagrass beds (e.g. rockweeds, eelgrass and posidonia), disturbed by decreasing water transparency. The indicator consists of the abundance of macroalgae and herbaria, assessed according to the relevant parameters relating to the biological quality elements "macroalgae" and "angiosperms" described in the decree of 25 January 2010 relating to the methods and criteria for assessing the ecological status, chemical status and ecological potential of surface waters. The levels and trends characterising good ecological status are, in coastal waters, within the meaning of the decree of 12 January 2010 relating to the methods and criteria to be implemented to delimit and classify bodies of water and to draw up the inventory of fixtures provided for in Article R. 212-3 of the environmental code, the levels between good and average ecological status, as defined in the aforementioned decree of 25 January 2010. Indicator 5.3.2 Dissolved oxygen, i.e. changes due to an increase in the decomposition of organic matter and surface area of the area concerned. The indicator consists of the concentration of dissolved oxygen, assessed according to the relevant parameters relating to the physico-chemical quality element "oxygen" described in the aforementioned Order of 25 January 2010. The levels and trends characterising good ecological status are, in coastal waters, within the meaning of the aforementioned Order of 12 January 2010, the levels between good and average ecological status, as defined in the aforementioned Order of 25 January 2010. Aggregation at the level of the criterion is done by following the rule of the most downgrading element.

The parameters associated with criterion 5.1.2, the levels and trends corresponding to good environmental status for indicator 5.1.1 beyond coastal waters; and for criterion 5.1.2 in coastal waters and beyond, will be specified following further studies, as provided for in Article 4 of the Order of 17 December 2012 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. These elements will be developed with a view to updating the definition of good environmental status by 2018.

The parameters associated with criteria 5.2.2 and 5.2.4, the levels and trends corresponding to good environmental status for indicators 5.2.1 and 5.2.3 beyond coastal waters, and for criteria 5.2.2 and 5.2.4 in coastal waters and beyond, will be specified following further studies, as provided for in Article 4 of the Order of 17 December 2012 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. These elements will be developed with a view to updating the definition of good environmental status by 2018.

The levels and trends corresponding to good environmental status beyond coastal waters will be specified for the indicators relating to criterion 5.3 following further studies, as provided for in Article 4 of the Order of 17 December 2012 on the definition of good environmental status of marine waters. These elements will be developed with a view to updating the definition of good environmental status by 2018.