According to conclusions of MSFD Task Group 6, classes of indicators that are effective at reflecting pollution-related pressures are not necessarily effective at reflecting pressures due to physical disturbances from fishing activities. For the assessment of environmental status on soft bottoms in the areas of bottom trawling in the eastern Adriatic Sea, the new index based on characteristics of epifaunal species of macroinvertebrates in benthic communities is under development. Posidonia beds: It is necessary to map Posidonia meadows and develop a method for monitoring distribution and covered areas within the Habitat Directive. In terms of conservation, there is a need for: reduction of anthropogenic eutrophication, mooring regulation in places where it is frequent, prohibition of gravel dumping and construction in Posidonia meadows, control of fishing by trawling, application of regulative concerning ballast waters. Photophilic algal communities and Cystoseira amentacea: Settlements of photophilic algae and species Cystoseira amentacea inhabit the shallowest area of infralittoral exposed rocky areas, and are widely distributed in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea (the predominant habitat type). They are listed in national (Nature Conservation Act) and international legislation and directives (Habitat directive, Barcelona Convention). For this type of habitat and species, bioindicator methods have been developed in the framework of the WFD. It is necessary to initiate research on methods for restoration of destroyed Cystoseira settlement as well as to understand biological elements which cause excessive expansion of sea urchins. But also, to reduce human made eutrophication and pollution, regulate coastal construction, start a program of restoration of the shallow-water Cystoseira settlements. Coralligenous and species Coralium rubrum: As outlined by the Action plan for the conservation of the coralligenous and other calcareous bio-concretions in the Mediterranean Sea (UNEP-RAC/SPA 2008), measures aimed at protecting the coralligenous environment (applicable to many other coastal benthic habitats) should include the following: wastewater dumping should be banned over coralligenous bottoms, and in their vicinity; trawling prohibition by Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 (Article 4.2) must be rigorously enforced in areas with coralligenous outcrops and in their vicinity, aiming to avoid not only the physical damage to this habitat but also the indirect effects due to increased turbidity and silting; any other anthropogenic activity involving an increase in water turbidity and/or sediment removal (e.g., coastline modification, beach regeneration) should be avoided in the vicinity of coralligenous outcrops. Adequate management of traditional and recreational fisheries must be implemented in order to prevent stock depletion of target fish and crustaceans. Diving should be managed in the manner not to interfere with the normal functioning and conservation of the coralligenous environment. For Corallium rubrum only total ban of harvesting at the moment can lead to species repopulation. A suitable legislation concerning the introduction of alien species should be urgently enacted.

Pelagic plankton community: Among the features listed in Annex III of the MSFD, plankton monitoring program will primarily contribute to determining the biological characteristics of the community, the description of the biological community in relation to environmental conditions, including information on phyto and zooplankton communities, as well as changes in the composition and seasonal and geographical changes. The proposed monitoring will contribute to the collection of information on abundance, temporal and spatial distribution of introduced and invasive species. There is a need for: reduction of nutrients input, especially compounds of nitrogen that could cause an accelerated algal growth and undesirable shifts in species composition; to monitor and control ballast waters within the existing legislative measures, shipping transport and other pathways of non-indigenous species to new marine environments; improvements in the taxonomic recognition of some less studied groups or size fractions within phytoplankton (microflagellates) and zooplankton (protozoans, meroplankton larvae, pelagic tunicates); spatial and temporal expansion of monitoring activities in sensitive areas under identified anthropogenic pressures.