Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D7 / Latvia / Baltic Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2020-10-15
GES Descriptor D7 Hydrographical changes
Member State Latvia
Region/subregion Baltic Sea
Reported by Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology
Report date 2021-06-09
Report access

Descriptor
D7
Monitoring strategy description
1. The monitoring relies on administrative data gathering, e.g., any new activity with a capacity to alter hydrographic conditions is scrutinized and extent of hydrographic changes estimated. 2. The monitoring relies on data/information generated by program LV-4.7.1., LV-4.6.5.1. and LV-4.6.5.2.
Coverage of GES criteria
Adequate monitoring is in place by July 2020
Gaps and plans
None
Related targets
  • JVM4
Coverage of targets
Adequate monitoring is in place by July 2020
Related measures
Coverage of measures
Related monitoring programmes
  • LV-4.7.1. (D7C1)
  • LV-4.7.2. (D7C2)
Programme code
LV-4.7.1. (D7C1)
LV-4.7.2. (D7C2)
Programme name
Water column and seabed extent and spatial distribution of permanent changes of hydrological characteristics caused by physical losses of natural seabed
Seabed habitats spatial distribution and extent of affected areas
Update type
New programme
New programme
Old programme codes
Programme description
The purpose of the monitoring is to assess whether the anthropogenic activities which caused physical disturbances and losses of seabed has permanent adverse impact on hydrological characteristics of water column and natural seabed. HELCOM Monitoring Programme topics "Seabed habitat distribution and extent" and "Hydrographic changes ", programmes "Seabed habitat physical characteristics" and "Water column hydrological characteristics". At present in the HELCOM area there is no coordinated monitoring for extent and spatial distribution of permanent changes of hydrological characteristics of water column (Partly coordinated. Missing component: common database: partly available via Copernicus marine service and EMODnet Physics database) and seabed (coordinated monitoring is under development). Assessment will be made based on the results of monitoring performed in the frame of activities in the sub-programme LV-4.6. described.
The purpose of the monitoring is to assess whether the changes in hydrological characteristics of water column and natural seabed has permanent adverse impact on benthic habitats. HELCOM Monitoring Programme topic "Seabed habitat distribution and extent", programme "Seabed habitat physical characteristics". At present in the HELCOM area there is no coordinated monitoring for affected seabed habitat spatial distribution and extent. Assessment will be made based on the information obtained in the implementation of monitoring activities in the sub-programme LV-4.7.1 described.
Monitoring purpose
  • Environmental state and impacts
  • Human activities causing the pressures
  • Pressures at source
  • Environmental state and impacts
  • Pressures in the marine environment
Other policies and conventions
  • HELCOM Monitoring programmes
  • Habitats Directive
  • Water Framework Directive
  • HELCOM Monitoring programmes
  • Habitats Directive
Regional cooperation - coordinating body
Regional cooperation - countries involved
Regional cooperation - implementation level
Joint data collection
Common monitoring strategy
Monitoring details
Once in every 6 years, on the basis of the results of the monitoring activities described in monitoring sub-programmes LV-4.6., anthropogenic activities occurred during the reporting period and their potential impacts on hydrographic conditions will be evaluated. If the occurred anthropogenic activities have had the potential to affect hydrographic conditions, modelling of the relevant conditions will be made with a purpose to determine the spatial distribution and extent of changes in the hydrographic conditions of water column and natural seabed.
Once in every 6 years period, on the basis of the information obtained in assessment of the changes in the hydrographic conditions in water column and seabed will be carried out assessment about possible adverse impacts on habitats caused by these changes. If adverse effect will be identified, the spatial distribution and extent of this impact will be assessed accordingly.
Features
Physical and hydrological characteristics
Benthic broad habitats
Other benthic habitats
Elements
  • Bathymetry
  • Current regime
  • Salinity
  • Temperature
  • Transparency
  • Turbidity (silt/sediment loads)
  • Upwelling
  • Wave regime
  • Circalittoral mixed sediment
  • Circalittoral mud
  • Circalittoral rock and biogenic reef
  • Infralittoral coarse sediment
  • Infralittoral mixed sediment
  • Infralittoral rock and biogenic reef
  • Infralittoral sand
  • Baltic muddy bottoms of the aphotic zone
GES criteria
D7C1
D7C2
D7C2
Parameters
  • Extent
  • Other
  • Other
Parameter Other
Extent and spatial distribution of affected habita
Extent and spatial distribution of affected habita
Spatial scope
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • EEZ (or similar)
  • Territorial waters
  • Transitional waters (WFD)
  • Territorial waters
  • Transitional waters (WFD)
Marine reporting units
  • BAL-LV-AAA-007
  • BAL-LV-AAA-009
  • BAL-LV-AAA-007
  • BAL-LV-AAA-009
Temporal scope (start date - end date)
9999-9999
9999-9999
Monitoring frequency
6-yearly
6-yearly
Monitoring type
  • Ecological modelling
  • Other
Monitoring method
  • Other monitoring method
  • Other monitoring method
Monitoring method other
Method description not applicable
Method description not applicable
Quality control
Description of QA/QC procedures no
Description of QA/QC procedures no
Data management
Data holder is Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE). QA/QC procedures for data no. Data are available in LIAE.
Data holder will be Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE). QA/QC procedures for data no. Data will be available in LIAE.
Data access
Related indicator/name
  • BATH
  • DEP
  • DIST-S
  • EXT
  • FRESH
  • HAB-STRUCT
  • HYDRO
  • PresEnvHydroChanges
  • SAL
  • TEM
  • TRA
  • TURB
  • VEL
  • WAV
Contact
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology e-mail: juris.aigars@lhei.lv
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology e-mail: juris.aigars@lhei.lv
References