D8C1 relates to the levels of contaminants in the marine environment, which risk causing chronic effects on marine organisms; D8C2 relates to the adverse effects (impacts) of these contaminants on species populations and biological communities; Significant acute pollution events: D8C3 relates to the spatial extent and duration of significant acute pollution events; D8C4 relates to adverse effects from these significant acute pollution events on species and habitats. Table 15. Criteria for assessment of contaminants (Descriptor 8) Primary Criteria Relating to: Secondary Criteria Relating to: 2010/477/EU Criteria or Indicators Comments Chronic pollution Pressure D8C1 Contaminant concentrations in the relevant matrix 8.1.1 Impact D8C2 Effects of contaminants on health of species and condition of habitats 8.2.1 Acute pollution Pressure D8C3 Significant acute pollution events 8.2.2 8.2.2 has two aspects (pressure and impact) which are now separated in the revised Decision Impact D8C4 Adverse effects of significant pollution events on species and habitats 8.2.2 Degree of Integration The degree of integration across criteria is not yet determined. The revised COM Dec requires outputs separately for each criterion, but also specifies that the use of D8C2 and D8C4 in the overall assessment of GES for Descriptor 8 shall be agreed at regional or subregional level. This includes whether the criteria feed in to the assessment of Descriptor 8 or not, and the possible integration methods to be used. For D8C1 and D8C2, each assessed criterion should be within threshold values. D8C3 requires the definition of a ‘significant acute pollution event’; when this occurs, D8C4 should be assessed and reported on. There are no threshold values for D8C3 and D8C4. D8C2 and D8C4 should contribute, where appropriate, to the assessment under Descriptors 1 and 6. Assessment Flow The assessment flow for Descriptor 8 is described below.
Rubber Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m No Cloth/textile Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m Yes Paper/cardboard Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m Yes Processed/ worked wood Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m Yes Metal Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m Yes Glass/ceramics Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m No Chemicals Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m No Undefined Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m No Food waste Coastline x items per 100 m y items per 100 m No D10C2: Micro-litter (<5 mm) Artificial polymer materials Seabed sediment x items per kg sediment x g per kg sediment y items per kg sediment y g per kg sediment Yes Other Seabed sediment x items per kg sediment x g per kg sediment y items per kg sediment y g per kg sediment Yes Artificial polymer materials Surface layer of water column x items per m² x g per m² y items per m² y g per m² Yes Other Surface layer of water column x items per m² x g per m² y items per m² y g per m² Yes D10C3 The assessment outputs for D10C3 can be presented as shown in Table 22, as the quantities of litter and micro-litter ingested per species assessed, in each subdivision of the region or subregion (divided where needed by national boundaries). Table 22. Initial outline and illustrative example for presenting the assessment output for Descriptor 10, D10C3 Species Litter category Threshold Amount of litter Threshold achieved Fulmar Artificial polymer material >5 mm x items per individual x g per individual y items per individual y g per individual No Other >5 mm x items per individual x g per individual y items per individual y g per individual Yes Artificial polymer material <5 mm x items per individual x g per individual y items per individual y g per individual Yes Other <5 mm x items per individual x g per individual y items per individual y g per individual Yes Etc. Note: It may be necessary to further categorise the individuals of the species sampled into size categories (weight or length, as appropriate) D10C4 The assessment outputs for D10C4 can be presented as shown in Table 23, as the number of individuals affected per species assessed, according to the assessment areas used for the species under Descriptor 1.
Integration methods for D1 Reptiles The integration method for Descriptor 1 (Reptiles) at level 4 still needs to be determined, and the revised COM Dec has provided the scope for this to be taken forward and agreed at Union level, taking into account regional or subregional specificities. Until such an integration method is agreed, this Guidance recommends the following: Level 4: All species should be at good status for the species group to be at good status. Missing indicators If a primary criterion cannot be assessed for a species due to a lack of data then the resultant assessment of that criterion for the species cannot be assigned a status (i.e. it is ‘not assessed’). Under the Habitats Directive, a judgement of status can be provided for a species if there is information on at least two parameters (criteria), therefore a judgement of status for the species may be possible if information on only one criterion is missing. However, it also means that the Member State needs to take immediate action on monitoring and assessment tools to ensure that at the next update under Article 8 MSFD an assessment of the criterion is undertaken. Visualising Assessment Results for Reptiles A similar approach to birds can be used, using the relevant criteria for reptiles, and appropriate integration approaches. Subject to modification based on finalising 2018 reporting requirements, which will be determined by WG DIKE. Fish The primary and secondary criteria for fish under Descriptor 1 depend on whether the species is listed in Annex II, IV or V of Directive 92/43/EEC, or is a commercially exploited species that is also assessed under Descriptor 3 (Table 32). Table 32. Criteria for assessment of fish (Descriptor 1) Primary Criteria Relating to: Secondary Criteria Relating to: 2010/477/EU Criteria or Indicators Comments D1C1 Mortality rate from by-catch (1) State D1C2 Population abundance (2) 1.2.1 D1C3 Population demographic characteristics (2) D1C3 Population demographic characteristics (3) 1.3.1 D1C4 Distributional range and pattern (4) D1C4 Distributional range and pattern (5) 1.1.1 1.1.2 Supporting habitat D1C5 Habitat for the species (4) D1C5 Habitat for the species (5) – Supporting habitat for species was mentioned in the D1 chapeau text in
survival/mortality rates related to marine mammals, seabirds, marine reptiles) (Common Indicator 5) D1C4 N/a Species distributional range (related to marine mammals, seabirds, marine reptiles) (Common Indicator 3) N/a D1C5 N/a N/a D1 Fish D1C1 By-catch rates of Chondrichthyes (CI, NP) Bycatch of vulnerable and non-target species (Common Indicator 12) By-catches: vulnerable species (sturgeons etc) D1C2 Abundance of key coastal fish species Abundance of coastal fish key functional groups Abundance of seatrout spawners and parr Abundance of salmon spawners and smolt See also D3C2 Fish abundance (II, III)* Conservation status of elasmobranch and demersal bony-fish species (IUCN) (CI, NP) D1C3 Primary or secondary See D3C3 Mean maximum length of demersal fish and elasmobranchs (CI, case study for II, III, IV)* Proportion of mature fish (CI, NP)* D1C4 Primary or secondary Distributional range (CI, NP)* Fish distributional pattern (CI, NP)* D1C5 Primary or secondary D1 Cephalopods D1C1 N/a D1C2 N/a D1C3 Primary or secondary N/a D1C4 N/a D1C5 N/a D1 Pelagic habitats D1C6 Zooplankton mean size and total stock Seasonal succession of functional phytoplankton groups Diatom-Dinoflagellate index Phytoplankton community composition as a foodweb indicator Changes of plankton functional types (life form) index Ratio (II, III, IV) Plankton biomass and/or abundance (II, III, IV) Changes in biodiversity index(s) (III) Phytoplankton biomass (seasonal trends for the last 3 years) (CBD indicator) Phytoplankton abundance (seasonal trends for the last 3 years) Max concentration of blooming species Diatoms/Dinoflagellates
effects) D4 D4C1 Establish: (sub)region Establish: (sub)region None D4C2 Establish: (sub)region None D4C3 Establish: (sub)region None D4C4 Establish: (sub)region None