IE ACS-IE-AA-001 RepTurtles D1_SI1 Leatherback turtle sightings and strandings reported (Surveillance Indicator). D1 205001 N/A D1_T1 Distributional range and pattern of selected fish species is not adversely affected by human pressures and should be within the range expected when fishing the fish community equal to or below FMSY in the medium to long term incorporating scientific uncertainty and natural variability. D1 D1C4 202001 N/A D1_T1_I1 D1_T1_I2 D1_T2 Population size of selected fish species is not adversely affected by human pressures and should be within the range expected when fishing the fish community equal to or below FMSY in the medium to long term incorporating scientific uncertainty and natural variability. D1 D1C2 202001 N/A D1_T2_I1 D1_T3 Population condition of selected fish species is not adversely affected by human pressures and should be within the range expected when fishing the fish community equal to or below FMSY in the medium to long term incorporating scientific uncertainty and natural variability. D1 D1C3 202001 N/A D1_T3_I1 D1_T3_I2 D1_T4 Fish community composition and condition is not adversely affected by human pressures and should be within the range expected when fishing the fish community equal to or below FMSY in the medium to long term incorporating scientific uncertainty and natural variability. D1 D1C3 202001 N/A PresInputCont D1_T5 The degree of biological or ecological effects that can be specifically attributed to contaminants is below the agreed OSPAR criteria. At present, this is limited to evaluation of reproductive impairment in marine gastropods associated with tributyltin (TBT). D1 D1C3 202001 N/A PresInputLitter D10_SI1 Weight and/or quantity of Marine litter items per km2 of seabed as caught by the standard sampling gear of the Irish groundfish survey (Surveillance Indicator) D10 D10C1 D10C2 D10C3 205001 N/A HabBenAll HabPelagAll PresInputLitter D10_T1 Reduction in the number of visible litter items within specific categories/types on coastlines. D10 D10C1 D10C2 D10C3 202001 N/A D10_T1_I1 PresInputSound D11_T1 Establishment of a register of impulsive noise to determine the current level and trends in impulsive noise in the Irish Marine Assessment Area D11 D11C1 D11C2 202001 N/A PresBioIntroNIS D2_T1 Reduction in the risk of introduction and spread of non-native species through the prioritisation of species and improved management of high risk pathways and vectors. D2 D2C2 202001 N/A PresPhyDisturbSeabed D3_T1 Target fishing mortality to be at levels which aim to restore and maintain populations of harvested species at least at levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield, by 2015, where possible. Where stocks are managed within an agreed management plan, which is consistent with MSY in the long term, target fishing mortality as specified by the management plan should be adhered to. D3 D3C1 201501 N/A D3_T1_I1 D3_T1_I2 PresPhyDisturbSeabed D3_T2 Target fishing mortality to be at levels which aim to restore and maintain populations of harvested species at least at levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield, by 2020, for all stocks. Where stocks are managed within an agreed management plan, which is consistent with MSY in the longterm, target fishing mortality as specified by the management plan should be adhered to. D3 D3C1 202001 N/A PresPhyDisturbSeabed D3_T3 SSB should be within the range of biomasses which would be expected under fishing mortality equal to or below FMSY in the medium to long term and incorporate scientific uncertainty and natural variability. D3 D3C2 202001 N/A D3_T3_I1 D3_T3_I2 PresPhyDisturbSeabed D3_T4 Size and age structure as measured by selected indicators reflect populations which are sustainably fished in the medium to longterm and incorporate scientific uncertainty and natural variability. D3 D3C3 N/A D3_T4_I1 D3_T4_I2 D4_SI1 Mean weights at age of predatory fish (Surveillance Indicator). D4/D1 D4C4 205001 N/A D4_T1 Population size is not adversely affected by human pressures and should be within the range expected when fishing the fish community equal to or below FMSY in the medium to long term incorporating scientific uncertainty and natural variability. D4/D1 D4C2 205001 N/A D4_T2 Fish community composition and condition is not adversely affected by human pressures and should be within the range expected when fishing the fish community equal to or below FMSY in the medium to long term incorporating scientific uncertainty and natural variability. D4/D1 D4C2 D4C3 D4C4 205001 N/A D4_T2_I1 D4_T2_I2 D4_T2_I3 HabPelagCoastal Nutrients OrganicCarbon D5_T1 Winter dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus concentration should not exceed the Environmental Quality Standard laid down in national legislation implementing the Water Framework Directive (SI 272 of 2009) and the corresponding area specific assessment levels used by Ireland in the application of the OSPAR Common Procedure. NOTE: GES is not determined by any single parameter but by the holistic assessment of a number of quantitative criteria which reflect, once inter-linked, the main cause/effect relationships of the eutrophication process. D5 D5C1 202101 N/A D5_T1_I1 HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf Nutrients OrganicCarbon D5_T2 Winter nutrient ratios should not exceed area specific assessment levels used by Ireland in the application of the OSPAR Common Procedure (e.g. winter nitrogen phosphorus ratio should be less than 24). This target is valid for offshore waters (salinity > 34.5) only. NOTE: GES is not determined by any single parameter but by the holistic assessment of a number of quantitative criteria which reflect, once inter-linked, the main cause/effect relationships of the eutrophication process. 5.1.2 D5 D5C1 202101 N/A D5_T2_I1 HabPelagCoastal Nutrients OrganicCarbon Transparency Turbidity D5_T3 Median and 90%ile chlorophyll levels in WFD-defined coastal water bodies should not exceed the Environmental Quality Ratio laid down in national legislation implementing the Water Framework Directive (SI 272 of 2009). This target is valid for WFD defined coastal water bodies only. NOTE: GES is not determined by any single parameter but by the holistic assessment of a number of quantitative criteria which reflect, once inter-linked, the main cause/effect relationships of the eutrophication process. 5.2 D5 D5C2 202101 N/A D5_T3_I1 HabBenLitSed Nutrients OrganicCarbon D5_T4 The abundance and extent of opportunistic macroalgae for WFD defined coastal waters should be consistent with the achievement of the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive as specified in national legislation implementing that Directive (SI 272 2009). This target is valid for WFD coastal water bodies with suitable intertidal substrate only. NOTE: GES is not determined by any single parameter but by the holistic assessment of a number of quantitative criteria which reflect, once inter-linked, the main cause/effect relationships of the eutrophication process. 5.2 D5 D5C6 202101 N/A D5_T4_I1 HabPelagCoastal Nutrients OrganicCarbon Transparency Turbidity D5_T5 The frequency and abundance of phytoplankton blooms in WFD coastal water bodies should be consistent with the achievement of the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive as specified in national legislation implementing the Directive (SI 272 2009). This target is valid for WFD defined coastal water bodies only. NOTE: GES is not determined by any single parameter but by the holistic assessment of a number of quantitative criteria which reflect, once inter-linked, the main cause/effect relationships of the eutrophication process. 5.2 D5 D5C3 202101 N/A D5_T5_I1 HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed Nutrients OrganicCarbon D5_T6 The composition of perennial macroalgae in WFD defined coastal waters should be consistent with the achievement of the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive as laid down in national legislation implementing that Directive (SI 272 2009). The abundance and species composition of intertidal seagrasses in WFD defined coastal waters should be consistent with the achievement of the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive as laid down in national legislation implementing that Directive (SI 272 2009). This target is valid for WFD defined coastal water bodies only. NOTE: GES is not determined by any single parameter but by the holistic assessment of a number of quantitative criteria which reflect, once inter-linked, the main cause/effect relationships of the eutrophication process. 5.3 D5 D5C7 202101 N/A D5_T6_I1 FishCoastal FishDeepSea FishDemersalShelf FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand OrganicCarbon Oxygen D5_T7 For WFD defined coastal water bodies, dissolved oxygen saturation should be consistent with the Environmental Quality Standard specified in national legislation implementing the Water Framework Directive (SI 272 of 2009) except in the case of seasonally stratified waters where the dissolved oxygen concentration (as a 5%ile) in bottom water should remain above area specific assessment levels (e.g. 5.0 to 6.0 mg/l). This target is valid for WFD defined coastal water bodies only. NOTE: GES is not determined by any single parameter but by the holistic assessment of a number of quantitative criteria which reflect, once inter-linked, the main cause/effect relationships of the eutrophication process. 5.3 D5 D5C5 202101 N/A D5_T7_I1 FishCoastal FishDeepSea FishDemersalShelf FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf Nutrients OrganicCarbon Oxygen Transparency Turbidity D5_T8 Overarching Target for D5: GES for Descriptor 5 is achieved when the Irish MSFD marine waters are non-problem with regard to eutrophication and, where relevant, the eutrophication related environmental objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive have been met. The eutrophication status of Irish MSFD marine waters is to be assessed using the OSPAR Common Procedure. Under this scheme areas are generally considered as problem areas if nutrient enrichment and either a direct or indirect effect of eutrophication is observed. NOTE: GES is not determined by any single parameter but by the holistic assessment of a number of quantitative criteria which reflect, once inter-linked, the main cause/effect relationships of the eutrophication process. 5.1.2 5.2 5.3 D5 D5C1 D5C2 D5C3 D5C5 D5C6 D5C7 202101 N/A PresInputCont D6_T1 The degree of biological or ecological effects that can be specifically attributed to contaminants is below the agreed OSPAR criteria. At present, this is limited to evaluation of reproductive impairment in marine gastropods associated with tributyltin (TBT). D6/D1 D6C5 202001 N/A Bathymetry Currents HabBenAll HabPelagAll Mixing Nutrients Oxygen pH PresPhyHydroCond ResidenceTime Salinity Temperature Transparency Turbidity Upwelling Waves D7_T1 All developments that may give rise to significant permanent changes in the hydrographical regime of currents, waves, or sediments must comply with the existing regulatory regimes and guidance should be followed to ensure that regulatory assessments are undertaken in a way that ensures the full consideration of any potential impacts, including cumulative effects at the most appropriate spatial scales to ensure that GES is not compromised. D7 D7C1 202001 N/A D7_T1_I1 PresInputCont D8_SI1 Water borne contaminant inputs (Surveillance Indicator) D5 D8 D8C1 205001 N/A PresInputCont D8_SI2 Atmospheric contaminant inputs (Surveillance Indicator) D5 D8 D8C1 205001 N/A PresInputCont D8_T1 Concentrations of selected substances identified within relevant legislation and under international obligations as relevant for the protection of the marine environment are within agreed levels at which adverse effects are unlikely to occur (e.g. are less than the Environmental Quality Standards applied within WFD and Environmental Assessment Criteria applied within OSPAR) and concentrations are not increasing for the assessment area. D8 D8C1 202001 N/A D8_T1_I1 PresInputCont D8_T2 The degree of biological or ecological effects that can be specifically attributed to contaminants is below the agreed OSPAR criteria. At present, this is limited to evaluation of reproductive impairment in marine gastropods associated with tributyltin (TBT). D8 D8C2 D8C4 202001 N/A D8_T2_I1 PresInputCont D8_T3 Occurrence and extent of significant acute pollution events (e.g. slicks resulting from spills of oil and oil products or spills of chemicals) and the impact on biota affected by this pollution is minimised through appropriate risk-based approaches. D8 D8C2 D8C3 D8C4 202001 N/A D8_T3_I1 PresInputCont D9_T1 Concentrations of contaminants in fish* and shellfish caught or harvested in Irish seas for human consumption show a high rate of compliance with maximum limits listed in EU Regulation 1881/2006 (as amended). * Excludes finfish aquaculture and also diadromous fish and other wild species or stocks that migrate beyond the assessment area. 9.1.2 D9 D9C1 201201 N/A D9_T1_I1 D9_T1_I2