EL 5.2 HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabPelagCoastal HabPelagVarSalinity Nutrients OrganicCarbon Oxygen PresEnvEutrophi PresInputNut Transparency Turbidity Direct effects of nutrient enrichment. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO 5.3 HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabPelagCoastal HabPelagVarSalinity Nutrients OrganicCarbon Oxygen PresEnvEutrophi PresInputNut Transparency Turbidity Indirect effects of nutrient enrichment. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D1 HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshRock HabBenOffshSand HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf MamSeals OrganicCarbon PresBioIntroNIS PresPhyDisturbSeabed RepTurtles To achieve GES there should be: No change in the size and distribution of the seal Monachus monachus in Greek waters. No change in the population size of the Caretta caretta spawning in the Greek coasts. No significant reduction of the survival rate of Posidonia oceanica with time. No significant reduction of the area occupied by the Posidonia oceanica habitat. No significant reduction of the area occupied by the maerl-type sediments and other coralligenous habitats. Compliance of benthic macrofauna communities with environmental quality criteria. No significant adverse effect of the structure of planktonic communities by anthropogenic activities.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D10 BirdsBenthicFeeding BirdsGrazing BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding BirdsWading FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshRock HabBenOffshSand HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf HabPelagVarSalinity MamCetacDeepDiving MamCetacSmall MamSeals PresInputLitter RepTurtles To achieve Good Environmental Status according to descriptor 10 it is desirable to reduce the quantities of marine litter in coastal and marine environment to such an extent that they do not harm the environment and the organisms living in or depending on it. For descriptor 10, GES is approached qualitatively as it is impossible to establish threshold values for the quantities or properties of marine litter. According to initial assessment marine litter constitutes a crucial issue for the subregion, although it is impossible to determine the level of disturbance. The incoherence of available data from surveys and cleanup campaigns as well as the inadequacy of information – e.g. there are gaps about the state of the deep sea - cannot provide a thorough insight into the existing status of litter in the marine and coastal environment. The environmental status of the Ionian Sea to a proportion of 5 to 10 % is regarded as not good at coastal level, as significant amounts of litter reach the coastal and marine environment from various land based and sea based sources (80% of the marine litter derives from land based sources). It is obvious that the assessment of GES is produced based on quality parameters taking into consideration the aesthetics degradation caused to the marine environment due to the presence of litter along with environmental, social and financial adverse impacts. In the long run it is desirable to have totally litter - free coasts and seas. However, by 2020 it is aimed to have achieved a dramatic reduction in the amounts of litter.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D11 HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf MamCetacBaleenWhales MamCetacDeepDiving MamCetacSmall PresInputSound To achieve GES: The energy introduced in the marine environment including noise should not reach levels adversely affecting marine biota.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D2 HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshRock HabBenOffshSand HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf PresBioIntroNIS To achieve GES non indigenous species entering the environment due to human activities should not reach levels causing adverse effects on the environment.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D3 BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding FishCoastal FishPelagicShelf HabBenBathyalUpRock HabBenBathyalUpSed HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshSand MamCetacDeepDiving MamCetacSmall MamSeals PresBioExtractSpp RepTurtles Indexes for the level of fishing pressure and the stock biomass have been calculated for certain species that are main targets or are frequently caught in the bottom trawl fishery. Estimates are based on fisheries and survey data.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D3C1 BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding FishCoastal FishPelagicShelf HabBenBathyalUpRock HabBenBathyalUpSed HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshSand MamCetacDeepDiving MamCetacSmall MamSeals PresBioExtractSpp RepTurtles GES evaluation is based on the fishing mortality indexes that have been calculated for certain species that are main targets or are frequently caught in the bottom trawl fishery and purse-seine fishery. Estimates of F/Fmsy ratios for the main target species of the bottom trawl fishery have been considered as fishing mortality proxies and consequently as indicators of the level of fishing pressure. Also, Estimates of fishing over total mortality (exploitation rate, E) for the main target species of the purse-seine fishery have been considered as fishing mortality proxies and consequently as indicators of the level of fishing pressure.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D3C2 BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding FishCoastal FishPelagicShelf HabBenBathyalUpRock HabBenBathyalUpSed HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshSand MamCetacDeepDiving MamCetacSmall MamSeals PresBioExtractSpp RepTurtles GES evaluation is based on biomass indicators that have been calculated for certain species that are main targets or are frequently caught in the bottom trawl fishery. As SSB estimates are not available the ratio of total biomass over Bmsy has been used as proxy for SSB trends. SSB estimates have been obtained for a series of years through the analysis of fisheries data but not thresholds have been set due to lack of a stock-recruitment relationship.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D4/D1 FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshRock HabBenOffshSand HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf PresBioExtractSpp PresPhyDisturbSeabed To achieve GES there should be: No significant change in the proportion of biomass at higher trophic levels in the total catch of demersal fish. No significant decrease in the populations of large pelagic fish.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D5 HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabPelagCoastal HabPelagVarSalinity Nutrients OrganicCarbon Oxygen PresEnvEutrophi PresInputNut Transparency Turbidity In order to achieve GES in the marine environment, it is necessary to keep nutrients -compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus – in the water column at levels which do not accelerate primary production. If there is no excess organic matter and increased suspended algae, water transparency will be satisfactory allowing photosynthesis process to evolve naturally and allow perennial seaweeds and sea grasses to grow. In addition, chlorophyll concentration in the water column will not be increased and oxygen levels will establish a satisfactorily oxygenated environment without anoxic or hypoxic conditions. When an ecosystem is in GES the nutrients are preserved at moderate levels and any human-induced eutrophication phenomena are prevented. Hence, the floristic composition of the marine environment is not altered disturbing the diatom to flagellate ratio, or causing toxic algal blooms. As a result, the ecosystems retain their balance and biodiversity is preserved. Therefore, the overall quality of the marine environment is maintained.In the subregion examined it is deemed that only a maximum proportion of 5% of the assessment area is not in Good Environmental Condition, and as a result occasionally presents eutrophication phenomena due to anthropogenic intervention. There are particular hot spots in coastal areas, mainly enclosed gulfs, where nutrients concentrations exceed threshold values as a result of land –based or sea based human activities; Amvrakikos Gulf and Patraikos Gulf.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D5C1 HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabPelagCoastal HabPelagVarSalinity Nutrients OrganicCarbon Oxygen PresEnvEutrophi PresInputNut Transparency Turbidity Nutrient levels. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D6/D1 FishDemersalShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshRock HabBenOffshSand PresPhyDisturbSeabed To achieve GES: Opportunistic species in benthic communities should not exceed levels of abundance that indicate unacceptable ecological quality. Multimetric indices assessing environmental quality should be kept at levels indicating high or good ecological quality.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D7 Currents HabBenBathyalLowRock HabBenBathyalLowSed HabBenBathyalUpRock HabBenBathyalUpSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshRock HabBenOffshSand HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf HabPelagVarSalinity Mixing PresPhyHydroCond ResidenceTime Salinity Temperature Transparency Turbidity Upwelling Waves Human activity causes the Mediterranean Sea to exhibit long-term increasing trends in temperature and salinity, although the shorter, decadal scale variability may temporarily alter the rising trends. The above trends have the following two consequences, which can potentially alter the good environmental status of the region. The first process is the progressive warming of the surface and near-bed layers. The warming trends are depended on the estimation period and are often hidden behind large multiannual variability. The impact of this warming is the Mediterranean tropicalization, providing suitable environment for the propagation of Lessepsian species entering through the Suez canal. A Good Environmental Status descriptor for this process is the mean summer, winter or annual water temperatures within the euphotic zone. A preliminary data analysis has shown that the current sea-surface temperature fields in the Aegean are comparable to the 1970s temperatures in the southeast Levantine Sea. Such analyses could be used to assess the degree of deviation from a more ‘pristine’ period, and thus the succeptibility of the physical system to the introduction of warm-living species. Salinity measurements should be complementing the temperature ones. The second significant process is the vertical stratification, a Good Environmental Status descriptor regarding the ability of the water column to mix and ventilate. Current future projections predict –with little confidence- a deceleration of the overturning in the Mediterranean, thus a lower ventilation rate.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D8 BirdsBenthicFeeding BirdsGrazing BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding BirdsWading CephaCoastShelf FishCoastal FishDemersalShelf FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed PresInputCont In order to achieve GES in the marine environment according to descriptor 8, it is needed to gradually reduce the concentrations of hazardous substances (HS) and try to restrict their adverse impacts to ensure there will no be major risks entailed. In the initial assessment, there are 3 groups of substances examined in water, sediments and organisms: • Synthetic: PAHs, PCBs, DDTs and Drins • Non-synthetic: metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Hg), and petroleum hydrocarbons • Radionuclides: 137 Cs According to initial assessment, HS concentrations in the marine environment have generally decerased compared to those of the past, and a stable trend has recently been observed. However, there are still hot spots, mainly in coastal areas and enclosed gulfs where contaminant concentrations are occasionally high. Patraikos Gulf and Korinthiakos Gulf are areas where metals occasionally exceed maximum set values according to criteria. Anthropogenic activities are usually intense in such areas (urban agglomerations, industrial activity, mining, waste discharge). However, It is estimated that only a proportion of 1-5% of the subregion is not in GES. The fact that there are areas where background concentrations are increased due to the geological substarte must be taken into consideration when assessing GES. Concerning acute pollution events, although they lead to concentrations exceeding maximum allowed concentrations, their occurence is restricted and impact is not highly extensive. However, to achieve GES such events should be minimised.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D8C1 BirdsBenthicFeeding BirdsGrazing BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding BirdsWading CephaCoastShelf FishCoastal FishDemersalShelf FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed PresInputCont To achieve GES, hazardous substances should be kept at low levels and ultimately reach background values or zero. Therefore, the concentrations and impacts of hazardous substances are evaluated according to threshold values (limit reference points) suggested.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D8C2 BirdsBenthicFeeding BirdsGrazing BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding BirdsWading CephaCoastShelf FishCoastal FishDemersalShelf FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed PresInputCont Concentration of contaminants in seabed habitat/biota. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D8C4 BirdsBenthicFeeding BirdsGrazing BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding BirdsWading CephaCoastShelf FishCoastal FishDemersalShelf FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitRock HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitRock HabBenInfralitSand HabBenLitRock HabBenLitSed PresInputCont Concentration of contaminants in seabed habitat/biota. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D9 BirdsBenthicFeeding BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding BirdsWading CephaCoastShelf FishCoastal FishDemersalShelf FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitSand HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshRock HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf Nutrients Oxygen pH PresInputCont To assess if an area is in GES, it is necesssary for fish and other seafood contaminant concentrations to remain below certain regulatory levels. In this way public health is protected. Generally, the concentrations of contaminants traced in fish and foodstaff fished or cultured in the waters of the subregion rarely exceed the maximum levels set by the regulation of the EU No 1881/2006. In addition, there is not an increasing trend of bioaccumulation in the biota and functional groups used as bioindicators (Mytilus Galloprovincialis and Mullus Barbatus/ Boops Boops respectively). Nevertheless, there are some top predators which occasionally have been found to exceed maximum permitted levels for certain contaminants, due to bioaccumulation. To conclude, marine waters in the subregion of Ionian -Central Mediterranean Sea are in Good Environmental Status and effort has to be made to maintain such condition.. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO D9C1 BirdsBenthicFeeding BirdsPelagicFeeding BirdsSurfaceFeeding BirdsWading CephaCoastShelf FishCoastal FishDemersalShelf FishPelagicShelf HabBenCircalitCoarSed HabBenCircalitMud HabBenCircalitMxdSed HabBenCircalitSand HabBenInfralitCoarSed HabBenInfralitMud HabBenInfralitMxdSed HabBenInfralitSand HabBenOffshCoarSed HabBenOffshMud HabBenOffshMxdSed HabBenOffshRock HabPelagCoastal HabPelagOcean HabPelagShelf Nutrients Oxygen pH PresInputCont Levels of contaminants. 201210 Same as last reported determination MAD-EL-MS-AD MAL-EL-MS-AL MIC-EL-MS-IO