# ART10_Targets_Target

Description:
Maintenance of population abundance of the Mediterranean seal Monachus monachus in Greek waters.


Description:
Monitoring and evaluation of the balance of biomass at higher trophic levels in the total catch of demersal fish.


Description:
Reduction of incoming organic load and nutrients to the marine environment from diffuse and non diffuse sources.


Description:
Reduction of pollution by nitrates from agricultural activities within the Framework of Codes of Good Agricultural Practice in order to reduce nutrient enrichment of coastal areas.


Description:
Maintenance of the balance of benthic macrofauna


Description:
Prevention of the environmental impacts from human-idnuced permanent hydrological alterations that have local effects.


Description:
The determination of pollutant effects and prevailing trends in contaminants concentrations in the water column, sediments and ecosystems


Description:
Contaminant levels in fish and other seafood should comply with official levels.


Description:
Reduction of the human-induced litter in the coastal and marine environment.


Description:
Energy level control in order to prevent adverse effects on the marine environment.


Description:
Census of the population abudance of the sea turtle Caretta caretta spawning in the Greek coasts and maitenance of the spawning sites.


Description:
Maintenance and mapping of the Posidonia oceanica meadows.


Description:
Census of the Maerl-type biogenic sediment areas.


Description:
Maintenance of the benthic macrofauna communities and of the structure of planktonic communities.


Description:
Census of the invasive alien species and of their environmental impacts at the marine ecosystems


Description:
Monitoring of fishing mortality ratio F/Fmsy and B/Bmsy ratio  (the current adult biomass relative to the adult biomass that would provide the maximum sustainable yield) of main target demersal species.


Description:
Monitoring of Exploitation Rate E of main target pelagic fish.


Description:
Corellation of the fishing activities with the designated indicators.


# ART9_GES_GESDetermination

GESDescription:
Indirect effects of nutrient enrichment.


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
To achieve GES:
        The energy introduced in the marine environment including noise should not reach levels adversely affecting marine biota..


GESDescription:
To achieve GES non indigenous species entering the environment due to human activities should not reach levels causing adverse effects on the environment..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
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..


GESDescription:
Concentration of contaminants in seabed habitat/biota.


GESDescription:
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..


# CostOfDegradationType

CostOfDegradationType:
Residual impacts, with reference to the current legislation objectives


# ElementCodeSources

Link:
Link to other vocabulary or code lists that may be relevant


Conditional:
Eutrophication (D5) and contaminants (D8-D9)


# Features

Subject:
Uses and human activities in or affecting the marine environment


Feature:
All activities related to cultivation of living resources


Feature:
Aquaculture – marine, including infrastructure


Feature:
All activities related to extraction of living resources


Feature:
Fish and shellfish harvesting (professional, recreational)


Feature:
Hunting and collecting for other purposes


Feature:
All activities related to extraction of non-living resources


Feature:
Extraction of minerals (rock, metal ores, gravel, sand, shell)


Feature:
Extraction of oil and gas, including infrastructure


Feature:
Military operations (subject to Article 2(2))


Feature:
All activities related to production of energy


Feature:
Transmission of electricity and communications (cables)


Feature:
Renewable energy generation (wind, wave and tidal power), including infrastructure


Feature:
Research, survey and educational activities


Feature:
All activities related to physical restructuring of rivers, coastline or seabed

Theme:
Physical restructuring of rivers, coastline or seabed (water management)


Feature:
Canalisation and other watercourse modifications


Feature:
Offshore structures (other than for oil/gas/renewables)


Feature:
Restructuring of seabed morphology, including dredging and depositing of materials


Feature:
All activities related to tourism and leisure


Subject:
Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems


Feature:
All ecosystem services related to provision of energy


Feature:
All ecosystem services related to mediation of flows


Feature:
Mass stabilisation and control of erosion rates


Theme:
Underpinning and/or enhancing physical and intellectual interactions


Feature:
All ecosystem services underpinning physical and intellectual interactions


Feature:
Experiential use of plants, animals and land-/seascapes in different environmental settings


Feature:
Physical use of land-/seascapes in different environmental settings


Feature:
All ecosystem services underpinning spiritual, symbolic and other interactions

Theme:
Underpinning and/or enhancing spiritual, symbolic and other interactions


Feature:
All ecosystem services related to maintenance of physical, chemical and biological conditions

Theme:
Maintenance of physical, chemical, biological conditions


Feature:
Global climate regulation by reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations

Sub-theme:
Atmospheric composition and climate regulation


Sub-theme:
Lifecycle maintenance, habitat and gene pool protection


Feature:
Maintaining Nursery Populations and Habitats


Feature:
Materials from plants, algae and animals for agricultural use


Feature:
All ecosystem services related to provision of materials


Feature:
Fibres and other materials from plants, algae and animals for direct use or processing


Feature:
All ecosystem services related to nutrition


Feature:
All ecosystem services related to mediation of waste, toxics and other nuisances

Theme:
Mediation of waste, toxics and other nuisances


Feature:
Filtration/sequestration/storage/accumulation by micro-organisms, algae, plants, and animals


Feature:
Bio-remediation by micro-organisms, algae, plants, and animals


Feature:
Commercially exploited fish and shellfish


Feature:
Offshore circalittoral rock and biogenic reef


Feature:
All physical and hydrological characteristics


Subject:
Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment


Feature:
Loss of, or change to, natural biological communities due to cultivation of animal or plant species


Feature:
Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence


Feature:
Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)


Feature:
Input of genetically modified species and translocation of native species


Feature:
Input or spread of non-indigenous species


Subject:
Pressure levels and impacts in marine environment


Feature:
All pressures related to inputs of substances, litter and energy


Feature:
Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) – diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events


Feature:
Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter)


Feature:
Input of nutrients – diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition


Feature:
Input of organic matter – diffuse sources and point sources


Feature:
Input of other forms of energy (including electromagnetic fields, light and heat)


Feature:
Input of anthropogenic sound (impulsive, continuous)


Feature:
Input of water – point sources (e.g. brine)


# GESComponents

Description:
Area covered by the species (for sessile/benthic species)


Description:
Mean maximum length across all species found in research vessel surveys


Description:
Nutrient ratios (silica, nitrogen and phosphorus)


Description:
Frequency of regulatory levels being exceeded


Description:
D11C2 – Anthropogenic continuous low-frequency sound


Description:
D1C1 – Mortality rate from incidental by-catch


Description:
D1C3 - Population demographic characteristics


Description:
D1C4 - Population distributional range and pattern


Description:
D5C6 - Opportunistic macroalgae of benthic habitats


Description:
D5C7 - Macrophyte communities of benthic habitats


Description:
D5C8 - Macrofaunal communities of benthic habitats


Description:
D6C2 - Physical disturbance to the seabed


Description:
D6C3 – Adverse effects from physical disturbance


Description:
D7C1 – Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions


Description:
D7C2 – Adverse effects from permanent alterations of hydrographical conditions


Description:
D8C3 – Significant acute pollution events


Description:
D8C4 – Adverse effect of significant acute pollution events


# IntegrationRules

Description:
If two variables do not meet the required standard, good status is not achieved.


Description:
The use of hierarchical approaches to structure indicator inclusion and group is very common. The added structure provides the ability to output intermediate CIs that aid in the interpretation of the overall CI/AI. The nesting of associated indicators into clusters greatly improves the clarity of the aggregation process. Weightings are equal for each indicator and typical of when there is not enough information on the influence of individual indicators.


Description:
Hierarchical layers and clustering of input indicators is used to structure and order the aggregation. Weightings are variable between indicators and can be allocated according to multivariate analysis, expert judgement or based on theoretical assumptions regarding value. Weights can be applied to either individual indicators or to clustered indicators.


Description:
Often hierarchically-structured and have inputs clustered by metric. Weights can be variable or equal. Calculation is undertaken with complex approaches such as summation, multiplication or bespoke formulae operations.


Description:
Use predefined statistical procedures. Commonly applied methods include Factor Analysis, Discriminate analysis and Principal Components Analysis


Description:
Combination of variables/indicators into a flat structure with no intermediate aggregation. Weightings are equal for all indicators and is atypical approach used when there is not enough information on the influence of individual indicators. This method is the most basic of quantitative aggregations, and is more common for indicator production. Averaging can be arithmetic or geometric.


Description:
Combination of variables/indicators into a flat structure with no intermediate aggregation. Weightings are variable between indicators and can be allocated according to multivariate analysis, expert judgement or based on theoretical assumptions regarding value.


Description:
All variables have to achieve good status.


Description:
‘High-level integration’ assessment results for three groups: biological indicators, hazardous substances, indicators and supporting indicators, each applying OOAO.


Description:
Spatial analysis where layers are combined using different functions to produce an integrated output.


Description:
A specific proportion of the variables have to achieve good status.


Description:
Uses specific decision rules to integrate elements into a quality assessment.


# NACECodes

Label:
Exploitation of offshore wind energy for producing electricity


Label:
Quarrying of ornamental and building stone, limestone, gypsum, chalk and slate


Label:
Operation of gravel and sand pits; mining of clays and kaolin


Label:
Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction


Label:
Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs


Label:
Building of ships and floating structures


Label:
Repair and maintenance of ships and boats


Label:
Construction of railways and underground railways


Label:
Construction of utility projects for fluids


Label:
Construction of utility projects for electricity and telecommunications


Label:
Construction of other civil engineering projects n.e.c.


Label:
Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products


Label:
Wholesale of wood, construction materials and sanitary equipment


Label:
Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies


Label:
Wholesale of other intermediate products


Label:
Sea and coastal passenger water transport


Label:
Service activities incidental to water transportation


# Parameters

Description:
Concentration in muscle meat of fish or fishery products


Description:
Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)


# ThresholdSources

Description:
Common Fisheries Policy - Data Collection Framework (DC-MAP)


Description:
Drinking Water Directive (80/778/EEC) as amended by Directive (98/83/EC)


Description:
Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC)


Description:
Regulation on contaminants in foodstuffs (EC 1881/2006)


Description:
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean


Description:
Prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (Regulation 1143/2014)


Description:
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas


Description:
International Maritime Organisation (MARPOL, Ballast Water Convention, Antifouling Convention)


Description:
Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Directive (96/61/EC)


Description:
UNECE Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution


Description:
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission


Description:
Directive on National Emission Ceilings for certain pollutants (2001/81/EC)


Description:
Placing of plant protection products on the market (Regulation EC/1107/2007)


Description:
Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (EC 1907/2006)


Description:
Major Accidents (Seveso) Directive (96/82/EC)


Description:
Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC)


# Units

Description:
Decibels reference 1 microPascal squared second


Description:
number of items per kilogram of dry weight


