Commission Directive (EU) 2017/845 of 17 May 2017 amending Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the indicative lists of elements to be taken into account for the preparation of marine strategies (Text with EEA relevance. )

• CELEX: Directive (EU) 2017/845
• Articles: 5

Article 1

Annex III to Directive 2008/56/EC is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Directive.

Article 2

1.   Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 7 December 2018 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2.   Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

3.   The obligation to transpose this Directive shall not apply to Member States without marine waters.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX

ANNEX

‘

ANNEX III

Indicative lists of ecosystem elements, anthropogenic pressures and human activities relevant to the marine waters

(referred to in Articles 8(1), 9(1), 9(3), 10(1), 11(1) and 24)

Table 1

Structure, functions and processes of marine ecosystems

with particular relevance for point (a) of Article 8(1), and Articles 9 and 11

Theme

Ecosystem elements

Possible parameters and characteristics (Note 1)

Relevant qualitative descriptors laid down in Annex I (Notes 2 and 3)

Species

Species groups (Note 4) of marine birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and cephalopods of the marine region or subregion

Spatial and temporal variation per species or population:

—

distribution, abundance and/or biomass

—

size, age and sex structure

—

fecundity, survival and mortality/injury rates

—

behaviour including movement and migration

—

habitat for the species (extent, suitability)

Species composition of the group

(1); (3)

Habitats

Broad habitat types of the water column (pelagic) and seabed (benthic) (Note 5), or other habitat types, including their associated biological communities throughout the marine region or subregion

Per habitat type:

—

habitat distribution and extent (and volume, if appropriate)

—

species composition, abundance and/or biomass (spatial and temporal variation)

—

size and age structure of species (if appropriate)

—

physical, hydrological and chemical characteristics

Additionally for pelagic habitats:

—

chlorophyll a concentration

—

plankton bloom frequencies and spatial extent

(1); (6)

Ecosystems, including food webs

Ecosystem structure, functions and processes, comprising:

—

physical and hydrological characteristics

—

chemical characteristics

—

biological characteristics

—

functions and processes

Spatial and temporal variation in:

—

temperature and ice

—

hydrology (wave and current regimes; upwelling, mixing, residence time, freshwater input; sea level)

—

bathymetry

—

turbidity (silt/sediment loads), transparency, sound

—

seabed substrate and morphology

—

salinity, nutrients (N, P), organic carbon, dissolved gases (pCO 2 , O 2 ) and pH

—

links between habitats and species of marine birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and cephalopods

—

pelagic-benthic community structure

—

productivity

(1); (4)

Notes related to Table 1

Note 1:

An indicative list of relevant parameters and characteristics for species, habitats and ecosystems is given, reflecting parameters affected by the pressures of Table 2 of this Annex and of relevance to criteria laid down in accordance with Article 9(3). The particular parameters and characteristics to be used for monitoring and assessment should be determined in accordance with the requirements of this Directive, including those of its Articles 8 to 11.

Note 2:

The numbers in this column refer to the respective numbered points in Annex I.

Note 3:

Only the state-based qualitative descriptors (1), (3), (4) and (6) which have criteria laid down in accordance with Article 9(3) are listed in Table 1. All other, pressure-based, qualitative descriptors under Annex I may be relevant for each theme.

Note 4:

These species groups are further specified in Part II of the Annex to Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 of 17 May 2017 laying down criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment, and repealing Decision 2010/477/EU (see page 43 of this Official Journal).

Note 5:

These broad habitat types are further specified in Part II of the Annex to Decision (EU) 2017/848.

Table 2

Anthropogenic pressures, uses and human activities in or affecting the marine environment

2a.

Anthropogenic pressures on the marine environment

with particular relevance for points (a) and (b) of Article 8(1), and Articles 9, 10 and 11

Theme

Pressure (Note 1)

Possible parameters

Relevant qualitative descriptors laid down in Annex I (Notes 2 and 3)

Biological

Input or spread of non-indigenous species

Intensity of, and spatial and temporal variation in, the pressure in the marine environment and, where relevant, at source

For assessment of environmental impacts of the pressure, select relevant ecosystem elements and parameters from Table 1

(2)

Input of microbial pathogens

Input of genetically modified species and translocation of native species

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

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

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

(3)

Physical

Physical disturbance to seabed (temporary or reversible)

(6); (7)

Physical loss (due to permanent change of seabed substrate or morphology and to extraction of seabed substrate)

Changes to hydrological conditions

Substances, litter and energy

Input of nutrients — diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition

(5)

Input of organic matter — diffuse sources and point sources

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

(8); (9)

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

(10)

Input of anthropogenic sound (impulsive, continuous)

(11)

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

Input of water — point sources (e.g. brine)

2b.

Uses and human activities in or affecting the marine environment

with particular relevance for points (b) and (c) of Article 8(1) (only activities marked * are relevant for point (c) of Article 8(1)), and Articles 10 and 13

Theme

Activity

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

Land claim

Canalisation and other watercourse modifications

Coastal defence and flood protection*

Offshore structures (other than for oil/gas/renewables)*

Restructuring of seabed morphology, including dredging and depositing of materials*

Extraction of non-living resources

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

Extraction of oil and gas, including infrastructure*

Extraction of salt*

Extraction of water*

Production of energy

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

Non-renewable energy generation

Transmission of electricity and communications (cables)*

Extraction of living resources

Fish and shellfish harvesting (professional, recreational)*

Fish and shellfish processing*

Marine plant harvesting*

Hunting and collecting for other purposes*

Cultivation of living resources

Aquaculture — marine, including infrastructure*

Aquaculture — freshwater

Agriculture

Forestry

Transport

Transport infrastructure*

Transport — shipping*

Transport — air

Transport — land

Urban and industrial uses

Urban uses

Industrial uses

Waste treatment and disposal*

Tourism and leisure

Tourism and leisure infrastructure*

Tourism and leisure activities*

Security/defence

Military operations (subject to Article 2(2))

Education and research

Research, survey and educational activities*

Notes related to Table 2

Note 1:

Assessments of pressures should address their levels in the marine environment and, if appropriate, the rates of input (from land-based or atmospheric sources) to the marine environment.

Note 2:

The numbers in this column refer to the respective numbered points in Annex I.

Note 3:

Only pressure-based qualitative descriptors (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11), which have criteria laid down in accordance with Article 9(3), are listed in Table 2a. All other, state-based, qualitative descriptors under Annex I may be relevant for each theme.’