The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) establishes the framework for the protection, conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment at the Union level. Because of its potential negative effects on the marine water quality, eutrophication is one of the criteria assessed under MSFD. This report presents the results of the joint work between JRC and a network of Member States (MS) eutrophication designated experts to assess the level of harmonization in Eutrophication methodological standards and threshold definition at regional and EU level. The information compiled at regional and national level showed that although methodologies are defined already for all the criteria, the degree of harmonization of methodological approaches across MS and regions is in some cases very low. In addition further developments are needed for some regions to agree on common indicators and threshold values. Based on these results the report highlights existing gaps and proposes recommendations to improve the eutrophication assessment framework at EU level.

DOS SANTOS FERNANDES DE ARAUJO Rita;  SOMMA Francesca;  AIGARS J.;  AXE Philip;  BARTOLO Angela;  DE CAUWER Karien;  DEVREKER David;  FLEMING-LEHTINEN Vivi;  GARCIA-DENCHE Lucia;  KNUDSEN-LEERBECK Helle;  KRASNIEWSKI Wojciech;  LAZAR Luminita;  LEFEBVRE A;  LIPS Inga;  MAGALETTI Erika;  MONCHEVA Snejana;  PAGOU Popi;  PRECALI Robert;  RUITER Hans;  WILKES Robert; 

2019-12-20

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC117109

978-92-76-11224-2 (online),   

1831-9424 (online),   

EUR 29854 EN,    OP KJ-NA-29854-EN-N (online),   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC117109,   

10.2760/437291 (online),