Biological quality elements in coastal waters: WFD-MSFD-RSC links
A review of standards to support good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive, the Marine Framework Directive and regional sea conventions
This report highlights the commonalities and disagreements between the reporting by Member States (MS) to the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) on the standards for Biological Quality elements in coastal waters, and the methodological standards used for Eutrophication biological criteria elements by the Regional Sea Conventions (RSC).
The identified inconsistences between WFD and MSFD reporting make a comprehensive comparison among threshold values (TVs) rather challenging. When the comparison is possible, the same TVs are observed in WFD and MSFD reporting. Some inconsistencies are relevant mostly with geographical aggregation, reporting timelines and systems, data management, methods and statistical metrics.
Among the recommendations is to focus on efforts to better harmonize the geographical areas for reporting. It is essential for the MS to better coordinate their reporting for WFD and MSFD before submission to the EU official reporting, especially when different management authorities handle this. It is also important to communicate any TVs revision so as to keep the official EU reporting updated. There are good practice examples of harmonization in monitoring plans, criteria and TVs for some MS (as DE and LT), being in line with requirements of WFD, MSFD and also HELCOM and OSPAR. A major information exchange is recommended among experts and managers of WFD, MSFD and RSC implementation to establish common monitoring programs for Good status achievement in coastal waters.
SALAS HERRERO Maria Fuensanta;
VARKITZI Ioanna;
LEUJAK Wera;
HOIKKALA Laura;
PENNA Marina;
MIHAIL Otilia;
POIKANE Sandra;
MENDES Cláudia;
VAN DE BUND Wouter;
2024-12-06
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC139830
978-92-68-23404-4 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 40178,
OP KJ-01-24-249-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC139830,
10.2760/7597491 (online),
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