Overview of eutrophication indicators to assess environmental status within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

In 2009, following approval of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC), the European Commission (EC) created task groups to develop guidance for eleven quality descriptors that form the basis for evaluating ecosystem function. The objective was to provide European countries with practical guidelines for implementing the MSFD, and to produce a Commission Decision that encapsulated key points of the work in a legal framework. This paper presents a review of work carried out by the eutrophication task group, and reports our main findings to the scientific community. On the basis of an operational, management-oriented definition, we discuss the main methodologies that could be used for coastal and 89 marine eutrophication assessment. Emphasis is placed on integrated approaches that account for physico-chemical and biological components, and combine both pelagic and benthic symptoms of eutrophication, in keeping with the holistic nature of the MSFD. We highlight general features that any marine eutrophication model should possess, rather than making specific recommendations. European seas range from highly eutrophic systems such as the Baltic to nutrient-poor environments such as the Aegean Sea.

FERREIRA Joao;  ANDERSEN Jesper H.;  BORJA Angel;  BRICKER Suzanne;  CAMP Jordi;  CARDOSO DA SILVA Margarida;  GARCES Esther;  HEISKANEN Ana-Stiina;  HUMBORG Christoph;  IGNATIADES Lydia;  LANCELOT Christiane;  MENESGUEN Alain;  TETT Paul;  HOEPFFNER Nicolas;  CLAUSSEN Ulrich; 

2012-01-05

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

JRC64887

0272-7714,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771411001077,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC64887,   

10.1016/j.ecss.2011.03.014,