ICG MAQ
OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic
Intersessional correspondence group to manage preparation and publication of the Intermediate Assessment 2017 and the QSR21 (ICG MAQ)

Structure of the Intermediate Assessment 2017

Table of Contents

1.Introduction

1.1 The North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy

1.2 Contribution to MSFD

1.3 Assessment process and method

1.3.1Common indicators

1.3.2JAMP

1.3.3CEMP

2.Environmental features

2.1 Climate Change

2.2Physiographic and prevailing conditions

3.Socioeconomic characteristics of the OSPAR area

4.Pressures arising from human activities

4.1Eutrophication

4.2Contaminants

4.2.1Hazardous substances

4.2.2Radioactive substances

4.2.3Offshore substances

4.3Other human activities

4.3.1Dumping of waste

4.4 Marine Litter

4.5Underwater energy; noise

5Biodiversity status

5.1Non-indigenous species

5.2Biodiversity and ecosystems

5.2.1Seabed habitats

5.2.2Water column habitats

5.2.3Fish

5.2.5Seabirds

5.2.6Marine mammals

5.2.7Food webs

6Ecosystem assessment outlook

7Conclusions and recommendations

1.Introduction

Drafting group Belgium, the European Union, Germany, [Norway], Sweden, and the United Kingdom (lead)

1.1 The North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy

1.2 Contribution to MSFD

1.3 Assessment process and method

1.3.1Common indicators

1.3.2JAMP

1.3.3CEMP

2.Environmental features

Drafting group Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (lead)

2.1 Climate Change

2.2Physiographic and prevailing conditions

3.Socioeconomic characteristics of the OSPAR area

Drafting by ICG ESA

4.Pressures arising from human activities

Common indicator and thematic assessments

4.1Eutrophication

This chapter includes nutrients and organic matter

Theme E of JAMP

The over-arching product will be 3rd application of the Common Procedure for identification of the eutrophication status of the OSPAR maritime area[1] (COMP).

Table E1: Linkages and steps in 3rd COMP application 2012-2017(revised after HASEC March 2015)

2015 / 2016 / 2017
Interim products – pilot common indicators assessment1 / To be completed Dec 2015
Common indicator assessments – final for IA20172 / HASEC Mar 2016
COMP reporting guidance / Establ’d
CP national-level COMP reports ready3 / National reports Mar 2017
OSPAR Integrated COMP report / Draft ready for ICG EUT Jan 2017, final version for HASEC Mar 2017
Update of MSFD Article 8 Initial Assessment / Integrated report available to CPs for 2018 MSFD update of initial assessment

1For time common indicator trend assessment starting date determined as; earliest date for which robust data are available, to 2015

2Intermediate Assessment 2017 (IA2017)

3Common Procedure (COMP) time period 2006–2014 inclusive

Table E2: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Ref. / Product name and short description / Delivery
E-9 / RID nutrients trend assessment (as input to third COMP application)
(specifications still under development) / 2015
E-10 / Atmospheric nutrient deposition modelling results derived from EMEP modelling
(further discussion on specification required & planned in INPUT and its CAMP Review Group) / 2015
E-12 / Agreed common indicator-based assessment (see Table E3)
(trend assessment results of common indicators in conjunction with 3rd COMP application) / 2016-17 and possibly annually thereafter
E-13 / OSPAR integrated eutrophication status report following the 3rd COMP application (see Tables E1 and E4) / 2016-17

Table E3: Common Indicators assessment sheets

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
D5 nutr conc / Winter nutrient concentrations
D5 chlorophyll / Chlorophyll concentration
D5 oxygen / Oxygen
D5 nutrient inputs / Nutrient inputs in water and air
D5 heavy metalinputs / Heavy metal inputs in water and air
D5 Phaeocystis / Species shift/indicator species: Nuisance species Phaeocystis
Common indicator (OSPAR 2014) / Will contribute an assessment to IA2017

Table E4: Relation between COMP application and Common Indicators

Parameters / 3rd COMP Application / Common Indicators
nutrient inputs / Synergy required between national COMP assessment and INPUT assessment for Greater North Sea and Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast – the latter for aquatic nutrient inputs only
winter nutrients
chlorophyll
oxygen / Synergy required between national COMP assessment and indicator assessment – OSPAR wide
nuisance algae: Phaeocystis / Synergy required between national COMP assessment and PhaeocystisSouth-Eastern North Sea assessment
Other COMP assessment parameters / Undertaken nationally, only in COMP

4.2Contaminants

4.2.1Hazardous substances

Theme H of JAMP

Table H1: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Ref. / Product name and short description / Delivery
H-11 / Trend Assessment results of common indicators for Hg, Cd and Pb inputs via water and air / 2016-17
H-12 / Simple CEMP roll-over Assessment (i.e. not aiming to address trends and status of all determinands) / 2015 and 2019
H-13 / Full CEMP assessment undertaken as much as possible on the basis of the requirements established for the Common Indicators
(Common Indicator assessment 1,"trial run", focus on trend) / 2016
H-14 / Final D8 common indicators’ assessment (also including any useful candidate indicators)
(common indicator assessment 2, focus on trend) / 2017

Table H2: Timeline of CEMP and Common Indicator assessments

OSPAR intersession / 2014/15 / 2015/16 / 2016/17 / 2017/18
CEMP roll-over SIMPLE1 / X / X
CEMP roll-over FULL2 / X
Indicator Assessment Sheets / X (trial) “Common Indicator Assessment 1” / X “Common Indicator Assessment 2”
Specific CEMP Assessment Sheet
Specific CEMP Fact sheet / on monitoring programme changes

1 'SIMPLE' means that the assessment report is selective in the discussion of the assessment to part of the determinands

2 The assessment of all CEMP determinands is discussed

Table H3: Common Indicators assessment sheets

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
D8 metals (biota) (HASEC) / Metal (Hg, Cd, Pb) concentrations in biota
D8 metals (sedim) (HASEC) / Metal (Hg, Cd, Pb) concentrations in sediment
D8 PCBs (biota) (HASEC) / PCB concentrations in biota
D8 PCBs (sedim) (HASEC) / PCB concentrations in sediments
D8 PAHs (biota) (HASEC) / PAHs concentrations in biota other than fish
D8 PAHs (sedim) (HASEC) / PAHs concentrations in sediments
D8 Organotin (sedim) (HASEC) / Organotin concentrations in sediments
D8 PBDE (biota) (HASEC) / PBDE concentrations in biota
D8 PBDE (sedim) (HASEC) / PBDE concentrations in sediments
D8 input metal (HASEC) / Inputs of Hg, Cd and Pb via water and air
Common indicator (OSPAR 2014) / Will contribute an assessment to IA2017

Pollution effects at population level

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
D8 imposex (HASEC) / Imposex/intersex

4.2.2Radioactive substances

Radioactive substances strategy, Theme R of JAMP

Table R1: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Ref. / Product name and short description / Delivery
R-1 / Assessment of trends in discharges of radioactive substances from nuclear and non-nuclear sources (Fourth Periodic Evaluation)
  • Fourth Periodic Evaluation and synthesis of Fourth Periodic Evaluation for inclusion in Intermediate Assessment 2017
  • Assessment Sheet on the Fourth Periodic Evaluation

4.2.3Offshore substances

Offshore oil and gas industry strategy, Theme O of JAMP

Table O1: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Ref. / Product name and short description / Delivery
O-1
O-1bis / [Assessment of impacts of certain pressures fromthe offshore oil and gas industry on the marine environment (2016 stock taking report)][2]
Assessment of certain pressures from discharges, spills and emissions from offshore installations / 2016
2017

4.3Other human activities

4.3.1Dumping of waste

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Strategy, Theme B of JAMP

Table B1: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Ref. / Product name and short description / Delivery
B-6a (EIHA) / Trend assessments of annual data on dumping of waste or other matter at sea from 2008- 2014 / 2015

4.4 Marine Litter

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Strategy, Theme B of JAMP

Table B1: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Ref. / Product name and short description / Delivery
B-1 (EIHA) / Assessment of the quantities, types, sources and trends of marine litter, including the impact of litter on the marine environment / 2016
2020

Table B2: Common Indicators assessment sheets

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
D10 on beach (EIHA) / Beach litter
D10 on seabed (EIHA) / Litter on the seabed
D10 in Fulmar (EIHA) / Fulmar litter ingestion (impact and floating litter)
Common indicator (OSPAR 2014) / Will contribute an assessment to IA2017
Will contribute partial assessment (either partial in terms of geographic scope or due to restricted data availability)

4.5Underwater energy; noise

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Strategy, Theme B of JAMP

Table B1: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Ref. / Product name and short description / Delivery
B-2 (EIHA) / Assessment of the pressure from underwater noise / 2016
2020

Table B2: Common Indicators assessment sheets

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
D11 impulsive noise (EIHA) / Impulsive noise
Common indicator (OSPAR 2014) / Will contribute an assessment to IA2017
Will contribute partial assessment (either partial in terms of geographic scope or due to restricted data availability)

5Biodiversity status

Common indicator and thematic assessments

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Strategy Theme B of JAMP

Table B3: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Ref. / Product name and short description / Delivery
B-10a (BDC) / Assessment of common biodiversity indicators / 2016
2020
B-11a (BDC) / Biennial Assessment of the Status of the OSPAR network of MPAs / Biennial

Detail of B-10a:

Key to tables:

Will contribute an assessment to IA2017 / Common indicator (OSPAR 2014)
Will contribute partial assessment (either partial in terms of geographic scope or due to restricted data availability) / Priority candidate indicator (OSPAR 2014)
Will not contribute to IA2017

5.1Non-indigenous species

Table B3: JAMP products contributing to the IA2017

Common indicator

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
NIS / Rate of new introductions of NIS

5.2Biodiversity and ecosystems

5.2.1Seabed habitats

Common indicators

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
BH2 / Condition of benthic habitat defining communities (Multi-Metric Indices)
BH3 / Physical damage of predominant and special habitats
BH4 / Area of habitat loss

5.2.2Water column habitats

Common indicators

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
PH1/FW5 / Plankton lifeform index
PH2 / Plankton biomass and/or abundance
PH3 / Plankton diversity index

5.2.3Fish

Common indicators

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
FC1 / Fish abundance
FC2 / OSPAR EcoQO proportion of large fish (LFI)
FC8 / Fish distributional pattern
FC3 / Mean maximum length of demersal fish and elasmobranchs

5.2.5Seabirds

Common indicators

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
B1 / Marine bird abundance
B3 / Marine bird breeding success/failure

5.2.6Marine mammals

Common indicators

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
M3 / Seal abundance and distribution / N/A
M4 / Cetacean abundance and distribution
M5 / Grey seal pup production / N/A
M6 / Marine mammal bycatch

5.2.7Food webs

Common indicators

Code / Title / Assessments expected to be delivered for the OSPAR Regions
Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV / Region V
FW3 / Size composition in fish communities (LFI)
FW4 / Changes in average trophic level of marine predators (cf MTI)
FW2 / Production of phytoplankton

6Ecosystem assessment outlook

Drafting led by ICG C

7Conclusions and recommendations

Drafting groupBelgium (lead), the European Union, France, Germany and Sweden.

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OSPAR Commission / ICG MAQ

[1] OSPAR Agreement 2013-08 – further referred to as the ‘Eutrophication Strategy’

[2]OSPAR 2015 agreedto invite OIC to consider whether and how the stock-taking report could contribute to the IA2017