Commission Decision

of 30 October 2008

establishing, pursuant to Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, the values of the Member State monitoring system classifications as a result of the intercalibration exercise

(notified under document number C(2008) 6016)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/915/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy [1], and in particular section 1.4.1(ix) of Annex V thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 4(1)(a)(ii) of Directive 2000/60/EC requires the Member States to protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface water with the aim of achieving good surface water status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of the Directive, subject to certain exceptions, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Annex V thereto. Article 4(1)(a)(iii) of Directive 2000/60/EC requires the Member States to protect and enhance all artificial and heavily modified bodies of water, with the aim of achieving good ecological potential and good surface water chemical status at the latest 15 years from the date of entry into force of that Directive, subject to certain exceptions, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Annex V thereto. In accordance with point (i) of section 1.4.1 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC the references to ecological status should be construed as references to ecological potential as regards artificial and heavily modified water bodies.

(2) Section 1.4.1 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC provides a process to ensure the comparability between Member States of biological monitoring results, being a central part of the ecological status classification. This requires the results of the Member States' monitoring and classification systems to be compared through an intercalibration network comprised of monitoring sites in each Member State and in each ecoregion of the Community. Directive 2000/60/EC requires the Member States to collect, as appropriate, the necessary information for the sites included in the intercalibration network, in order to enable the assessment of the consistency of the national classification system with the normative definitions of section 1.2 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC and the comparability of the results of classification systems between the Member States.

(3) Commission Decision 2005/646/EC of 17 August 2005 on the establishment of a register of sites to form the intercalibration network in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [2] established the register of sites to form the intercalibration network referred to in section 1.4.1(vii) of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC.

(4) In order to carry out the intercalibration exercise Member States are organised in Geographical Intercalibration Groups, consisting of Member States sharing particular surface water body types, as defined in Section 2 of the Annex to Decision 2005/646/EC. This has allowed each group to compare its results and to perform the intercalibration exercise among its members.

(5) The intercalibration exercise is carried out at biological element level, comparing the classification results of the national monitoring systems for each biological element and for each common surface water body type among Member States in the same Geographical Intercalibration Group, and assessing the consistency of the results with the aforementioned normative definitions.

(6) The "Technical report on the Water Framework Directive intercalibration exercise" describes in detail how the intercalibration exercise has been carried out for the water categories and biological quality elements included in the Annex to this Decision.

(7) The Commission has facilitated the intercalibration exercise through the Institute of Environment and Sustainability of the Joint Research Centre in Ispra (Italy) that has coordinated the technical work.

(8) The intercalibration exercise is a complex scientific and technical task. The Geographical Intercalibration Groups have used different methodological options to carry out the exercise depending on the availability of monitoring data for the various biological quality elements and the status of development of the national monitoring and classification systems. In order to increase the statistical robustness of the results, most of the methodologies used by Geographical Intercalibration Groups involve the use of data from as many monitoring points as possible, covering the whole range of status classes, from high to bad status. Therefore, monitoring data has been used from sites that are not part of the intercalibration network, as this comprises only a limited number of sites of high, good or moderate status.

(9) The Commission has received intercalibration results for a number of biological quality elements that comprise the definition of ecological status. In some cases results have been provided for only some parameters of the biological elements or for only some of the Member States participating in a Geographical Intercalibration Group. Hence, the Commission considers that, for those cases, comparability is not fully ensured. Further intercalibration results may therefore be subject to a future Decision when the relevant information in accordance with Section 1.4.1 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC will have been provided by Member States.

(10) It is necessary to adopt the available results of the intercalibration exercise on time to inform the development of the first river basin management plans and programmes of measures in accordance with Articles 11 and 13 of Directive 2000/60/EC.

(11) As a result of the intercalibration exercise, the values of the ecological quality ratios for the boundaries between ecological status classes for the Member States classification systems should represent an equivalent ecological status. The differences in values for the same biological quality element are due to differences in national methods. In addition, due to the differences in calculation methods and other reasons, it is not possible to compare the values of the ecological quality ratios across different biological quality elements.

(12) Parameters like chlorophyll-a concentration, phytoplankton biovolume, percentage of cyanobacteria or depth limits of macroalgae and angiosperms do not cover full biological quality elements. However, due to the availability of data and assessment methods, they are one of the basis of the current intercalibration exercise for lakes and coastal waters. The values of those parameters are directly comparable across Member States, provided the differences in sampling and analytical methods are taken into account. For these reasons, in addition to the ecological quality ratios, absolute values for these parameters should be included in the Annex to this Decision as part of the results of the intercalibration exercise.

(13) The results should refer to the ecological status. If water bodies corresponding to the intercalibrated types are designated as heavily modified water bodies in accordance with Article 4(3) of Directive 2000/60/EC, the results presented in the Annex to this Decision may be used to derive their good ecological potential, taken into account their physical modifications and their associated water use, in accordance with the normative definitions in Annex V, section 1.2.5, to Directive 2000/60/EC.

(14) As established in section 1.4.1(iii) of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC, Member States will have to translate the results of the intercalibration exercise into their national classification systems in order to set the boundaries between high and good status and between good and moderate status for all their national types. Guidelines to translate the intercalibration results into the national classification systems and to derive reference conditions have been developed to support the application of the results.

(15) The information that will be made available through the implementation of the monitoring programmes provided for in Article eight of Directive 2000/60/EC and the review and update of the characteristics of river basin districts provided for in Article five of Directive 2000/60/EC can bring new evidence that may lead to the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Member States' monitoring and classification systems and eventually to a review of the results of the intercalibration exercise in order to improve their quality.

(16) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 21(1) of Directive 2000/60/EC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

For the purpose of section 1.4.1(iii) of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC, Member States shall use in their monitoring systems classification the values of the boundaries between classes that are set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 30 October 2008.

For the Commission

Stravros Dimas

Member of the Commission

[1] OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1.

[2] OJ L 243, 19.9.2005, p. 1.

--------------------------------------------------

ANNEX

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Alpine

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | River characterisation | Catchment (km2) | Altitude and geomorphology | Alkalinity | Flow regime |

R-A1 | Small to medium, high altitude calcareous | 10-1000 | 800-2500 m (catchment), boulders/cobble | high (but not extremely high) alkalinity | |

R-A2 | Small to medium, high altitude, siliceous | 10-1000 | 500-1000 m (max. altitude of catchment 3000 m, mean 1500 m), boulders | Non-calcareous (granite, metamorphic). medium to low alkalinity | nival-glacial flow regime |

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated

Type R-A1: Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Slovenia

Type R-A2: Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

Type and country | National classification systems intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-good boundary | Good-moderate boundary |

Type R-A1 |

Austria | Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index) | 0,80 | 0,60 |

France | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,93 | 0,79 |

Germany | PERLODES — Bewertungsverfahren von Flie?gew?ssern auf Basis des Makrozoobenthos | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Italy | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,97 | 0,73 |

Slovenia | Slovenian Benthic Invertebrate Assessment System: Multimetric index (Hydromorphology/General degradation), Saprobic Index | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Type R-A2 |

Austria | Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index) | 0,80 | 0,60 |

France (Alps) | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,93 | 0,71 |

France (Pyrenees) | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,94 | 0,81 |

Italy | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,95 | 0,71 |

Spain | Iberian BMWP (IBMWP) | 0,83 | 0,53 |

Biological Quality Element: Phytobenthos

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

Type and country | National classification systems intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Type R-A1 |

Austria | Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species) | 0,87 | 0,56 |

France | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,86 | 0,71 |

Germany | Deutsches Bewertungsverfahren für Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB) | 0,73 | 0,54 |

Slovenia | Multimetric method consisting of two modules/metrics | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Type R-A2 |

Austria | Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species) | 0,87 | 0,56 |

France | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,86 | 0,71 |

Spain | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) (Lenoir & Coste, 1996) | 0,94 | 0,74 |

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Central/Baltic

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | River characterisation | Catchment (km2) | Altitude & geomorphology | Alkalinity (meq/l) |

R-C1 | Small lowland siliceous sand | 10-100 | lowland, dominated by sandy substrate (small particle size), 3-8 m width (bankfull size) | > 0,4 |

R-C2 | Small lowland siliceous — rock | 10-100 | lowland, rock material 3-8m width (bankfull size) | < 0,4 |

R-C3 | Small mid-altitude siliceous | 10-100 | mid-altitude, rock (granite) — gravel substrate, 2-10 m width (bankfull size) | < 0,4 |

R-C4 | Medium lowland mixed | 100-1000 | lowland, sandy to gravel substrate, 8-25m width (bankfull size) | > 0,4 |

R-C5 | Large lowland mixed | 1000-10000 | lowland, barbel zone, variation in velocity, max. altitude in catchment: 800m, > 25 m width (bankfull size) | > 0,4 |

R-C6 | Small, lowland, calcareous | 10-300 | lowland, gravel substrate (limestone), width 3-10 m (bankfull size) | > 2 |

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-C1: Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom

Type R-C2: Spain, France, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom

Type R-C3: Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, United Kingdom

Type R-C4: Belgium (Flanders), Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom

Type R-C5: Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland. Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom

Type R-C6: Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Sweden, United Kingdom

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification system intercalibrated

The following results apply to all types as described above.

Country | National classification system intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Austria | Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Belgium (Flanders) | Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) | 0,90 | 0,70 |

Belgium (Wallonia) | Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN) (Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350, 1992) and "Provisional Definition of the Good Status", Ministry of the Walloon Region (2007) | 0,97 | 0,74 |

Denmark | Danish Stream Fauna Index (DSFI) | 1,00 | 0,71 |

Germany | PERLODES –Bewertungsverfahren von Flie?gew?ssern auf Basis des Makrozoobenthos | 0,80 | 0,60 |

France | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,94 | 0,80 |

Ireland | Quality Rating System (Q-value) | 0,85 | 0,75 |

Italy | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,96 | 0,72 |

Luxembourg | Classification luxembourgeoise DCE, Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN), Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350, 1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 07 No 4 of 11 April 2007 | 0,96 | 0,72 |

Netherlands | KRW-maatlat | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Poland | BMWP (BMWP-PL) verified by modified Margalef diversity index | 0,89 | 0,68 |

Spain | North Spain Multimetric Indices | 0,93 | 0,70 |

Sweden | DJ-index (Dahl & Johnson 2004) | 0,80 | 0,60 |

United Kingdom | River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT) | 0,97 | 0,86 |

Biological Quality Element: Phytobenthos

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification system intercalibrated

Country | National classification system intercalibrated | Type | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Austria | Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species) | All types, altitude < 500 m | 0,70 | 0,42 |

All types, altitude > 500 m | 0,71 | 0,42 |

Belgium (Flanders) | Proportions of Impact-Sensitive and Impact-Associated Diatoms (PISIAD) | All types | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Belgium (Wallonia) | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) AFNOR norm NF T 90-354 (2000) and "Provisional Definition of the Good Status", Ministry of the Walloon Region (2007) | All types | 0,93 | 0,68 |

Estonia | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | All types | 0,85 | 0,70 |

France | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | National Types 1, 2 and 4 | 0,93 | 0,80 |

National Type 3 | 0,92 | 0,77 |

Germany | Deutsches Bewertungsverfahren für Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB) | R-C1 | 0,67 | 0,43 |

R-C3 | 0,67 | 0,43 |

R-C4 | 0,61 | 0,43 |

R-C5 | 0,73 | 0,55 |

Ireland | Revised form of Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) | All types | 0,93 | 0,78 |

Luxembourg | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | All types | 0,85 | 0,70 |

Netherlands | KRW Maatlat | All types | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Spain | Diatom multimetric (MDIAT) | All types | 0,93 | 0,70 |

Sweden | Swedish assessment methods, Swedish EPA regulations (NFS 2008:1) based on Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | All types | 0,89 | 0,74 |

United Kingdom | Diatom Assessment for River Ecological Status (DARES) | All types | 0,93 | 0,78 |

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Eastern Continental

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | River characterisation | Ecoregion | Catchment (km2) | Altitude (m) | Geology | Substrate |

R-E1 | Carpathians: small to medium, mid-altitude | 10 | 10 — 1000 | 500 — 800 | siliceous | gravel and boulder |

R-E2 | Plains: medium-sized, lowland | 11 and 12 | 100 — 1000 | < 200 | mixed | sand and silt |

R-E4 | Plains: medium-sized, mid-altitude | 11 and 12 | 100 — 1000 | 200 — 500 | mixed | sand and gravel |

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-E1: Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia

Type R-E2: Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia

Type R-E4: Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

Type and country | National classification system intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Type R-E1, R-E2, R-E4 |

Slovakia | Slovak System for Ecological River Status Assessment | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Type R-E4 |

Austria | Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index) | 0,80 | 0,60 |

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Mediterranean

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | River characterisation | Catchment (km2) | Altitude (m) | Geology | Flow regime |

R-M1 | Small mid-altitude Mediterranean streams | 10-100 | 200-800 | Mixed | Highly seasonal |

R-M2 | Small/Medium lowland Mediterranean streams | 10-1000 | < 400 | Mixed | Highly seasonal |

R-M4 | Small/Medium Mediterranean mountain streams | 10-1000 | 400-1500 | Non-silicious | Highly seasonal |

R-M5 | Small, lowland, temporary | 10-100 | < 300 | Mixed | Temporary |

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-M1: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain

Type R-M2: France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain

Type R-M4: Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain

Type R-M5: Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

Type and country | National classification system intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

R-M1 |

France | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,94 | 0,81 |

Greece | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,95 | 0,71 |

Italy | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,97 | 0,72 |

Portugal | North Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIN | 0,92 | 0,69 |

Spain | IBMWP | 0,78 | 0,48 |

R-M2 |

Greece | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,94 | 0,71 |

Italy | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,94 | 0,70 |

Portugal | North Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIN | 0,87 | 0,66 |

R-M4 |

Cyprus | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,97 | 0,73 |

Greece | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,96 | 0,72 |

Italy | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,94 | 0,70 |

Spain | IBMWP | 0,83 | 0,51 |

R-M5 |

Italy | STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) | 0,97 | 0,73 |

Portugal | South Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIS | 0,98 | 0,72 |

Spain | IBMWP | 0,91 | 0,55 |

Biological Quality Element: Phytobenthos

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

Type and country | National classification system intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

R-M1 |

France | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,93 | 0,80 |

Portugal | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | 0,84 | 0,62 |

Spain | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | 0,90 | 0,67 |

R-M2 |

France | Classification fran?aise DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 | 0,93 | 0,80 |

Portugal | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | 0,84 | 0,62 |

Spain | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | 0,93 | 0,70 |

R-M4 |

Spain | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | 0,91 | 0,68 |

R-M5 |

Portugal | European Index (CEE) | 0,85 | 0,64 |

Spain | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | 0,95 | 0,71 |

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Northern

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | River characterisation | Catchment area (of stretch) | Altitude & geomorphology | Alkalinity (meq/l) | Organic material (mg Pt/l) |

R-N1 | Small lowland siliceous moderate alkalinity | 10-100 km2 | < 200 m or below the highest coastline | 0,2 — 1 | < 30 (< 150 in Ireland) |

R-N3 | Small/medium lowland organic | 10-1000 km2 | < 0,2 | > 30 |

R-N4 | Medium lowland siliceous moderate alkalinity | 100-1000 km2 | 0,2 — 1 | < 30 |

R-N5 | Small mid-altitude siliceous | 10-100 km2 | Between lowland and highland | < 0,2 | < 30 |

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-N1: Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

Type R-N3: Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

Type R-N4: Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

Type R-N5: Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated

The following results apply to all types as described above

Country | National classification system intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Finland | Multimetric system, first version established | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Ireland | Quality Rating System (Q-value) | 0,85 | 0,75 |

Norway | Average Score per Taxon (ASPT) | 0,99 | 0,87 |

Sweden | DJ-index (Dahl & Johnson 2004) | 0,80 | 0,60 |

United Kingdom | River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT) | 0,97 | 0,86 |

Biological Quality Element: Phytobenthos

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

The following results apply to all types as described above

Country | National classification system intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Finland | Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | 0,91 | 0,80 |

Ireland | Revised form of Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) | 0,93 | 0,78 |

Sweden | Swedish assessment methods, Swedish EPA regulations (NFS 2008:1) based on Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) | 0,89 | 0,74 |

United Kingdom | Diatom Assessment for River Ecological Status (DARES) | 0,93 | 0,78 |

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Atlantic

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | Lake characterisation | Altitude (m above sea level) | Mean depth (m) | Alkalinity (meq/l) |

LA1/2 | Lowland, shallow, calcareous, small and large | < 200 | 3-15 | > 1 |

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Ireland and United Kingdom

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l) |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

LA1/2 | 0,55 | 0,32 | 4,6 — 7,0 | 8,0 — 12,0 |

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Alpine

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | Lake characterisation | Altitude (m above sea level) | Mean depth (m) | Alkalinity (meq/l) | Lake size (km2) |

L-AL3 | Lowland or mid-altitude, deep, moderate to high alkalinity (alpine influence), large | 50 — 800 | > 15 | > 1 | > 0,5 |

L-AL4 | Mid-altitude, shallow, moderate to high alkalinity (alpine influence), large | 200 — 800 | 3 — 15 | > 1 | > 0,5 |

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types L-AL3 and L-AL4: Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of biomass

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results refer to annual mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States may choose to use Chlorophyll a, total biovolume, or both parameters.

Chlorophyll a

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l) |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

L-AL3 | 0,70 | 0,40 | 2,1 — 2,7 | 3,8 — 4,7 |

L-AL4 | 0,75 | 0,41 | 3,6 — 4,4 | 6,6 — 8,0 |

Total biovolume

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Total biovolumes (mm3/l) |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

L-AL3 | 0,60 | 0,25 | 0,3 — 0,5 | 0,8 — 1,2 |

L-AL4 | 0,64 | 0,26 | 0,8 — 1,1 | 1,9 — 2,7 |

Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national parameters intercalibrated

Country | National parameters intercalibrated | Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Class boundaries |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Austria Slovenia | Brettum index | L-AL3 | 0,94 | 0,83 | 4,12—4,34 | 3,64—3,83 |

L-AL4 | 0,94 | 0,81 | 3,69—3,87 | 3,20—3,34 |

Germany | PTSI (Phytoplankton Taxa Lake Index) | L-AL3 | 0,60 | 0,43 | 1,25 | 1,75 |

L-AL4 | 0,71 | 0,56 | 1,75 | 2,25 |

Italy | PTIot (Phytoplankton Taxa Index) | L-AL3 (mean depth < 100m) | 0,95 | 0,89 | 3,43 | 3,22 |

L-AL4 | 0,95 | 0,85 | 3,37 | 3,01 |

PTIspecies (Phytoplankton Taxa Index) | L-AL 3 (mean depth > 100m) | 0,93 | 0,82 | 4,00 | 3,50 |

Biological Quality Element: Macrophytes

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated

Type and country | National classification systems intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Austria Type L-AL3 and L-AL4 | Austrian macrophyte assessment system: Austrian Index Macrophytes for Lakes (AIM for Lakes), Module 1 | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Germany Type L-AL3 | German macrophyte/phytobenthos assessment system: Module 1 | 0,78 | 0,51 |

Germany Type L-AL4 | German macrophyte/phytobenthos assessment system: Modules 1 + 2 | 0,71 | 0,47 |

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Central/Baltic

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | Lake characterisation | Altitude (m above sea level) | Mean depth (m) | Alkalinity (meq/l) | Hydrological residence time (years) |

L-CB1 | Lowland, shallow, calcareous | < 200 | 3 — 15 | > 1 | 1 — 10 |

L-CB2 | Lowland, very shallow, calcareous | < 200 | < 3 | > 1 | 0,1 — 1 |

L-CB3 | Lowland, shallow, small, siliceous (moderate alkalinity) | < 200 | 3 — 15 | 0,2 — 1 | 1 — 10 |

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types L-CB1 and L-CB2: Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom.

Type L-CB3: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Latvia, Poland.

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type.

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l) |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

L-CB1 | 0,55 | 0,32 | 4,6 — 7,0 | 8,0 — 12,0 |

L-CB2 | 0,63 | 0,30 | 9,9 — 11,7 | 21,0 — 25,0 |

L-CB3 | 0,57 | 0,31 | 4,3 — 6,5 | 8,0 — 12,0 |

Biological Quality Element: Macrophytes

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated

The following results apply to LCB1 and LCB2 types

Country | National classification systems intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Belgium | Flemish macrophyte assessment system | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Germany | German macrophyte assessment system: Reference Index | 0,75 | 0,50 |

Estonia | Estonian macrophyte assessment system | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Latvia | Latvian macrophyte assessment system | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Netherlands | Dutch macrophyte assessment system (KRW Maatlat) | 0,80 | 0,60 |

United Kingdom | UK macrophyte assessment system: LEAFPACS | 0,80 | 0,60 |

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Mediterranean

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | Lake characterisation | Altitude (m) | Annual mean Precipitation (mm) and T ( oC) | Mean depth (m) | Alkalinity (meq/l) | Lake size (km2) |

L-M5/7 | Reservoirs, deep, large, siliceous, "wet areas", catchment < 20000km2 | 0 — 800 | > 800 or < 15 | > 15 | < 1 | > 0,5 |

L-M8 | Reservoirs, deep, large, calcareous, catchment < 20000km2 | 0 — 800 | — | > 15 | > 1 | > 0,5 |

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Type L-M5/7: Greece, France, Portugal, Spain, Romania.

Type L-M8: Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Romania.

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of biomass

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results refer to summer mean values, euphotic depth and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States may choose to use Chlorophyll a, total biovolume, or both parameters.

Chlorophyll a

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l) |

Good-Moderate boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

L-M5/7 | 0,21 | 6,7 — 9,5 |

L-M8 | 0,43 | 4,2 — 6,0 |

Total biovolume

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Total biovolumes (mm3/l) |

Good-Moderate boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

L-M5/7 | 0,19 | 1,9 |

L-M8 | 0,36 | 2,1 |

Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results refer to summer mean values, euphotic depth and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States must use at least one of the intercalibrated parameters (percentage of Cyanobacteria, Catalan index, Med PTI index)

Percentage of Cyanobacteria

Type and country | Ecological Quality Ratios | % of Cyanobacteria |

Good-Moderate boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Type L-M5/7 |

All countries sharing the type | 0,91 | 9,2 |

Type L-M8 |

All countries sharing the type | 0,72 | 28,5 |

Ecological quality ratios calculated as EQR = (100 - boundary value)/(100 - reference value)

Catalan index

Type and country | Ecological Quality Ratios | Catalan index |

Good-Moderate boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Type L-M5/7 |

All countries sharing the type | 0,97 | 10,6 |

Type L-M8 |

All countries sharing the type | 0,98 | 7,7 |

Ecological quality ratios calculated as EQR = (400 - boundary value)/(400 - reference value)

Med PTI index

Type and country | Ecological Quality Ratios | Med PTI |

Good-Moderate boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Type L-M5/7 |

All countries sharing the type | 0,75 | 2,32 |

Type L-M8 |

All countries sharing the type | 0,77 | 2,38 |

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Northern

Description of the types that have been intercalibrated

Type | Lake characterisation | Altitude (m above sea level) | Mean depth (m) | Alkalinity (meq/l) | Colour (mg Pt/l) |

LN1 | Lowland, shallow, moderate alkalinity, clear | < 200 | 3–15 | 0,2–1 | < 30 |

LN2a | Lowland, shallow, low alkalinity, clear | < 200 | 3–15 | < 0,2 | < 30 |

LN2b | Lowland, deep, low alkalinity, clear | < 200 | > 15 | < 0,2 | < 30 |

LN3a | Lowland, shallow, low alkalinity, meso-humic | < 200 | 3–15 | < 0,2 | 30–90 |

LN5 | Mid-altitude, shallow, low alkalinity, clear | 200-800 | 3–15 | < 0,2 | < 30 |

LN6a | Mid-altitude, shallow, low alkalinity meso-humic | 200-800 | 3–15 | < 0,2 | 30–90 |

LN8a | Lowland, shallow, moderate alkalinity, meso-humic | < 200 | 3–15 | 0,2–1 | 30–90 |

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types LN1, LN2a, LN3a, LN8a: Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Types LN2b, LN5 and LN6a: Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l) |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

LN1 | 0,50 | 0,33 | 5,0 — 7,0 | 7,5 — 10,5 |

LN2a | 0,50 | 0,29 | 3,0 — 5,0 | 5,0 — 8,5 |

LN2b | 0,50 | 0,33 | 3,0 — 5,0 | 4,5 — 7,5 |

LN3a | 0,50 | 0,30 | 5,0 — 7,0 | 8,0 — 12,0 |

LN5 | 0,50 | 0,33 | 2,0 — 4,0 | 3,0 — 6,0 |

LN6a | 0,50 | 0,33 | 4,0 — 6,0 | 6,0 — 9,0 |

LN8a | 0,50 | 0,33 | 7,0 — 10,0 | 10,5 — 15,0 |

Biological Quality Element: Macrophytes

Description of the types that have been intercalibrated (for macrophytes intercalibration only)

Type | Lake characterisation | Alkalinity (meq/l) | Color(mg Pt/l) |

101. | Low alkalinity, clear | 0,05 — 0,2 | < 30 |

102. | Low alkalinity, humic | 0,05 — 0,2 | > 30 |

201. | Moderate alkalinity, clear | 0,2 — 1,0 | < 30 |

202. | Moderate alkalinity, humic | 0,2 — 1,0 | > 30 |

301. | High alkalinity, clear | > 1,0 | < 30 |

302. | High alkalinity, humic | > 1,0 | > 30 |

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types 101, 102, 201 and 202: Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Type 301: Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Type 302: Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems methods

Country | National classification system intercalibrated | Type | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Ireland | Free Macrophyte Index | All types intercalibrated | 0,90 | 0,68 |

Sweden | Macrophyte Trophic index (Ecke) | Type 101 | 0,98 | 0,79 |

Type 102 | 0,98 | 0,88 |

Type 201 | 0,94 | 0,83 |

Type 202 | 0,96 | 0,83 |

Norway | Macrophyte Trophic Index (Mjelde) | Type 101 | 0,94 | 0,61 |

Type 102 | 0,96 | 0,65 |

Type 201 | 0,91 | 0,72 |

Type 202 | 0,9 | 0,77 |

Type 301 | 0,92 | 0,69 |

United Kingdom | UK macrophyte assessment system: LEAFPACS | All types intercalibrated | 0,80 | 0,60 |

WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Baltic Sea GIG

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | Salinity psu | Exposure | Depth | Ice days | Other Characteristics |

CW B0 | 0,5- 3 | Sheltered | Shallow | > 150 | Sites in Botnian Bay (Northern Quark) |

CW B2 | 3-6 | Sheltered | Shallow | 90 — 150 | Sites in Bothnian Sea |

CW B3 a | 3-6 | Sheltered | Shallow | ~90 | Sites in the area extending from the southern Bothnian Sea to the Archipelago Sea and the western Gulf of Finland |

CW B3 b | 3-6 | Exposed | Shallow | ~90 |

CW B12 a Eastern Baltic Sea | 5-8 | Sheltered | Shallow | — | Sites in the Gulf of Riga, |

CW B12 b Western Baltic Sea | 8 — 22 | Sheltered | Shallow | — | Sites at the Southern Swedish coast and the South western Baltic Sea open coast along Denmark and Germany |

CW B13 | 6-22 | Exposed | Shallow | — | Sites along the coast of the Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Polish coast and the Danish island Bornholm |

CW B 14 | 6-22 | Sheltered | Shallow | — | Lagoons |

TW B 13 | 6-22 | Exposed | Shallow | — | Transitional water. Sites along the coast of Lithuania and Poland |

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types CWB0, CWB2, CWB3a, CWB3b: Finland, Sweden.

Type CWB12a: Estonia

Type CWB12b: Germany, Denmark, Sweden.

Type CWB13: Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland.

Type CWB14: Denmark, Poland

Type TWB13: Lithuania, Poland.

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

Type and country | National classification system intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

CW B0 |

Finland | BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index | 0,99 | 0,59 |

Sweden | BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) | 0,77 | 0,31 |

CW B2 |

Finland | BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index | 0,95 | 0,57 |

Sweden | BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) | 0,76 | 0,29 |

CW B3 a |

Finland | BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index | 0,89 | 0,53 |

Sweden | BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) | 0,76 | 0,29 |

CW B3 b |

Finland | BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index | 0,90 | 0,54 |

Sweden | BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) | 0,76 | 0,29 |

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results refer to summer mean May/June — September

Type and country | Ecological Quality Ratios for the national classification systems | Parameter values/ranges Chlorophyll a μg/l |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High/-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

CW B0 | | | | |

All countries sharing the type | 0,76 | 0,56 | 1,7 (1,5 — 1,8) | 2,3 (2,0 -2,7) |

CW B2 | | | | |

All countries sharing the type | 0,78 | 0,56 | 1,8 | 2,5 (2,3 -2,6) |

CW B3 a | | | | |

Sheltered All countries sharing the type | 0,71 | 0,49 | 2,4 (2,2 — 2,6) | 3,5 (2,9 — 4,0) |

CW B3 b | | | | |

Exposed All countries sharing the type | 0,81 | 0,68 | 1,5 | 1,8 |

CW B 12 a | | | | |

Eastern Baltic Sea Salinity 5-8 psu All countries sharing the type | 0,82 | 0,66 | 2,2 | 2,7 |

CW B 12 b | | | | |

Western Baltic Sea Salinity8 -22 psu All countries sharing the type | 0,92 | 0,63 | 1,3 (1,1 — 1,5) | 1,9 |

CW B 13 | | | | |

Denmark, Estonia and Latvia | 0,92 | 0,75 | 1,3 | 1,6 |

CW B 14 | | | | |

Denmark | 0,82 | 0,56 | 1,1 | 1,6 |

TW B 13 | | | | |

All countries sharing the type | 0,90 | 0,66 | 4,2 | 5,8 |

Biological Quality Element: Angiosperms

Angiosperms: parameter indicative of abundance (Depth limit of Eelgrass Zostera marina)

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

Type and country | Ecological Quality Ratios for the national classification systems | Parameter values/ranges Depth limit (m) Eelgrass Zostera marina |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High/-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

CW B 12 b | | | | |

Denmark and Germany Open coast | 0,90 | 0,74 | 8,5 (8,0 — 9,4) | 7 (6,6 — 7,1) |

WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: North East Atlantic

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | Characterisation | Salinity (psu) Tidal Range(m) Depth(m) | Current Velocity (knots) Exposure | Mixing Residence Time |

NEA1/26a | Open oceanic, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow | > 30 Mesotidal 1 — 5 < 30 | Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or sheltered | Fully mixed Days |

NEA1/26b | Enclosed seas, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow | > 30 Mesotidal 1 — 5 < 30 | Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or sheltered | Fully mixed Days |

NEA1/26c | Enclosed seas, enclosed or sheltered, partly stratified | > 30 Microtidal/Mesotidal < 1 — 5 < 30 | Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or sheltered | Partly stratified Days to weeks |

NEA1/26d | Scandinavian coast, exposed or sheltered, shallow | > 30 Microtidal < 1 < 30 | Low < 1 Exposed or moderately exposed | Partly stratified Days to weeks |

NEA1/26e | Areas of upwelling, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow | > 30 Mesotidal 1 — 5 < 30 | Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or sheltered | Fully mixed Days |

NEA3/4 | Polyhaline, exposed or moderately exposed (Wadden Sea type) | Polyhaline 18 — 30 Mesotidal 1 — 5 < 30 | Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or moderately exposed | Fully mixed Days |

NEA7 | Deep fjordic and sea loch systems | > 30 Mesotidal 1 -5 > 30 | Low < 1 Sheltered | Fully mixed Days |

NEA8 | Skagerrak Inner Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, sheltered, shallow | Polyhaline 18 — 30 Microtidal < 1 < 30 | Low < 1 Sheltered | Partly stratified Days to weeks |

NEA9 | Fjord with a shallow sill at the mouth with a very deep maximum depth in the central basin with poor deepwater exchange | Polyhaline 18 — 30 Microtidal < 1 > 30 | Low < 1 Sheltered | Partly stratified Weeks |

NEA10 | Skagerrak Outer Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, exposed, deep | Polyhaline 18 — 30 Microtidal < 1 > 30 | Low < 1 Exposed | Partly stratified Days |

NEA11 | Transitional Waters | Oligohaline 0 — 35 Micro to macrotidal < 30 | Variable Sheltered or moderately exposed | Partly or permanently stratified Days to weeks |

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type NEA1/26a: Spain, France, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom

Type NEA1/26b: Belgium, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom

Type NEA1/26c: Germany, Denmark

Type NEA1/26d: Denmark

Type NEA1/26e: Portugal, Spain

Type NEA3/4: Germany, Netherlands

Type NEA7: Norway, United Kingdom

Type NEA8: Denmark, Norway, Sweden

Type NEA9: Norway, Sweden

Type NEA10: Norway, Sweden

Type NEA11: Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

The results are applicable to soft sediment habitats only (subtidal mud/sand habitats).

Type and country | National classification system | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Types NEA1/26, NEA 3/4 and NEA7 (Indices responsive primarily to organic enrichment and toxic pollution pressures in soft sediment habitats) |

Denmark | DKI | 0,67 | 0,53 |

France | M-AMBI | 0,77 | 0,53 |

Germany | M-AMBI | 0,85 | 0,70 |

Ireland | IQI | 0,75 | 0,64 |

Norway | NQI | 0,92 | 0,81 |

Portugal | P-BAT | 0,79 | 0,58 |

Spain | M-AMBI | 0,77 | 0,53 |

United Kingdom | IQI | 0,75 | 0,64 |

Types NEA1/26 and NEA3/4 (Index responsive to multiple pressures in multiple habitats) |

Belgium | BEQI | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Netherlands | BEQI | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Types NEA8/9/10 |

Denmark | DKI | 0,82 | 0,63 |

Norway | NQI | 0,92 | 0,81 |

Sweden | BQI | 0,89 | 0,68 |

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results apply to all countries sharing the types. Parameter values are expressed in μg/l as the 90 %ile value calculated over the defined growing season in a six year period. The results relate to geographic areas within the types as described in the technical report.

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Values (μg/l, 90 %ile |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

NEA1/26a | 0,67 | 0,33 | 1 — 5 | 2 — 10 |

NEA1/26b | 0,67 | 0,44 | 6 — 10 | 9 — 15 |

NEA1/26c | 0,67 | 0,44 | 5 | 7,5 |

NEA1/26d | 0,67 | 0,50 | 3 | 4 |

NEA1/26e | 0,67 | 0,44 | 6 — 8 | 9 — 12 |

NEA8 | 0,67 | 0,33 | 1,5 | 3 |

NEA9 | 0,67 | 0,33 | 2,5 | 5 |

NEA10 | 0,67 | 0,33 | 3 | 6 |

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of blooms

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

Type and country | National parameter intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios | Values ( % single taxa counts above thresholds) |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

NEA1/26a/b, NEA3/4 |

Belgium | | | | | |

Germany | | | | | |

Netherlands | | | | | |

UK | Phaeocystis Blooms | 0,92 | 0,49 | 9 | 17 |

NEA1/26a/b |

Spain | | | | | |

France | | | | | |

Ireland | | | | | |

UK | Taxa cell counts | 0,84 | 0,43 | 20 | 39 |

NEA1/26e |

Portugal | | | | | |

Spain | Taxa cell counts | 0,83 | 0,51 | 30 | 49 |

Biological Quality Element: Macroalgae

Macroalgae: parameter indicative of composition

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national parameter intercalibrated

Type and country | National parameter intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

NEA1/26 |

Ireland | Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Norway | Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System | 0,80 | 0,60 |

United Kingdom | Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System | 0,80 | 0,60 |

Spain | Multimetric System CFR | 0,81 | 0,57 |

Portugal | Multimetric System p-MarMAT | 0,82 | 0,64 |

Ireland United Kingdom | Opportunistic Macroalgae Multimetric System | 0,80 | 0,60 |

NEA8/9/10 |

Norway Sweden | Subtidal Algae (Depth Limit of macroalgal Species) | 0,81 | 0,61 |

Biological Quality Element: Angiosperms

Angiosperms: parameter indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national parameter intercalibrated

Type and country | National parameter intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios | Parameter values [*] |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

NEA1/26, NEA 3/4, NEA11 |

Ireland Netherlands UK | Intertidal Seagrass Abundance (density) and Species Composition Multimetric | 0,90 | 0,70 | Not applicable | Not applicable |

NEA1/26, NEA3/4 |

Germany Ireland Netherlands UK | Intertidal Seagrass (Area: Acreage/bed extent) | 0,90 | 0,70 | 10 | 30 |

WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Mediterranean

Results apply to coastal waters only.

Typology has been developed for specific quality elements only (see below).

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems

The following results apply to soft sediments only

Country | National classification systems intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Cyprus | Bentix | 0,75 | 0,58 |

Greece | Bentix | 0,75 | 0,58 |

Slovenia | M-AMBI | 0,83 | 0,62 |

Spain | MEDOCC index | 0,73 | 0,47 |

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Description of types that have been intercalibrated (applicable for phytoplankton only)

Type | Description | Density (kg/m3) | Annual mean Salinity (psu) |

Type I | Highly influenced by freshwater input | < 25 | < 34,5 |

Type IIA | Moderately influenced by freshwater input (continent influence) | 25-27 | 34,5-37,5 |

Type IIIW | Continental coast, not influenced by freshwater input (Western Basin). | > 27 | > 37,5 |

Type IIIE | Not influenced by freshwater input (Eastern Basin) | > 27 | > 37,5 |

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated

Type I: France, Italy

Type IIA: France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia

Type IIIW: France, Spain, Italy

Type IIIE: Greece, Cyprus

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

The following results apply to all countries sharing the types. Parameter values are expressed in μg/l of Chlorophyll a, for the 90th percentile calculated over the year in at least a five year period. The results relate to geographic areas within the types as described in the technical report..

Type | Ecological Quality Ratios | Values (μg/l, 90 %ile) |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Type IIA | 0,80 | 0,53 | 2,4 | 3,6 |

Type IIIW | 0,80 | 0,50 | 1,1 | 1,8 |

Type IIIE | 0,80 | 0,20 | 0,1 | 0,4 |

Biological Quality Element: Macroalgae

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems

The following results apply to the upper infralittoral zone (3,5 — 0,2 m depth) in rocky coasts:

Country | National classification systems intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Cyprus | EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index | 0,75 | 0,50 |

France | CARLIT — Cartography of Littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities | 0,75 | 0,60 |

Greece | EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index | 0,75 | 0,50 |

Slovenia | EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index | 0,75 | 0,50 |

Spain | CARLIT-BENTHOS | 0,75 | 0,60 |

WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional

GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Black Sea

Description of types that have been intercalibrated

Type | Description |

CW-BL1 | Mesohaline, microtidal (< 1 m), shallow (< 30 m), moderately exposed, mixed substratum |

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Bulgaria and Romania

RESULTS

Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass

Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

Season | Ecological Quality Ratios | Biomass values (mg/m3) |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary | High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Winter | 0,93 | 0,78 | 1770 | 3420 |

Spring | 0,93 | 0,78 | 3515 | 5690 |

Summer | 0,93 | 0,78 | 1281 | 2526 |

Autumn | 0,93 | 0,78 | 1840 | 3640 |

Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrates fauna

Results: Ecological quality ratios of national parameters intercalibrated

Member States must use at least one of the intercalibrated parameters (Shannon diversity index H’, AMBI, M-AMBI)

National parameters intercalibrated | Ecological Quality Ratios |

High-Good boundary | Good-Moderate boundary |

Shannon diversity index H’ | 0,89 | 0,69 |

AMBI | 0,83 | 0,53 |

M-AMBI | 0,85 | 0,55 |

[*] Intertidal seagrass values expressed as percentage areal loss from reference area.

--------------------------------------------------