Click to edit Master title style 1 marinescotland science Marine Strategy Framework Directive Programme of Measures Consultation Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions Descriptor 10: Marine Litter Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise

Descriptor 7: Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions does not adversely affect marine ecosystems Descriptor 10: Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment Descriptor 11: Introduction of energy, including underwater noise, is at levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment

Current Status What will GES look like ? Targets (and Indicators) Existing Measures Planned Measures Will the Proposed Measures get us to GES? Gaps and Issues

Summary of consultation questions Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions Descriptor 10: Marine Litter Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise 1 Are the proposed measures sufficient? 2 Are there any existing or planned measures we have not identified that might also contribute to achieving GES? 3 Are any new measures needed? 4 Are there any proposed measures that you think are not justified or that will not contribute towards the achievement of GES? 5 Do you agree with the justifications provided for the use of exceptions under Article 14? 6 Are there any significant human activity-related pressures that are not addressed by the proposed measures?

Descriptor 7 Hydrographical Conditions

Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions Current Status There are no significant broad-scale alterations of hydrographic conditions affecting ecosystems in UK waters beyond those currently covered by the Water Framework Directive (i.e. heavily modified water bodies)

What will GES look like ? The nature and scale of any permanent changes to the prevailing hydrographical conditions (including but not limited to salinity, temperature, pH and hydrodynamics) resulting from anthropogenic activities (individual and cumulative), having taken into account climatic or long-term cyclical processes in the marine environment, do not lead to significant long-term impacts on those biological components considered under Descriptors 1, 4, and 6 Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions

Target All developments must comply with the existing regulatory regime and guidance should be followed to ensure that regulatory assessments are undertaken in a way that ensures the full consideration of any potential impacts, including cumulative effects at the most appropriate spatial scales to ensure that GES is not compromised Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions Indicators Extent of area affected by permanent alterations Spatial extent of habitat affected by the permanent alteration

Existing Measures Marine licensing Planning Acts Maritime Spatial Planning Directive Marine planning National Marine Plan Environmental Impact Assessment Directive Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive Habitats Directive Water Framework Directive Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions

Planned Measures Marine plans –Regional Plans Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions

Will the Proposed Measures get us to GES? Existing regulatory system is sufficient to maintain GES Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions

Gaps and Issues Understanding could be improved: –Prevailing conditions Marine Scotland Science climatologies –Future climate change –Issues of aggregation e.g. EPSRC-funded TeraWatt and EcoWatt2050 Descriptor 7: Hydrographical Conditions

Descriptor 10 Marine Litter

Current Status Beach Litter: the UK initial assessment indicated problems in all regions where there are systematic surveys of beach litter Seafloor and Floating Litter: there is a lack of data to set suitable baselines There is “a limited understanding of current levels, properties and impacts of marine litter” Experts were unable to propose quantitative targets indicating the point at which GES would be achieved Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

What will GES look like ? The amount of litter, and its degradation products, on coastlines and in the marine environment are reducing over time and levels do not pose a significant risk to the coastal and marine environment, either as a result of direct mortality such as through entanglement, or by way of indirect impacts such as reduced fecundity or bioaccumulation of contaminants within food chains Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Targets Overall reduction in the number of visible litter items within specific categories/types on coastlines Surveillance indicator to monitor the quantities of litter on the seafloor Surveillance indicator to monitor the amounts of plastic found in the contents of fulmars stomachs as a method of determining litter floating at the surface (in line with OSPAR Ecological Quality Objective) Descriptor 10: Marine Litter Indicators Trends in the amount of litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines, including analysis of its composition, spatial distribution and, where possible, source Trends in the amount of litter in the water column (including floating at the service) and deposited on the seafloor, including analysis of its composition, spatial distribution and, where possible, source

Existing Measures Measures to reduce the sources of terrestrial litter Measures to reduce the sources of marine litter Measures to remove litter from the marine environment Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Existing Measures Environmental Protection Act (England, Wales and Scotland) and Litter (Northern Ireland) Order - Civic waste disposal, signage, bins, fines Cross cutting measures across communities and businesses –OSPAR Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter –Waste Prevention Programmes –Keep Britain Tidy (Keep Scotland Beautiful) –Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (Scotland) 2006 –Scottish Marine Litter Strategy 2014 Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Existing Measures Measures to reduce the sources of terrestrial litter –Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 –Single use carrier bags charge (Scotland 2014) Measures to reduce litter from waste water treatment works –Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive –Water Framework Directive –Publicity campaigns What not to put down the drains Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Existing Measures Measures to reduce the sources of marine litter –FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme –Port Reception Facilities Directive –International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) –London Convention Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Existing Measures Measures to remove litter from the marine environment –Beach clean schemes –KIMO Fishing For Litter scheme Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Planned Measures OSPAR Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter (2014) Single use carrier bags charge (England) Marine plans –Regional Marine Plans Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Will the Proposed Measures get us to GES? We are not yet able to ascertain our proximity to GES But measures will help improve current status Beach Litter: The proposed measures are expected to contribute towards an overall reduction in the number of visible litter items on coastlines Seafloor and Floating Litter: The proposed measures are expected to contribute towards an overall reduction in the amount of litter entering the marine environment. Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Gaps and Issues Further work is needed to better understand current levels, properties and impacts of marine litter on the seabed and in the water column The UK is undertaking research into the potential for microplastics to cause “harm” in the marine environment –Marine Scotland Science project The monitoring programmes we are putting in place will help us assess the need for any additional measures Descriptor 10: Marine Litter

Descriptor 11 Underwater Noise

Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise Current Status There is currently insufficient evidence to provide a quantitative assessment of underwater noise and its impacts

What will GES look like ? Loud, low and mid frequency impulsive sounds and continuous low frequency sounds introduced into the marine environment through human activities do not have adverse effects on marine ecosystems –Human activities introducing impulsive sounds into the marine environment are managed so that no significant long term adverse effects at the population level or to vulnerable/threatened species and key functional groups –Continuous low frequency sound inputs do not pose a significant risk to marine life at the population level, or to vulnerable/threatened species and key functional groups, eg through the masking of biologically significant sounds and behavioural reactions Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise

Target - Impulsive Noise To establish a “noise registry” to record, assess, and manage the distribution and timing of anthropogenic sound sources measured over the frequency band 10 Hz to 10 kHz, exceeding the energy source level 186 dB re 1 μPa² m² s; or the zero to peak source level of 224 dB re 1 μPa² m² over the entire UK hydrocarbon licence block area Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise Indicators Proportion of days and their distribution within a calendar year over areas of a determined surface, as well as their spatial distribution, in which anthropogenic sound sources exceed levels that are likely to entail significant impact on marine animals measured as Sound Exposure Level (in dB re 1μPa2.s) or as peak sound pressure level (in dB re 1μPa peak) at one metre, measured over the frequency band 10 Hz to 10 kHz

Target – Continuous Noise Surveillance indicator to monitor trends in the ambient noise level within the ⅓ octave bands 63 and 125 Hz (centre frequency) (re 1μPa RMS; average noise level in these octave bands over a year) measured by observation stations. Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise Indicators Trends in the ambient noise level within the 1/3 octave bands 63 and 125 Hz (centre frequency) (re 1μPa RMS; average noise level in these octave bands over a year) measured by observation stations and/or with the use of models if appropriate

Existing Measures Noise registry (JNCC) Marine licensing Marine planning –National Marine Plan Habitats Directive Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise

Planned Measures Marine plans –Regional Plans Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise

Will the Proposed Measures get us to GES? We are not yet able to confidently define GES or ascertain our proximity to it Development of the noise registry and an ambient noise monitoring programme will provide data to achieve a baseline This will then inform work to determine impacts of noise We can then determine what, if any, measures are needed to reach or maintain GES Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise

Gaps and Issues The impulsive noise registry and ambient noise monitoring programmes will indicate pressure, not impact –Ambient noise monitoring projects MASTS, Marine Scotland There is uncertainty over the relationship between pressure, state and impact for anthropogenic noise levels –Research projects – MASTS/SMRU/MSS ? Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise

Summary

Achievement of GES for D7, 10 & 11 D7 Hydrographical Conditions Confident that the existing regulatory system is sufficient to maintain GES D10 Marine Litter, D11 Underwater Noise Not yet able to ascertain our proximity to GES, but measures will move Descriptors in the right direction

Summary of consultation questions Descriptor 7: Hydrographical conditions Descriptor 10: Marine litter Descriptor 11: Underwater noise 1 Are the proposed measures sufficient? 2 Are there any existing or planned measures we have not identified that might also contribute to achieving GES? 3 Are any new measures needed? 4 Are there any proposed measures that you think are not justified or that will not contribute towards the achievement of GES? 5 Do you agree with the justifications provided for the use of exceptions under Article 14? 6 Are there any significant human activity-related pressures that are not addressed by the proposed measures?