1. Article 8 Guidance – Integration levels and methods
Suzannah Walmsley
WG GES, 21 June 2016, Brussels

2. Objectives of Guidance
Requested by DG GES to provide consistent and coherent approach to Article 8 assessments
Based on revised Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards for GES and outputs from MS Workshop (20-21 April 2016, Brussels)
Key points:
Sequence for integration of criteria
Methods for integration
Level at which integration stops
Presentation of assessment outputs

3. Current state-of-play
Introduction – draft, to be further developed
Overarching Principles – draft, to be developed after descriptors are further developed
All pressure descriptors drafted
All state descriptors drafted:
Requesting input from WG GES to advise on recommended levels and methods for integration

4. D2 – Non-Indigenous Species
D2C1 single indicator. D2C2, D2C3 species- and habitat-specific, feed in to D1
Status of D2 determined by D2C1 only

5. D2 – Non-Indigenous Species
No outstanding issues for D2
A draft section for D2 was not available for discussion at the Workshop
No comments were received from DG GES on this section in the commenting round following the Workshop
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D2

6. D5 – Eutrophication
Level 2 – regionally-agreed, may use e.g weighted averaging or scoring.
Level 3 – criteria brought together to direct/indirect effects; regionally-agreed either OOAO or weighted averaging
Level 4 – OOAO across nutrient enrichment, direct and indirect effects

7. D5 – Eutrophication
Integration approach groups criteria into direct and indirect effects (following feedback from the workshop)
Provision of outputs suitable to inform assessments of pelagic and benthic habitats under D1 and D6 still need to be defined
Integration rules for levels 3 and 4:
The Workshop did not agree on a single approach – possible available methods were recorded, and recommendation for OOAO to be used only on one of the levels only (not both)
WG GES is invited to narrow down the options for assessment to progress on comparability and coherence based on the above recommendation for methods of integration at level 3 and level 4
Using WFD assessment results, either:
use the WFD water body status classification, MSFD D5 assessment only for waters beyond 1 nm/WFD water bodies
use the WFD assessment results for the relevant criteria, combine following same integration scheme as offshore waters
WG GES is invited to agree on the approach for integrating WFD assessment results for D5 assessment

8. D8 – Contaminants
Level 2 – criterion-specific. D8C1 OOAO of contaminant indicators (single or groups of substances)
Level 3 – no integration. D8C1, D8C2, D8C3 contribute to status of D8

9. D8 – Contaminants (D8C1, D8C2)
Level 2: The workshop did not agree levels and methods of integration, 2 opinions (indicators are integrated using OOAO; indicators are not integrated, but summary ratios can be presented)
WG GES is invited to conclude on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D8C1, noting :
the proposed definition of ‘contaminant’ providing flexibility for regional agreement of the assessment
the presentation of the ratio of substances below and above thresholds under Opinion 2 will also require combining matrix results to express the status for the contaminant
the recommendation of the Workshop to include an indication of ‘legacy’ substances in the assessment output
Level 3: Role of D8C2, weighting
WG GES is invited to conclude on the recommended level and method of integration for level 3 and the role of D8C2 with a view to informing the discussions on the revision of COM Decision.

10. D8 – Contaminants (D8C3, D8C4)
The workshop did not discuss these criteria in detail, which were not anticipated to contribute to GES
WG GES is invited to advise on the role of D8C3 and D8C4 and assessment outputs for D8C3 with a view to informing the discussions on the revision of COM Decision

11. D3 – Commercially-exploited fish
Level 2 - D3C1 & D3C2 likely only one indicator per stock per criterion. D3C3, the integration method still needs to be determined, together with operationalising indicators for assessment.
Level 3 – OOAO, but consideration of D3C3 (not yet operational)
Level 4 – no integration. Presented as number of assessed stocks in GES, and number not assessed.

12. D3 – Commercially-exploited fish
The draft section on D3 was not discussed in detail at the Workshop. No comments received from DG GES on this section in the subsequent commenting round.
Issues and questions:
D3C3 is a primary criterion, but D3C3 indicators are not operational for most stocks
How to deal with D3C3 in the 2018 assessment?
In some regions, many stocks do not have quantitative stock assessments
How to deal with stocks that are not assessed in the judgement of the extent to which GES is achieved for D3?
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on
the recommended integration methods for the approach taken for D3C3
the approach to including the number of commercially-exploited species not assessed in expressing the extent to which GES is achieved

13. D1 – Species Species-approach to integration, using species groups.
Level 2 – integration method not yet defined (may not be required for most criteria).
Level 3 – according to species (Hab Dir, or regionally-agreed)
Level 4 – proportion of species (conditional rule); Level 5 - OOAO

14. D1 – Species
The Workshop agreed on the species approach for mammals and reptiles, but noted important arguments for a criteria approach for birds and fish
Questions for WG GES:
Can WG GES agree on the species approach to integration, with additional presentation of information by criteria, if desired?
What integration method should be used for level 2 (where there is >1 indicator for a criterion)?
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D1 Species

15. D1 – Habitats (benthic)
Level 2: indicators for a broad habitat type are combined to provide extent of impact from pressures
Level 3: D1C5 = D6C3 (area lost) and habitat extent; D1C6 = D6C2, extent of impacts from other pressures and habitat extent; Sum (or other, if cumulative/synergistic effects, and proportion.
Level 4: Conditional – area lost and impacted, and the sum, must be within thresholds

16. D1 – Habitats (benthic)
The Workshop had extensive and detailed discussions on assessment approaches for habitats.
The integration figure simplifies their output to focus on the integration of the COM Dec criteria
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D1 Habitats (benthic)

17. D1 – Habitats (pelagic)
Level 2: indicators combined to indicator groups through averaging
Level 3: indicator groups combined to D1C6 through averaging
Level 4: only one criterion, therefore no integration
Level 5: no integration of broad habitat types

18. D1 – Habitats (pelagic)
The Workshop proposed an integration approach for pelagic habitats that assessed habitats separately according to the following sub-types:
Permanently stratified
Seasonally stratified
Permanently mixed
Regions of freshwater influence
Intermittently stratified
These categories differ from the broad habitat types identified in the revised COM Dec:
Variable salinity
Coastal
Shelf
Oceanic/beyond shelf
WG GES is invited to
consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration
use of broad habitat types, or habitat sub-types

19. D4 - Ecosystems
Level 2: In many cases, may only be one indicator per criterion. Otherwise, regionally-agreed method
Level 3: Criteria integrated to trophic guild using OOAO
Level 4: No integration to descriptor level

20. D4 - Ecosystems No outstanding issues on D4
A draft section for D4 was not available for discussion at the Workshop
No comments were received from DG GES on D4
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D4

21. D6 – Physical loss and damage
Level 2: D6C1 & D6C3 – indicators combined if needed (sum or other if overlapping pressures or cumulative/synergistic effects); D6C2 – extent of impact per habitat type
Level 3: No integration (D6C1 contributes to D6C2; D6C2 & D6C3 contribute to D1)

22. D6 – Physical loss and damage
Outputs feed in to seabed habitat assessments under Descriptor 1 (D6C2  D1C6, D6C3  D1C5). There will not be an assessment in relation to GES for Descriptor 6
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D6

23. D7 – Hydrographical conditions
Level 2: D7C1 – combined (to be agreed regionally); D7C2 – no integration
Level 3: no integration

24. D7 – Hydrographical conditions
D7C1 contributes to D7C2, which contributes to D1 Habitats. There will not be an assessment in relation to GES for Descriptor 7
No outstanding issues on D7
The draft section on D7 was not available at the Workshop for discussion
In the DG GES commenting round on this section following the Workshop, comments were received from the UK (addressed)
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D7

25. D9 – Contaminants in seafood
Level 2:
Level 3: Only one criterion, so no integration

26. D9 – Contaminants in seafood
No outstanding issues on D9
The draft section on D9 was not available at the Workshop for discussion
In the DG GES commenting round on this section following the Workshop, no comments were received
More detailed guidance will be required on level 1
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D9

27. D10 – Marine litter
Level 2: Not yet possible to define – methods, indicators and thresholds being defined by TG Litter
Level 3: No integration. D10C1 & D10C2 (and potentially D10C3) contribute to GES for D10. D10C4 feeds in to D1 Species

28. D10 – Marine litter
Level 2 requires further input from TG Marine Litter
The Workshop did not discuss the draft section on D10
No comments were received on the integration methods in the commenting round of DG GES following the Workshop
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D10 (excluding level 2)

29. D11 – Underwater noise
Level 2: Integration methods to be agreed (assessment methods, indicators, thresholds under development
Level 3: No integration

30. D11 – Underwater noise
Level 2 requires further input from forthcoming advice for the development of assessment tools for D11
The Workshop did not discuss the draft section on D11
In the DG GES commenting round following the Workshop, comments were received from the UK (addressed)
WG GES is invited to consider and agree on the recommended levels and methods of integration for D11 (excluding level 2)

31. Thank you for your attention
Suzannah Walmsley
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