remainder were reported as 'unknown' or 'not assessed'. Results from MSFD assessments were even more uncertain, with the status of 76 % of all seabed habitats determined as 'unknown'. This statistic reflects the inadequacy of current levels of reporting and perhaps the difficulty of monitoring and assessing marine habitats. column habitats The water column habitats are dynamic and exhibit more variation in terms of health and ecological status than their seabed habitats. Water column habitats are the backbone of marine food webs, since it’s where photosynthesis by microbes and phytoplankton takes place. The Baltic Sea and the Black Sea are the world's largest and second largest brackish water basins. According to the MSFD initial assessment, 71 % of the column habitats in the Baltic Sea were not in good environmental status. Conversely, in the Mediterranean Sea, 46 % of the water column habitats were assessed as good. Incomplete data left the Black Sea and the North-east Atlantic Ocean unaccounted for as either 'not reported' or 'unknown'. Photo: Phytoplankton bloom off the southern coast of England, North-east Atlantic Ocean. Source: © United States Geological Survey Landsat image, courtesy of the Nature and Environment Research Council Earth Observation Data Acquisition and Analysis Service, Plymouth, United Kingdom. Marine invertebrates Marine invertebrates account for over 50 % of the marine species documented in European waters and can include jellyfish, sea anemones, corals, lobsters, crabs, sea stars, shellfish, sponges, squid and octopus. They are found in high abundance throughout European estuaries, coastal bays and deep seas. They are also responsible for delivering a wide range of ecosystem services. Coherent information on the health of marine invertebrates at a regional scale is very limited. In 2012, EU Member States collectively provided 30 assessments of marine invertebrates under the MSFD. All 30 assessments were categorised as being 'unknown' with respect to environmental status.
remainder were reported as 'unknown' or 'not assessed'. Results from MSFD assessments were even more uncertain, with the status of 76 % of all seabed habitats determined as 'unknown'. This statistic reflects the inadequacy of current levels of reporting and perhaps the difficulty of monitoring and assessing marine habitats. column habitats The water column habitats are dynamic and exhibit more variation in terms of health and ecological status than their seabed habitats. Water column habitats are the backbone of marine food webs, since it’s where photosynthesis by microbes and phytoplankton takes place. The Baltic Sea and the Black Sea are the world's largest and second largest brackish water basins. According to the MSFD initial assessment, 71 % of the column habitats in the Baltic Sea were not in good environmental status. Conversely, in the Mediterranean Sea, 46 % of the water column habitats were assessed as good. Incomplete data left the Black Sea and the North-east Atlantic Ocean unaccounted for as either 'not reported' or 'unknown'. Photo: Phytoplankton bloom off the southern coast of England, North-east Atlantic Ocean. Source: © United States Geological Survey Landsat image, courtesy of the Nature and Environment Research Council Earth Observation Data Acquisition and Analysis Service, Plymouth, United Kingdom. Marine invertebrates Marine invertebrates account for over 50 % of the marine species documented in European waters and can include jellyfish, sea anemones, corals, lobsters, crabs, sea stars, shellfish, sponges, squid and octopus. They are found in high abundance throughout European estuaries, coastal bays and deep seas. They are also responsible for delivering a wide range of ecosystem services. Coherent information on the health of marine invertebrates at a regional scale is very limited. In 2012, EU Member States collectively provided 30 assessments of marine invertebrates under the MSFD. All 30 assessments were categorised as being 'unknown' with respect to environmental status.
DIKE_15-2017-05_WISE-Marine_2016_Business%20Plan_v2.3.docx