Division Criteria, including criteria elements, and methodological standards

United Kingdom

Physical loss shall be understood as under point 3 of the specifications under Descriptor 6.
Criteria elements	Criteria	Methodological standards
Hydrographical changes to the seabed and water column (including intertidal areas).	D7C1 — Secondary: Spatial extent and distribution of permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions (e.g. changes in wave action, currents, salinity, temperature) to the seabed and water column, associated in particular with physical loss^f1 of the natural seabed.	Scale of assessment: As used for assessment of the benthic broad habitat types under Descriptors 1 and 6. Use of criteria: The outcomes of assessment of criterion D7C1 (the distribution and an estimate of the extent of hydrographical changes) shall be used to assess criterion D7C2. The outcomes of assessment of criterion D7C2 (an estimate of the extent of adverse effect per habitat type in each assessment area) shall contribute to the assessment of criterion D6C5.
Benthic broad habitats types or other habitat types, as used for Descriptors 1 and 6.	D7C2 — Secondary: Spatial extent of each benthic habitat type adversely affected (physical and hydrographical characteristics and associated biological communities) due to permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions. F1The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values for the adverse effects of permanent alterations of hydrographical conditions, through regional or subregional cooperation.

Physical loss shall be understood as under point 3 of the specifications under Descriptor 6.

Criteria elements

Criteria

Methodological standards

Hydrographical changes to the seabed and water column (including intertidal areas).

D7C1 — Secondary:

Spatial extent and distribution of permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions (e.g. changes in wave action, currents, salinity, temperature) to the seabed and water column, associated in particular with physical loss^f1 of the natural seabed.

Scale of assessment:

As used for assessment of the benthic broad habitat types under Descriptors 1 and 6.

Use of criteria:

The outcomes of assessment of criterion D7C1 (the distribution and an estimate of the extent of hydrographical changes) shall be used to assess criterion D7C2.

The outcomes of assessment of criterion D7C2 (an estimate of the extent of adverse effect per habitat type in each assessment area) shall contribute to the assessment of criterion D6C5.

Benthic broad habitats types or other habitat types, as used for Descriptors 1 and 6.

D7C2 — Secondary:

Spatial extent of each benthic habitat type adversely affected (physical and hydrographical characteristics and associated biological communities) due to permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions.

F1The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values for the adverse effects of permanent alterations of hydrographical conditions, through regional or subregional cooperation.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in Decision substituted (31.12.2020) by The Marine Environment (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1399), reg. 5(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Footnotes

f1: Physical loss shall be understood as under point 3 of the specifications under Descriptor 6.

Notes on Annex 1

Textual amendments

F1: Annex renumbered as Annex 1 (31.12.2020) by The Marine Environment (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1399), regs. 1, 12(1); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F2: Words in Annex 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Marine Environment (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1399), regs. 1, 12(2)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Notes on Part I

Footnotes

f1: When this Decision refers to a ‘descriptor’, this refers to the relevant qualitative descriptors for determining good environmental status, as indicated under the numbered points in Annex I to Directive 2008/56/EC.