Division Criteria, including criteria elements, and methodological standards

United Kingdom

Criteria elements	Criteria	Methodological standards
Anthropogenic impulsive sound in water.	D11C1 — Primary: The spatial distribution, temporal extent, and levels of anthropogenic impulsive sound sources do not exceed levels that adversely affect populations of marine animals. F1The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values for these levels F2... , taking into account regional or subregional specificities.	Scale of assessment: Region, subregion or subdivisions. Use of criteria: The extent to which good environmental status has been achieved shall be expressed for each area assessed as follows: (a) for D11C1, the duration per calendar year of impulsive sound sources, their distribution within the year and spatially within the assessment area, and whether the threshold values set have been achieved; (b) for D11C2, the annual average of the sound level, or other suitable temporal metric agreed at regional or subregional level, per unit area and its spatial distribution within the assessment area, and the extent (%, km²) of the assessment area over which the threshold values set have been achieved. The use of criteria D11C1 and D11C2 in the assessment of good environmental status for Descriptor 11 shall be F3jointly agreed by the competent authorities. The outcomes of these criteria shall also contribute to assessments under Descriptor 1.
Anthropogenic continuous low-frequency sound in water.	D11C2 — Primary: The spatial distribution, temporal extent and levels of anthropogenic continuous low-frequency sound do not exceed levels that adversely affect populations of marine animals. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values for these levels ..., taking into account regional or subregional specificities.

Criteria elements

Criteria

Methodological standards

Anthropogenic impulsive sound in water.

D11C1 — Primary:

The spatial distribution, temporal extent, and levels of anthropogenic impulsive sound sources do not exceed levels that adversely affect populations of marine animals.

F1The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values for these levels F2... , taking into account regional or subregional specificities.

Scale of assessment:

Region, subregion or subdivisions.

Use of criteria:

The extent to which good environmental status has been achieved shall be expressed for each area assessed as follows:

(a)
for D11C1, the duration per calendar year of impulsive sound sources, their distribution within the year and spatially within the assessment area, and whether the threshold values set have been achieved;
(b)
for D11C2, the annual average of the sound level, or other suitable temporal metric agreed at regional or subregional level, per unit area and its spatial distribution within the assessment area, and the extent (%, km²) of the assessment area over which the threshold values set have been achieved.

The use of criteria D11C1 and D11C2 in the assessment of good environmental status for Descriptor 11 shall be F3jointly agreed by the competent authorities.

The outcomes of these criteria shall also contribute to assessments under Descriptor 1.

Anthropogenic continuous low-frequency sound in water.

D11C2 — Primary:

The spatial distribution, temporal extent and levels of anthropogenic continuous low-frequency sound do not exceed levels that adversely affect populations of marine animals.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values for these levels ..., taking into account regional or subregional specificities.

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)
F2: Words in Annex 1 Pt. 1 Descriptor 11 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Marine Environment (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1399), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 8(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F3: Words in Annex 1 Pt. 1 Descriptor 11 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Marine Environment (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1399), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 8(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

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.