Division Criteria, including criteria elements, and methodological standards

United Kingdom

Criteria elements	Criteria	Methodological standards
Refer to Part I of this Annex for criteria D6C1, D6C2 and D6C3.
Benthic broad habitat types as listed in Table 2 and if present in the region or subregion, and other habitat types as defined in the second paragraph. F1The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, may select, through regional or subregional cooperation, additional habitat types, according to the criteria laid down under ‘specifications for the selection of species and habitats’, and which may include habitat types listed under Directive 92/43/EEC or international agreements such as Regional Sea Conventions, for the purposes of: (a) assessing each broad habitat type under criterion D6C5; (b) assessing these habitat types. A single set of habitat types shall serve the purpose of assessments of both benthic habitats under Descriptor 1 and sea-floor integrity under Descriptor 6.	D6C4 — Primary: The extent of loss of the habitat type, resulting from anthropogenic pressures, does not exceed a specified proportion of the natural extent of the habitat type in the assessment area. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish the maximum allowable extent of habitat loss as a proportion of the total natural extent of the habitat type F2... taking into account regional or subregional specificities.	Scale of assessment: Subdivision of region or subregion, reflecting biogeographic differences in species composition of the broad habitat type. Use of criteria: A single assessment per habitat type, using criteria D6C4 and D6C5, shall serve the purpose of assessments of both benthic habitats under Descriptor 1 and sea-floor integrity under Descriptor 6. The extent to which good environmental status has been achieved shall be expressed for each area assessed as: (a) for D6C4, an estimate of the proportion and extent of loss per habitat type and whether this has achieved the extent value set; (b) for D6C5, an estimate of the proportion and extent of adverse effects, including the proportion lost from point (a), per habitat type and whether this has achieved the extent value set; (c) overall status of the habitat type, using a method F3... based on points (a) and (b), and a list of broad habitat types in the assessment area that were not assessed.
D6C5 — Primary: The extent of adverse effects from anthropogenic pressures on the condition of the habitat type, including alteration to its biotic and abiotic structure and its functions (e.g. its typical species composition and their relative abundance, absence of particularly sensitive or fragile species or species providing a key function, size structure of species), does not exceed a specified proportion of the natural extent of the habitat type in the assessment area. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values for adverse effects on the condition of each habitat type, ensuring compatibility with related values set under Descriptors 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 ... taking into account regional or subregional specificities. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish the maximum allowable extent of those adverse effects as a proportion of the total natural extent of the habitat type ... taking into account regional or subregional specificities.

Criteria elements

Criteria

Methodological standards

Refer to Part I of this Annex for criteria D6C1, D6C2 and D6C3.

Benthic broad habitat types as listed in Table 2 and if present in the region or subregion, and other habitat types as defined in the second paragraph.

F1The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, may select, through regional or subregional cooperation, additional habitat types, according to the criteria laid down under ‘specifications for the selection of species and habitats’, and which may include habitat types listed under Directive 92/43/EEC or international agreements such as Regional Sea Conventions, for the purposes of:

(a)
assessing each broad habitat type under criterion D6C5;
(b)
assessing these habitat types.

A single set of habitat types shall serve the purpose of assessments of both benthic habitats under Descriptor 1 and sea-floor integrity under Descriptor 6.

D6C4 — Primary:

The extent of loss of the habitat type, resulting from anthropogenic pressures, does not exceed a specified proportion of the natural extent of the habitat type in the assessment area.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish the maximum allowable extent of habitat loss as a proportion of the total natural extent of the habitat type F2... taking into account regional or subregional specificities.

Scale of assessment:

Subdivision of region or subregion, reflecting biogeographic differences in species composition of the broad habitat type.

Use of criteria:

A single assessment per habitat type, using criteria D6C4 and D6C5, shall serve the purpose of assessments of both benthic habitats under Descriptor 1 and sea-floor integrity under Descriptor 6.

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

(a)
for D6C4, an estimate of the proportion and extent of loss per habitat type and whether this has achieved the extent value set;
(b)
for D6C5, an estimate of the proportion and extent of adverse effects, including the proportion lost from point (a), per habitat type and whether this has achieved the extent value set;
(c)
overall status of the habitat type, using a method F3... based on points (a) and (b), and a list of broad habitat types in the assessment area that were not assessed.

D6C5 — Primary:

The extent of adverse effects from anthropogenic pressures on the condition of the habitat type, including alteration to its biotic and abiotic structure and its functions (e.g. its typical species composition and their relative abundance, absence of particularly sensitive or fragile species or species providing a key function, size structure of species), does not exceed a specified proportion of the natural extent of the habitat type in the assessment area.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values for adverse effects on the condition of each habitat type, ensuring compatibility with related values set under Descriptors 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 ... taking into account regional or subregional specificities.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish the maximum allowable extent of those adverse effects as a proportion of the total natural extent of the habitat type ... 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. 2 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Marine Environment (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1399), reg. 1, Sch. 3 para. 3(a)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F3: Words in Annex 1 Pt. 2 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Marine Environment (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1399), reg. 1, Sch. 3 para. 3(a)(ii); 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 II

Footnotes

f1: Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 may be used for the collection of relevant fisheries-related data under Descriptors 1, 4 and 6.