Division Criteria, including criteria elements, and methodological standards

United Kingdom

Criteria elements	Criteria	Methodological standards
Trophic guilds of an ecosystem. F1The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish the list of trophic guilds through regional or subregional cooperation.	D4C1 — Primary: The diversity (species composition and their relative abundance) of the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values through regional or subregional cooperation.	Scale of assessment: Regional level for Baltic Sea and Black Sea; subregional level for North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Subdivisions may be used where appropriate. Use of criteria: Where values do not fall within the threshold values, this may trigger further research and investigation to understand the causes for the failure.
D4C2 — Primary: The balance of total abundance between the trophic guilds is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values through regional or subregional cooperation.
D4C3 — Secondary: The size distribution of individuals across the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values through regional or subregional cooperation.
D4C4 — Secondary (to be used in support of criterion D4C2, where necessary): Productivity of the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values through regional or subregional cooperation.

Criteria elements

Criteria

Methodological standards

Trophic guilds of an ecosystem.

F1The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish the list of trophic guilds through regional or subregional cooperation.

D4C1 — Primary:

The diversity (species composition and their relative abundance) of the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values through regional or subregional cooperation.

Scale of assessment:

Regional level for Baltic Sea and Black Sea; subregional level for North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea.

Subdivisions may be used where appropriate.

Use of criteria:

Where values do not fall within the threshold values, this may trigger further research and investigation to understand the causes for the failure.

D4C2 — Primary:

The balance of total abundance between the trophic guilds is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values through regional or subregional cooperation.

D4C3 — Secondary:

The size distribution of individuals across the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values through regional or subregional cooperation.

D4C4 — Secondary (to be used in support of criterion D4C2, where necessary):

Productivity of the trophic guild is not adversely affected due to anthropogenic pressures.

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall establish threshold values 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)

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.