{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2000-60/annex-V/division-1/division-1.2/division-1.2.3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2000-60/annex-V/division-1/division-1.2/division-1.2.3.json",
  "legislation": "eudr/2000/60",
  "legislation_title": "Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-directive-2000-60",
  "path": "annex/V/division/1/division/1.2/division/1.2.3",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": "1.2.3",
  "heading": "Definitions for high, good and moderate ecological status in transitional waters",
  "text": "Biological quality elements\nElement\nHigh status\nGood status\nModerate status\nPhytoplankton\nThe composition and abundance of the phytoplanktonic taxa are consistent with undisturbed conditions.\nThe average phytoplankton biomass is consistent with the type-specific physico-chemical conditions and is not such as to significantly alter the type-specific transparency conditions.\nPlanktonic blooms occur at a frequency and intensity which is consistent with the type specific physico-chemical conditions.\nThere are slight changes in the composition and abundance of phytoplanktonic taxa.\nThere are slight changes in biomass compared to the type-specific conditions. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of algae resulting in undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the physico-chemical quality of the water.\nA slight increase in the frequency and intensity of the type specific planktonic blooms may occur.\nThe composition and abundance of phytoplanktonic taxa differ moderately from type-specific conditions.\nBiomass is moderately disturbed and may be such as to produce a significant undesirable disturbance in the condition of other biological quality elements.\nA moderate increase in the frequency and intensity of planktonic blooms may occur. Persistent blooms may occur during summer months.\nMacroalgae\nThe composition of macroalgal taxa is consistent with undisturbed conditions.\nThere are no detectable changes in macroalgal cover due to anthropogenic activities.\nThere are slight changes in the composition and abundance of macroalgal taxa compared to the type-specific communities. Such changes do not indicate any accelerated growth of phytobenthos or higher forms of plant life resulting in undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body or to the physico-chemical quality of the water.\nThe composition of macroalgal taxa differs moderately from type-specific conditions and is significantly more distorted than at good quality.\nModerate changes in the average macroalgal abundance are evident and may be such as to result in an undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water body.\nAngiosperms\nThe taxonomic composition corresponds totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions.\nThere are no detectable changes in angiosperm abundance due to anthropogenic activities.\nThere are slight changes in the composition of angiosperm taxa compared to the type-specific communities.\nAngiosperm abundance shows slight signs of disturbance.\nThe composition of the angiosperm taxa differs moderately from the type-specific communities and is significantly more distorted than at good quality.\nThere are moderate distortions in the abundance of angiosperm taxa.\nBenthic invertebrate fauna\nThe level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions.\nAll the disturbance-sensitive taxa associated with undisturbed conditions are present.\nThe level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is slightly outside the range associated with the type-specific conditions.\nMost of the sensitive taxa of the type-specific communities are present.\nThe level of diversity and abundance of invertebrate taxa is moderately outside the range associated with the type-specific conditions.\nTaxa indicative of pollution are present.\nMany of the sensitive taxa of the type-specific communities are absent.\nFish fauna\nSpecies composition and abundance is consistent with undisturbed conditions.\nThe abundance of the disturbance-sensitive species shows slight signs of distortion from type-specific conditions attributable to anthropogenic impacts on physico-chemical or hydromorphological quality elements.\nA moderate proportion of the type-specific disturbance-sensitive species are absent as a result of anthropogenic impacts on physicochemical or hydromorphological quality elements.\nHydromorphological quality elements\nElement\nHigh status\nGood status\nModerate status\nTidal regime\nThe freshwater flow regime corresponds totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions.\nConditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.\nConditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.\nMorphological conditions\nDepth variations, substrate conditions, and both the structure and condition of the intertidal zones correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions.\nConditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.\nConditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.\nPhysico-chemical quality elements\nThe following abbreviations are used: bgl = background level, EQS = environmental quality standard.\nApplication of the standards derived under this protocol shall not require reduction of pollutant concentrations below background levels: (EQS >bgl).\nElement\nHigh status\nGood status\nModerate status\nGeneral conditions\nPhysico-chemical elements correspond totally or nearly totally to undisturbed conditions.\nNutrient concentrations remain within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions.\nTemperature, oxygen balance and transparency do not show signs of anthropogenic disturbance and remain within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions.\nTemperature, oxygenation conditions and transparency do not reach levels outside the ranges established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.\nNutrient concentrations do not exceed the levels established so as to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.\nConditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.\nSpecific synthetic pollutants\nConcentrations close to zero and at least below the limits of detection of the most advanced analytical techniques in general use.\nConcentrations not in excess of the standards set in accordance with the procedure detailed in section 1.2.6 without prejudice to Directive 91/414/EC and Directive 98/8/EC. (< EQS)\nConditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.\nSpecific non-synthetic pollutants\nConcentrations remain within the range normally associated with undisturbed conditions (background levels = bgl).\nConcentrations not in excess of the standards set in accordance with the procedure detailed in section 1.2.6 without prejudice to Directive 91/414/EC and Directive 98/8/EC. (< EQS)\nConditions consistent with the achievement of the values specified above for the biological quality elements.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "The following abbreviations are used: bgl = background level, EQS = environmental quality standard."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "Application of the standards derived under this protocol shall not require reduction of pollutant concentrations below background levels: (EQS >bgl)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudr/2000/60/annex/V/division/1/division/1.2/division/1.2.3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:23:01.769169+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}