Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

221 Chapter 9: The Marine Environment Table 9.2  Draft good environmental status (GES) assessment for the 11 MSFD descriptors (Source: DHLGH, draft publication) Descriptor Draft 2024 MSFD assessment 1. Biological Diversity Achieved GES for some elements of biological diversity, but the status of many species groups is unknown. Numerous species, in particular a significant proportion of fish species, are not at GES 2. Non-indigenous species Achieved GES 3. Population of commercial fish/ shellfish GES has been achieved for 29 stocks of commercially exploited fish and shellfish. GES has not been achieved for 46 stocks, and the status of 99 stocks remains unknown 4. Elements of marine food webs Environmental status for this descriptor remains unclear 5. Eutrophication Achieved GES 6. Sea floor integrity GES has been achieved for 75% of the MSFD areas; however, the status of 15% of the area remains unknown and approximately 11% has not achieved GES. Disturbance due to bottom trawling is widespread, with 40% of the MSFD assessment area affected to varying degrees 7. Alteration of hydrographical conditions Achieved GES 8. Concentrations of contaminants GES has been largely achieved for concentrations of most contaminants in seawater, sediments and biota in Irish coastal and marine waters. Concentrations of most parameters assessed are at levels that ensure the protection of the marine environment 9. Contaminants in fish/seafood for human consumption Achieved GES 10. Marine litter GES has not been achieved for marine litter 11. Introduction of energy including underwater noise GES has been achieved for continuous and impulsive noise Eutrophication status of marine offshore areas The OSPAR Convention was established to identify threats to the marine environment and develop programmes and measures to ensure effective national action to combat them. OSPAR’s strategic objectives were updated in 2021 (OSPAR, 2021a) with the North- East Atlantic Environment Strategy 2030 (OSPAR, 2021b). Eutrophication in our marine water is assessed using methods developed under the OSPAR Convention, which covers the entire North-East Atlantic Ocean from Greenland to Portugal (Figure 9.5). Eutrophication is the result of excessive enrichment of water with nutrients, which may accelerate the growth of algae in the water column. This may result in a range of undesirable disturbances in the marine ecosystem, including a shift in the composition of the flora and fauna (which in turn affects habitats and biodiversity), depletion of oxygen levels, changes in water clarity, and behavioural changes or even death of fish and other species. The latest OSPAR assessment of eutrophication (OSPAR, 2023b), which covers regions II, III and IV, indicates that there are problem areas along the continental coasts and in the river plumes and coastal areas of the Bay of Biscay and in the greater North Sea (Figure 9.5). Eutrophication problems indicate that riverine nutrient inputs remain the major source. For Ireland, no eutrophic areas were observed in our marine waters, although significant problems remain in our transitional waters and some coastal waters (see Chapter 8).