Inventory and development of monitoring programme for nature values in Estonian marine areas (NEMA). Actions 1, 2 and 4 Georg Martin Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu
Activity 1 1. Defining of criteria for Based on 06.2014- Description of favourable conservation international 01.2015 criteria for status and basic level of experiences and favourable marin habitat types using avaialable conservation according to EU Habitats data on status and directive distribution and proposal for status of marine assessment Carried out by TÜ EMI (partner habitat types in system. 1) and GRID-Arendal (partner Estonian coastal 5) sea the list of criteria for favourable conservation status is composed.
Activity 1.1 Development of Based on existing 06.2014-01.2015 Description of status information the status classification analysis of classification and quantitative biological and based on existing description for physical data is data. Proposal for marine habitat performed and status assessment types. relationship system. between physical environment, environmantal conditions and biodiversity are described. Based on that information the status classification is created for marine habitats.
Development of status classification and quantitative description for marine habitat types. • Using existing data typical physical and biological characteristics of habitat types will be defined for larger marine areas through statistical procedures. • Acceptable deviation levels will be defined for status classification
Activity 1.2. 1.2. Analysis of The information 06.2014-01.2015 Synthesis on international and available different experiences on international approaches of determination examples are determination of of criteria of compiled and favourable favourable synthesised. conservation status conservation Experiences and for marine status for examples from EU habitats. marine habitat and outside (US, types Australia, Norway)
Activity 1.2 – main topics. • How is favorable (conservation) status for marine habitats defined in other countries (EU, Norway, US, Australia)? • What are marine habitat quality/status classification methods and procedures used in other countries? • Which habitat features (physical/biological) are used for habitat status classification? • What are marine habitat status assessment approaches used? • What marine habitat classification systems are used (in Baltic region, Europe, US, Australia)?
Activity 2. Inventory of annex I Inventories of 06.2014-01.2016 Distribution maps habitat types of suitable areas and filled database Habitat Directive outside of the for Habitat outside territorial territorial sea and directive habitat waters (EEZ) and in Natura 2000 sites types. Natura 2000 sites so are carried out far not covered by according to inventories. established methodology. Responsible TÜ EMI
Estonian marine areas. Area Total: 36500 km2 EEZ: 11300 km2 Territorial waters: 25200 km2 Mean depth EEZ: 81 m Territorial waters: 30 m
Bathymetry.
Areas covered by habitat inventories 2005-2012 Approx 9000 km2 Most of that in territorial sea EEZ not covered (less than 1% covered)
Activity 2.1. Selection of All avaialable 06.2014- Selection of areas for information is 05.2015 inventory areas inventory and compiled and with needed necessary processed. information. preparations Detailed field for field work plan and works. sampling grid are establsihed.
Activity 2.2. Inventory of Field works on 07.2014- Mapping of selected areas – marine habitat selected areas - 09.2014 500-800 km 2 On types in EEZ. benthic predifined grid topography, video samples sediments, are collected 300 biology. stations and 100 stations are sampled quatitativeley 100 (grab/SCUBA).
Activity 2.3. Inventories of Field works on 05.2015-09.2015 Dataset on bottom Natura 2000 selected areas. Data morphology and areas. collection on sediment morphology and distribution on structure of seafloor Natura 2000 areas, 2500 km 2 (incl. dataset of Acoustic surveys). distribution of Video data biological collection (600 communities. stations), quantitative bottom sampling (grab/SCUBA 300 stations).
Inventory of annex I habitat types of Habitat Directive outside territorial waters (EEZ) and in Natura 2000 sites so far not covered by inventories. Map 1. Marine areas where benthic habitat inventories will be carried out (blue – benthic habitat inventories in the EEZ; orange – inventories in Natura 2000 sites not covered by habitat inventories so far). Modelling of distribution of benthic habitat types will be done for the whole Estonian EEZ.
Activity 2.4. Processing of Based on data 09.2015-01.2016 Maps of collected collected during distribution of HD material, field works and Annex I habitat modelling and using the spatial types in compiling of analytical methods inventorised areas maps on the maps on and whole EEZ. distribution of distribution of Dataset on marine habitat habitat types and distribution of types for communities are benthic inentorised compiled. (Habitat communities. areas. Directive Annex I habitat types, EUNIS habitat – complexes level 3.)
Previous modelling exercises EEZ. Sandbanks Reefs Herkül 2011
Activity 4. Development of Development of 01.2015-03.2016 Methodology for monitoring and reporting monitoring monitoring of the system for HD Annex I methodology and status of HD Annex I habitat types. coordination with habitat types and competent authorities based on pilot Activity is carried out by and other stakeholders. monitoring TÜ EMI and (partner 1) For this the assessment of status ja GRID-Arendal international practices of these habitat types (partner 5) and experiences will in major basins be analysed. surrounding Estonian Compilation and mainland. testing of methodology. Practical testing will be carried out in three pilot areas located in main basins (Gulf of Finland, Gulf of Riga and Baltic Proper.
Activity 4.1. Development of Based on 01.2015-06.2015 Proposal for monitoring international methodology methods for experiences and (extend and determination of scientific condition of HD status of HD information the Annex I habitat Annex I habitat proposal for types). types. methodology for monitoring the status of marine habitat types will be compiled.
Activity 4.2. Monitoring of Monitoring 06.2015- Report on HD Annex I activities are 03.2016 condition and habitat types. carried out in distribution of three pilot areas HD Annex I covering major habitat types in basins. major basins surrounding Estonia.
Planned activities for monitoring the status of benthic habitat types. Estonian EEZ and territorial sea is devided in three basins. In each basin three locations with existing habitat types will be selected. Survey of biological and physical features will be carried out 2015. Results evaluated against criteria developed in Action 1.
Recommend
More recommend
