for nature values in Estonian marine areas (NEMA). Actions 1, 2 and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

• f

criteria for favourable conservation status and basic level of marin habitat types according to EU Habitats directive Carried out by TÜ EMI (partner 1) and GRID-Arendal (partner 5) Based

• n

international experiences and using avaialable data

• n

distribution and status of marine habitat types in Estonian coastal sea the list of criteria for favourable conservation status is composed. 06.2014- 01.2015 Description

• f

criteria for favourable conservation status and proposal for assessment system.

Development of status classification and quantitative description for marine habitat types. Based on existing information the analysis

• f

biological and physical data is performed and relationship between physical environment, environmantal conditions and biodiversity are

• described. Based on

that information the status classification is created for marine habitats. 06.2014-01.2015 Description

• f

status classification based on existing

• data. Proposal for

status assessment system.

Activity 1.1

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 international experiences

• n

determination

• f

criteria

• f

favourable conservation status for marine habitat types The information and available international examples are compiled and synthesised. Experiences and examples from EU and

• utside

(US, Australia, Norway) 06.2014-01.2015 Synthesis

• n

different approaches

• f

determination

• f

favourable conservation status for marine habitats.

• 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 1.2 – main topics.

Activity 2.

Inventory of annex I habitat types

• f

Habitat Directive

• utside

territorial waters (EEZ) and in Natura 2000 sites so far not covered by inventories. Responsible TÜ EMI Inventories

• f

suitable areas

• utside
• f

the territorial sea and Natura 2000 sites are carried

• ut

according to established methodology. 06.2014-01.2016 Distribution maps and filled database for Habitat directive habitat types.

Area Total: 36500 km2 EEZ: 11300 km2 Territorial waters: 25200 km2 Mean depth EEZ: 81 m Territorial waters: 30 m

Estonian marine areas.

Bathymetry.

Approx 9000 km2 Most of that in territorial sea EEZ not covered (less than 1% covered)

Areas covered by habitat inventories 2005-2012

Activity 2.1.

Selection

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areas for inventory and necessary preparations for field works. All avaialable information is compiled and processed. Detailed field work plan and sampling grid are establsihed. 06.2014- 05.2015 Selection

• f

inventory areas with needed information.

Inventory

• f

marine habitat types in EEZ. Field works

• n

selected areas - 500-800 km2 On predifined grid video samples are collected 300 stations and 100 stations are sampled quatitativeley 100 (grab/SCUBA). 07.2014- 09.2014 Mapping

• f

selected areas – benthic topography, sediments, biology.

Activity 2.2.

Inventories

• f

Natura 2000 areas. Field works

• n

selected areas. Data collection

• n

morphology and structure of seafloor 2500 km2 (incl. Acoustic surveys). Video data collection (600 stations), quantitative bottom sampling (grab/SCUBA 300 stations). 05.2015-09.2015 Dataset on bottom morphology and sediment distribution

• n

Natura 2000 areas, dataset

• f

distribution

• f

biological communities.

Activity 2.3.

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.

Inventory of annex I habitat types of Habitat Directive outside territorial waters (EEZ) and in Natura 2000 sites so far not covered by inventories.

Processing

• f

collected material, modelling and compiling

• f

maps

• n

distribution

• f

marine habitat types for inentorised areas. Based

• n

data collected during field works and using the spatial analytical methods the maps

• n

distribution

• f

habitat types and communities are compiled. (Habitat Directive Annex I habitat types, EUNIS habitat complexes – level 3.) 09.2015-01.2016 Maps

• f

distribution of HD Annex I habitat types in inventorised areas and whole EEZ. Dataset

• n

distribution

• f

benthic communities.

Activity 2.4.

Previous modelling exercises EEZ.

Reefs Sandbanks Herkül 2011

Development

• f

monitoring and reporting system for HD Annex I habitat types. Activity is carried out by TÜ EMI and (partner 1) ja GRID-Arendal (partner 5) Development

• f

monitoring methodology and coordination with competent authorities and other stakeholders. For this the international practices and experiences will be analysed. Compilation and testing of methodology. Practical testing will be carried

• ut

in three pilot areas located in main basins (Gulf of Finland, Gulf of Riga and Baltic Proper. 01.2015-03.2016 Methodology for monitoring

• f

the status of HD Annex I habitat types and based

• n

pilot monitoring assessment of status

• f these habitat types

in major basins surrounding Estonian mainland.

Activity 4.

Development

• f

monitoring methods for determination of status

• f

HD Annex I habitat types. Based

• n

international experiences and scientific information the proposal for methodology for monitoring the status

• f

marine habitat types will be compiled. 01.2015-06.2015 Proposal for methodology (extend and condition

• f

HD Annex I habitat types).

Activity 4.1.

Monitoring of HD Annex I habitat types. Monitoring activities are carried

• ut

in three pilot areas covering major basins. 06.2015- 03.2016 Report

• n

condition and distribution

• f

HD Annex I habitat types in major basins surrounding Estonia.

Activity 4.2.

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.

Planned activities for monitoring the status of benthic habitat types.