OSPAR and eutrophication

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The Common Procedure

The Common Procedure for the Identification of the Eutrophication Status of the OSPAR maritime area provides an assessment tool for Contracting Parties to evaluate their eutrophication status and to identify the areas for which action are needed (The Eutrophication Strategy). Three areas are considered:


Non-problem areas

  • No grounds for concern

Potential problem areas

  • Reasonable grounds for concern
  • Preventive measures, monitoring and research (full assessment of the eutrophication status within five years)

Problem areas

  • Evidence of an undesirable disturbance due to antropogenic enrichment by nutrients
  • Measures to reduce/eliminate the causes of eutrophication


Eutrophication assessments: the Screening Procedure and the Comprehensive Procedure

The first step of the Common Procedure is a Screening Procedure (completed in 2001) to identify obvious non-problem areas. In the second step, the Comprehensive Procedure, all remaining areas are periodically assessed to evaluate nutrient enrichment, direct and indirect eutrophication effects and other possible effects. The second application of the Comprehensive Procedure in 2007 confirmed that eutrophication is still a problem in 106 defined areas of the North-East Atlantic (Greater North Sea (Region II), the Celtic Seas (Regiobn III), the Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast (Region IV) and wider areas of the eastern and southern North Sea.

Ecological Quality Objectives for eutrophication for the North Sea

The Comprehensive Procedure is the tool through with the integrated suite of Ecological Quality Objectives (EcoQO) for eutrophication for the North Sea is implemented. The objective is that all parts of the North Sea should have the status of non-problem areas as assessed under the Common Procedure. It is supported by an integrated set of five specific EcoQOs parameters and associated assessment levels of the Comprehensive Procedure. These five parameters are:

  • Concentration of nutrients in seawater
  • Concentration of phytoplankton chlorophyll in seawater
  • Oxygen deficiency
  • Biomass and duration of blooms of area-specific phytoplankton indicator species
  • Kills in benthic animal species as result of oxygen deficiency and toxic phytoplankton species
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