
Article 1 
For the purpose of section 1.4.1(iii) of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC, Member States shall use in their monitoring systems classification the values of the boundaries between classes that are set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 30 October 2008.
For the Commission
Stravros DIMAS
Member of the Commission
ANNEX
WATER CATEGORY: Rivers 

Type River characterisation Catchment (km2) Altitude and geomorphology Alkalinity Flow regime
R-A1 Small to medium, high altitude calcareous 10-1 000 800-2 500 m (catchment), boulders/cobble high (but not extremely high) alkalinity 
R-A2 Small to medium, high altitude, siliceous 10-1 000 500-1 000 m (max. altitude of catchment 3 000 m, mean 1 500 m), boulders Non-calcareous (granite, metamorphic). medium to low alkalinity nival-glacial flow regime

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated

Type R-A1:Germany, Austria, France, Italy, SloveniaType R-A2:Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia


Type and country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type R-A1
Austria Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index) 0,8 0,6
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,93 0,79
Germany PERLODES — Bewertungsverfahren von Fließgewässern auf Basis des Makrozoobenthos 0,8 0,6
Italy STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,97 0,73
Slovenia Slovenian Benthic Invertebrate Assessment System:Multimetric index (Hydromorphology/General degradation), Saprobic Index 0,8 0,6
Type R-A2
Austria Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index) 0,8 0,6
France (Alps) Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,93 0,71
France (Pyrenees) Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,94 0,81
Italy STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,95 0,71
Spain Iberian BMWP (IBMWP) 0,83 0,53


Type and country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Type R-A1
Austria Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species) 0,87 0,56
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,86 0,71
Germany Deutsches Bewertungsverfahren für Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB) 0,73 0,54
Slovenia Multimetric method consisting of two modules/metrics 0,8 0,6
Type R-A2
Austria Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species) 0,87 0,56
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,86 0,71
Spain Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) (Lenoir & Coste, 1996) 0,94 0,74

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers 

Type River characterisation Catchment(km2) Altitude & geomorphology Alkalinity(meq/l)
R-C1 Small lowland siliceous sand 10-100 lowland, dominated by sandy substrate (small particle size), 3-8 m width (bankfull size) > 0,4
R-C2 Small lowland siliceous — rock 10-100 lowland, rock material 3-8m width (bankfull size) < 0,4
R-C3 Small mid-altitude siliceous 10-100 mid-altitude, rock (granite) — gravel substrate, 2-10 m width (bankfull size) < 0,4
R-C4 Medium lowland mixed 100-1 000 lowland, sandy to gravel substrate, 8-25m width (bankfull size) > 0,4
R-C5 Large lowland mixed 1 000-10 000 lowland, barbel zone, variation in velocity, max. altitude in catchment: 800m, > 25 m width (bankfull size) > 0,4
R-C6 Small, lowland, calcareous 10-300 lowland, gravel substrate (limestone), width 3-10 m (bankfull size) > 2

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-C1:Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United KingdomType R-C2:Spain, France, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, United KingdomType R-C3:Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, United KingdomType R-C4:Belgium (Flanders), Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United KingdomType R-C5:Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland. Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United KingdomType R-C6:Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Sweden, United Kingdom

The following results apply to all types as described above.


Country National classification system intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index 0,8 0,6
Belgium (Flanders) Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) 0,9 0,7
Belgium (Wallonia) Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN) (Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350, 1992) and ‘Provisional Definition of the Good Status’, Ministry of the Walloon Region (2007) 0,97 0,74
Denmark Danish Stream Fauna Index (DSFI) 1,0 0,71
Germany PERLODES –Bewertungsverfahren von Fließgewässern auf Basis des Makrozoobenthos 0,8 0,6
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,94 0,8
Ireland Quality Rating System (Q-value) 0,85 0,75
Italy STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,96 0,72
Luxembourg Classification luxembourgeoise DCE, Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN), Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350, 1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 07 No 4 of 11 April 2007 0,96 0,72
Netherlands KRW-maatlat 0,8 0,6
Poland BMWP (BMWP-PL) verified by modified Margalef diversity index 0,89 0,68
Spain North Spain Multimetric Indices 0,93 0,7
Sweden DJ-index (Dahl & Johnson 2004) 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT) 0,97 0,86


Country National classification system intercalibrated Type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species) All types, altitude < 500 m 0,7 0,42
All types, altitude > 500 m 0,71 0,42
Belgium (Flanders) Proportions of Impact-Sensitive and Impact-Associated Diatoms (PISIAD) All types 0,8 0,6
Belgium (Wallonia) Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) AFNOR norm NF T 90-354 (2000) and ‘Provisional Definition of the Good Status’, Ministry of the Walloon Region (2007) All types 0,93 0,68
Estonia Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) All types 0,85 0,7
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 National Types 1, 2 and 4 0,93 0,8
National Type 3 0,92 0,77
Germany Deutsches Bewertungsverfahren für Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB) R-C1 0,67 0,43
R-C3 0,67 0,43
R-C4 0,61 0,43
R-C5 0,73 0,55
Ireland Revised form of Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) All types 0,93 0,78
Luxembourg Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) All types 0,85 0,7
Netherlands KRW Maatlat All types 0,8 0,6
Spain Diatom multimetric (MDIAT) All types 0,93 0,7
Sweden Swedish assessment methods, Swedish EPA regulations (NFS 2008:1) based on Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) All types 0,89 0,74
United Kingdom Diatom Assessment for River Ecological Status (DARES) All types 0,93 0,78

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers 

Type River characterisation Ecoregion Catchment(km2) Altitude(m) Geology Substrate
R-E1 Carpathians: small to medium, mid-altitude 10 10 — 1 000 500 — 800 siliceous gravel and boulder
R-E2 Plains: medium-sized, lowland 11 and 12 100 — 1 000 < 200 mixed sand and silt
R-E4 Plains: medium-sized, mid-altitude 11 and 12 100 — 1 000 200 — 500 mixed sand and gravel

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-E1:Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, SlovakiaType R-E2:Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, SlovakiaType R-E4:Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia


Type and country National classification system intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Type R-E1, R-E2, R-E4
Slovakia Slovak System for Ecological River Status Assessment 0,8 0,6
Type R-E4
Austria Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index) 0,8 0,6

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers 

Type River characterisation Catchment (km2) Altitude (m) Geology Flow regime
R-M1 Small mid-altitude Mediterranean streams 10-100 200-800 Mixed Highly seasonal
R-M2 Small/Medium lowland Mediterranean streams 10-1 000 < 400 Mixed Highly seasonal
R-M4 Small/Medium Mediterranean mountain streams 10-1 000 400-1 500 Non-silicious Highly seasonal
R-M5 Small, lowland, temporary 10-100 < 300 Mixed Temporary

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-M1:France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, SpainType R-M2:France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, SpainType R-M4:Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, SpainType R-M5:Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain


Type and country National classification system intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
R-M1
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,94 0,81
Greece STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,95 0,71
Italy STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,97 0,72
Portugal North Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIN 0,92 0,69
Spain IBMWP 0,78 0,48
R-M2
Greece STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,94 0,71
Italy STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,94 0,7
Portugal North Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIN 0,87 0,66
R-M4
Cyprus STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,97 0,73
Greece STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,96 0,72
Italy STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,94 0,7
Spain IBMWP 0,83 0,51
R-M5
Italy STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,97 0,73
Portugal South Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIS 0,98 0,72
Spain IBMWP 0,91 0,55


Type and country National classification system intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
R-M1
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,93 0,8
Portugal Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,84 0,62
Spain Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,9 0,67
R-M2
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007 0,93 0,8
Portugal Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,84 0,62
Spain Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,93 0,7
R-M4
Spain Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,91 0,68
R-M5
Portugal European Index (CEE) 0,85 0,64
Spain Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,95 0,71

WATER CATEGORY: Rivers 

Type River characterisation Catchment area (of stretch) Altitude & geomorphology Alkalinity(meq/l) Organic material(mg Pt/l)
R-N1 Small lowland siliceous moderate alkalinity 10-100 km2 < 200 m or below the highest coastline 0,2 — 1 < 30(< 150 in Ireland)
R-N3 Small/medium lowland organic 10-1 000 km2 < 0,2 > 30
R-N4 Medium lowland siliceous moderate alkalinity 100-1 000 km2 0,2 — 1 < 30
R-N5 Small mid-altitude siliceous 10-100 km2 Between lowland and highland < 0,2 < 30

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-N1:Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United KingdomType R-N3:Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United KingdomType R-N4:Finland, Norway, Sweden, United KingdomType R-N5:Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

The following results apply to all types as described above


Country National classification system intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Finland Multimetric system, first version established 0,8 0,6
Ireland Quality Rating System (Q-value) 0,85 0,75
Norway Average Score per Taxon (ASPT) 0,99 0,87
Sweden DJ-index (Dahl & Johnson 2004) 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT) 0,97 0,86

The following results apply to all types as described above


Country National classification system intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Finland Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,91 0,8
Ireland Revised form of Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) 0,93 0,78
Sweden Swedish assessment methods, Swedish EPA regulations (NFS 2008:1) based on Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,89 0,74
United Kingdom Diatom Assessment for River Ecological Status (DARES) 0,93 0,78

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes 

Type Lake characterisation Altitude(m above sea level) Mean depth(m) Alkalinity(meq/l)
LA1/2 Lowland, shallow, calcareous, small and large < 200 3-15 > 1

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Ireland and United Kingdom

Phytoplankton parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
LA1/2 0,55 0,32 4,6 — 7,0 8,0 — 12,0

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes 

Type Lake characterisation Altitude(m above sea level) Mean depth(m) Alkalinity(meq/l) Lake size(km2)
L-AL3 Lowland or mid-altitude, deep, moderate to high alkalinity (alpine influence), large 50 — 800 > 15 > 1 > 0,5
L-AL4 Mid-altitude, shallow, moderate to high alkalinity (alpine influence), large 200 — 800 3 — 15 > 1 > 0,5

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types L-AL3 and L-AL4:Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia

Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of biomass

The following results refer to annual mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States may choose to use Chlorophyll a, total biovolume, or both parameters.


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
L-AL3 0,7 0,4 2,1 — 2,7 3,8 — 4,7
L-AL4 0,75 0,41 3,6 — 4,4 6,6 — 8,0


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Total biovolumes (mm3/l)
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
L-AL3 0,6 0,25 0,3 — 0,5 0,8 — 1,2
L-AL4 0,64 0,26 0,8 — 1,1 1,9 — 2,7

Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance


Country National parameters intercalibrated Type Ecological Quality Ratios Class boundaries
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
AustriaSlovenia Brettum index L-AL3 0,94 0,83 4,12—4,34 3,64—3,83
L-AL4 0,94 0,81 3,69—3,87 3,2—3,34
Germany PTSI (Phytoplankton Taxa Lake Index) L-AL3 0,6 0,43 1,25 1,75
L-AL4 0,71 0,56 1,75 2,25
Italy PTIot (Phytoplankton Taxa Index) L-AL3 (mean depth < 100m) 0,95 0,89 3,43 3,22
L-AL4 0,95 0,85 3,37 3,01
PTIspecies (Phytoplankton Taxa Index) L-AL 3 (mean depth > 100m) 0,93 0,82 4,0 3,5


Type and country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
AustriaType L-AL3 and L-AL4 Austrian macrophyte assessment system: Austrian Index Macrophytes for Lakes (AIM for Lakes), Module 1 0,8 0,6
GermanyType L-AL3 German macrophyte/phytobenthos assessment system: Module 1 0,78 0,51
GermanyType L-AL4 German macrophyte/phytobenthos assessment system: Modules 1 + 2 0,71 0,47

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes 

Type Lake characterisation Altitude (m above sea level) Mean depth (m) Alkalinity (meq/l) Hydrological residence time (years)
L-CB1 Lowland, shallow, calcareous < 200 3 — 15 > 1 1 — 10
L-CB2 Lowland, very shallow, calcareous < 200 < 3 > 1 0,1 — 1
L-CB3 Lowland, shallow, small, siliceous (moderate alkalinity) < 200 3 — 15 0,2 — 1 1 — 10

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types L-CB1 and L-CB2:Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom.Type L-CB3:Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Latvia, Poland.

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass

The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type.


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
L-CB1 0,55 0,32 4,6 — 7,0 8,0 — 12,0
L-CB2 0,63 0,3 9,9 — 11,7 21,0 — 25,0
L-CB3 0,57 0,31 4,3 — 6,5 8,0 — 12,0

The following results apply to LCB1 and LCB2 types


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Belgium Flemish macrophyte assessment system 0,8 0,6
Germany German macrophyte assessment system: Reference Index 0,75 0,5
Estonia Estonian macrophyte assessment system 0,8 0,6
Latvia Latvian macrophyte assessment system 0,8 0,6
Netherlands Dutch macrophyte assessment system (KRW Maatlat) 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom UK macrophyte assessment system: LEAFPACS 0,8 0,6

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes 

Type Lake characterisation Altitude(m) Annual mean Precipitation (mm) and T ( oC) Mean depth(m) Alkalinity(meq/l) Lake size(km2)
L-M5/7 Reservoirs, deep, large, siliceous, ‘wet areas’, catchment < 20 000km2 0 — 800 > 800 or < 15 > 15 < 1 > 0,5
L-M8 Reservoirs, deep, large, calcareous, catchment < 20 000km2 0 — 800 — > 15 > 1 > 0,5

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Type L-M5/7:Greece, France, Portugal, Spain, Romania.Type L-M8:Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Romania.

Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of biomass

The following results refer to summer mean values, euphotic depth and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States may choose to use Chlorophyll a, total biovolume, or both parameters.


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)
Good-Moderate boundary Good-Moderate boundary
L-M5/7 0,21 6,7 — 9,5
L-M8 0,43 4,2 — 6,0


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Total biovolumes (mm3/l)
Good-Moderate boundary Good-Moderate boundary
L-M5/7 0,19 1,9
L-M8 0,36 2,1

Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance

The following results refer to summer mean values, euphotic depth and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States must use at least one of the intercalibrated parameters (percentage of Cyanobacteria, Catalan index, Med PTI index)


Type and country Ecological Quality Ratios % of Cyanobacteria
Good-Moderate boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Type L-M5/7
All countries sharing the type 0,91 9,2
Type L-M8
All countries sharing the type 0,72 28,5

Ecological quality ratios calculated as EQR = (100 - boundary value)/(100 - reference value)


Type and country Ecological Quality Ratios Catalan index
Good-Moderate boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Type L-M5/7
All countries sharing the type 0,97 10,6
Type L-M8
All countries sharing the type 0,98 7,7

Ecological quality ratios calculated as EQR = (400 - boundary value)/(400 - reference value)


Type and country Ecological Quality Ratios Med PTI
Good-Moderate boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Type L-M5/7
All countries sharing the type 0,75 2,32
Type L-M8
All countries sharing the type 0,77 2,38

WATER CATEGORY: Lakes 

Type Lake characterisation Altitude(m above sea level) Mean depth(m) Alkalinity(meq/l) Colour(mg Pt/l)
LN1 Lowland, shallow, moderate alkalinity, clear < 200 3–15 0,2–1 < 30
LN2a Lowland, shallow, low alkalinity, clear < 200 3–15 < 0,2 < 30
LN2b Lowland, deep, low alkalinity, clear < 200 > 15 < 0,2 < 30
LN3a Lowland, shallow, low alkalinity, meso-humic < 200 3–15 < 0,2 30–90
LN5 Mid-altitude, shallow, low alkalinity, clear 200-800 3–15 < 0,2 < 30
LN6a Mid-altitude, shallow, low alkalinity meso-humic 200-800 3–15 < 0,2 30–90
LN8a Lowland, shallow, moderate alkalinity, meso-humic < 200 3–15 0,2–1 30–90

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types LN1, LN2a, LN3a, LN8a:Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.Types LN2b, LN5 and LN6a:Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass

The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
LN1 0,5 0,33 5,0 — 7,0 7,5 — 10,5
LN2a 0,5 0,29 3,0 — 5,0 5,0 — 8,5
LN2b 0,5 0,33 3,0 — 5,0 4,5 — 7,5
LN3a 0,5 0,3 5,0 — 7,0 8,0 — 12,0
LN5 0,5 0,33 2,0 — 4,0 3,0 — 6,0
LN6a 0,5 0,33 4,0 — 6,0 6,0 — 9,0
LN8a 0,5 0,33 7,0 — 10,0 10,5 — 15,0


Type Lake characterisation Alkalinity (meq/l) Color(mg Pt/l)
101. Low alkalinity, clear 0,05 — 0,2 < 30
102. Low alkalinity, humic 0,05 — 0,2 > 30
201. Moderate alkalinity, clear 0,2 — 1,0 < 30
202. Moderate alkalinity, humic 0,2 — 1,0 > 30
301. High alkalinity, clear > 1,0 < 30
302. High alkalinity, humic > 1,0 > 30

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types 101, 102, 201 and 202:Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.Type 301:Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.Type 302:Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.


Country National classification system intercalibrated Type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Ireland Free Macrophyte Index All types intercalibrated 0,9 0,68
Sweden Macrophyte Trophic index (Ecke) Type 101 0,98 0,79
Type 102 0,98 0,88
Type 201 0,94 0,83
Type 202 0,96 0,83
Norway Macrophyte Trophic Index (Mjelde) Type 101 0,94 0,61
Type 102 0,96 0,65
Type 201 0,91 0,72
Type 202 0,9 0,77
Type 301 0,92 0,69
United Kingdom UK macrophyte assessment system: LEAFPACS All types intercalibrated 0,8 0,6

WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional 

Type Salinity psu Exposure Depth Ice days Other Characteristics
CW B0 0,5- 3 Sheltered Shallow > 150 Sites in Botnian Bay (Northern Quark)
CW B2 3-6 Sheltered Shallow 90 — 150 Sites in Bothnian Sea
CW B3 a 3-6 Sheltered Shallow ~90 Sites in the area extending from the southern Bothnian Sea to the Archipelago Sea and the western Gulf of Finland
CW B3 b 3-6 Exposed Shallow ~90
CW B12 aEastern Baltic Sea 5-8 Sheltered Shallow — Sites in the Gulf of Riga,
CW B12 bWestern Baltic Sea 8 — 22 Sheltered Shallow — Sites at the Southern Swedish coast and the South western Baltic Sea open coast along Denmark and Germany
CW B13 6-22 Exposed Shallow — Sites along the coast of the Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Polish coast and the Danish island Bornholm
CW B 14 6-22 Sheltered Shallow — Lagoons
TW B 13 6-22 Exposed Shallow — Transitional water. Sites along the coast of Lithuania and Poland

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Types CWB0, CWB2, CWB3a, CWB3b:Finland, Sweden.Type CWB12a:EstoniaType CWB12b:Germany, Denmark, Sweden.Type CWB13:Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland.Type CWB14:Denmark, PolandType TWB13:Lithuania, Poland.


Type and country National classification system intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
CW B0
Finland BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index 0,99 0,59
Sweden BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) 0,77 0,31
CW B2
Finland BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index 0,95 0,57
Sweden BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) 0,76 0,29
CW B3 a
Finland BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index 0,89 0,53
Sweden BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) 0,76 0,29
CW B3 b
Finland BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index 0,9 0,54
Sweden BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) 0,76 0,29

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

The following results refer to summer mean May/June — September


Type and country Ecological Quality Ratios for the national classification systems Parameter values/rangesChlorophyll a μg/l
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High/-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
CW B0    
All countries sharing the type 0,76 0,56 1,7 (1,5 — 1,8) 2,3 (2,0 -2,7)
CW B2    
All countries sharing the type 0,78 0,56 1,8 2,5 (2,3 -2,6)
CW B3 a    
ShelteredAll countries sharing the type 0,71 0,49 2,4 (2,2 — 2,6) 3,5 (2,9 — 4,0)
CW B3 b    
ExposedAll countries sharing the type 0,81 0,68 1,5 1,8
CW B 12 a    
Eastern Baltic SeaSalinity 5-8 psuAll countries sharing the type 0,82 0,66 2,2 2,7
CW B 12 b    
Western Baltic SeaSalinity8 -22 psuAll countries sharing the type 0,92 0,63 1,3 (1,1 — 1,5) 1,9
CW B 13    
Denmark, Estonia and Latvia 0,92 0,75 1,3 1,6
CW B 14    
Denmark 0,82 0,56 1,1 1,6
TW B 13    
All countries sharing the type 0,9 0,66 4,2 5,8

Angiosperms: parameter indicative of abundance (Depth limit of Eelgrass Zostera marina)


Type and country Ecological Quality Ratios for the national classification systems Parameter values/rangesDepth limit (m) Eelgrass Zostera marina
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High/-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
CW B 12 b    
Denmark and GermanyOpen coast 0,9 0,74 8,5 (8,0 — 9,4) 7 (6,6 — 7,1)

WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional 

Type Characterisation Salinity (psu)Tidal Range(m)Depth(m) Current Velocity (knots)Exposure MixingResidence Time
NEA1/26a Open oceanic, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow > 30Mesotidal 1 — 5< 30 Medium 1 — 3Exposed or sheltered Fully mixedDays
NEA1/26b Enclosed seas, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow > 30Mesotidal 1 — 5< 30 Medium 1 — 3Exposed or sheltered Fully mixedDays
NEA1/26c Enclosed seas, enclosed or sheltered, partly stratified > 30Microtidal/Mesotidal < 1 — 5< 30 Medium 1 — 3Exposed or sheltered Partly stratifiedDays to weeks
NEA1/26d Scandinavian coast, exposed or sheltered, shallow > 30Microtidal < 1< 30 Low < 1Exposed or moderately exposed Partly stratifiedDays to weeks
NEA1/26e Areas of upwelling, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow > 30Mesotidal 1 — 5< 30 Medium 1 — 3Exposed or sheltered Fully mixedDays
NEA3/4 Polyhaline, exposed or moderately exposed (Wadden Sea type) Polyhaline 18 — 30Mesotidal 1 — 5< 30 Medium 1 — 3Exposed or moderately exposed Fully mixedDays
NEA7 Deep fjordic and sea loch systems > 30Mesotidal 1 -5> 30 Low < 1Sheltered Fully mixedDays
NEA8 Skagerrak Inner Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, sheltered, shallow Polyhaline 18 — 30Microtidal < 1< 30 Low < 1Sheltered Partly stratifiedDays to weeks
NEA9 Fjord with a shallow sill at the mouth with a very deep maximum depth in the central basin with poor deepwater exchange Polyhaline 18 — 30Microtidal < 1> 30 Low < 1Sheltered Partly stratifiedWeeks
NEA10 Skagerrak Outer Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, exposed, deep Polyhaline 18 — 30Microtidal < 1> 30 Low < 1Exposed Partly stratifiedDays
NEA11 Transitional Waters Oligohaline 0 — 35Micro to macrotidal< 30 VariableSheltered or moderately exposed Partly or permanently stratifiedDays to weeks

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Type NEA1/26a:Spain, France, Ireland, Norway, United KingdomType NEA1/26b:Belgium, France, Netherlands, United KingdomType NEA1/26c:Germany, DenmarkType NEA1/26d:DenmarkType NEA1/26e:Portugal, SpainType NEA3/4:Germany, NetherlandsType NEA7:Norway, United KingdomType NEA8:Denmark, Norway, SwedenType NEA9:Norway, SwedenType NEA10:Norway, SwedenType NEA11:Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom

The results are applicable to soft sediment habitats only (subtidal mud/sand habitats).


Type and country National classification system Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Types NEA1/26, NEA 3/4 and NEA7 (Indices responsive primarily to organic enrichment and toxic pollution pressures in soft sediment habitats)
Denmark DKI 0,67 0,53
France M-AMBI 0,77 0,53
Germany M-AMBI 0,85 0,7
Ireland IQI 0,75 0,64
Norway NQI 0,92 0,81
Portugal P-BAT 0,79 0,58
Spain M-AMBI 0,77 0,53
United Kingdom IQI 0,75 0,64
Types NEA1/26 and NEA3/4 (Index responsive to multiple pressures in multiple habitats)
Belgium BEQI 0,8 0,6
Netherlands BEQI 0,8 0,6
Types NEA8/9/10
Denmark DKI 0,82 0,63
Norway NQI 0,92 0,81
Sweden BQI 0,89 0,68

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)

The following results apply to all countries sharing the types. Parameter values are expressed in μg/l as the 90 %ile value calculated over the defined growing season in a six year period. The results relate to geographic areas within the types as described in the technical report.


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l, 90 %ile
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
NEA1/26a 0,67 0,33 1 — 5 2 — 10
NEA1/26b 0,67 0,44 6 — 10 9 — 15
NEA1/26c 0,67 0,44 5 7,5
NEA1/26d 0,67 0,5 3 4
NEA1/26e 0,67 0,44 6 — 8 9 — 12
NEA8 0,67 0,33 1,5 3
NEA9 0,67 0,33 2,5 5
NEA10 0,67 0,33 3 6

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of blooms


Type and country National parameter intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios Values ( % single taxa counts above thresholds)
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
NEA1/26a/b, NEA3/4
Belgium     
Germany     
Netherlands     
UK Phaeocystis Blooms 0,92 0,49 9 17
NEA1/26a/b
Spain     
France     
Ireland     
UK Taxa cell counts 0,84 0,43 20 39
NEA1/26e
Portugal     
Spain Taxa cell counts 0,83 0,51 30 49

Macroalgae: parameter indicative of composition


Type and country National parameter intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
NEA1/26
Ireland Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System 0,8 0,6
Norway Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System 0,8 0,6
Spain Multimetric System CFR 0,81 0,57
Portugal Multimetric System p-MarMAT 0,82 0,64
IrelandUnited Kingdom Opportunistic Macroalgae Multimetric System 0,8 0,6
NEA8/9/10
NorwaySweden Subtidal Algae (Depth Limit of macroalgal Species) 0,81 0,61

Angiosperms: parameter indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance


Type and country National parameter intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios Parameter values
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
NEA1/26, NEA 3/4, NEA11
IrelandNetherlandsUK Intertidal Seagrass Abundance (density) and Species Composition Multimetric 0,9 0,7 Not applicable Not applicable
NEA1/26, NEA3/4
GermanyIrelandNetherlandsUK Intertidal Seagrass (Area: Acreage/bed extent) 0,9 0,7 10 30


WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional 
Results apply to coastal waters only.

Typology has been developed for specific quality elements only (see below).

The following results apply to soft sediments only


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Cyprus Bentix 0,75 0,58
Greece Bentix 0,75 0,58
Slovenia M-AMBI 0,83 0,62
Spain MEDOCC index 0,73 0,47


Type Description Density (kg/m3) Annual mean Salinity (psu)
Type I Highly influenced by freshwater input < 25 < 34,5
Type IIA Moderately influenced by freshwater input (continent influence) 25-27 34,5-37,5
Type IIIW Continental coast, not influenced by freshwater input (Western Basin). > 27 > 37,5
Type IIIE Not influenced by freshwater input (Eastern Basin) > 27 > 37,5

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated

Type I:France, ItalyType IIA:France, Spain, Italy, SloveniaType IIIW:France, Spain, ItalyType IIIE::Greece, Cyprus

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

The following results apply to all countries sharing the types. Parameter values are expressed in μg/l of Chlorophyll a, for the 90th percentile calculated over the year in at least a five year period. The results relate to geographic areas within the types as described in the technical report..


Type Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l, 90 %ile)
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Type IIA 0,8 0,53 2,4 3,6
Type IIIW 0,8 0,5 1,1 1,8
Type IIIE 0,8 0,2 0,1 0,4

The following results apply to the upper infralittoral zone (3,5 — 0,2 m depth) in rocky coasts:


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Cyprus EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index 0,75 0,5
France CARLIT — Cartography of Littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities 0,75 0,6
Greece EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index 0,75 0,5
Slovenia EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index 0,75 0,5
Spain CARLIT-BENTHOS 0,75 0,6

WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional 

Type Description
CW-BL1 Mesohaline, microtidal (< 1 m), shallow (< 30 m), moderately exposed, mixed substratum

Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

Bulgaria and Romania

Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass


Season Ecological Quality Ratios Biomass values (mg/m3)
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Winter 0,93 0,78 1 770 3 420
Spring 0,93 0,78 3 515 5 690
Summer 0,93 0,78 1 281 2 526
Autumn 0,93 0,78 1 840 3 640

Member States must use at least one of the intercalibrated parameters (Shannon diversity index H’, AMBI, M-AMBI)


National parameters intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Shannon diversity index H’ 0,89 0,69
AMBI 0,83 0,53
M-AMBI 0,85 0,55
