
Article 1 
Annex III to Directive 2008/56/EC is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Directive.
Article 2 

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 7 December 2018 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
3. The obligation to transpose this Directive shall not apply to Member States without marine waters.
Article 3 
This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 4 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 17 May 2017.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude JUNCKER
ANNEX

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ANNEX III  Indicative lists of ecosystem elements, anthropogenic pressures and human activities relevant to the marine waters 

Theme Ecosystem elements Possible parameters and characteristics (Note 1) Relevant qualitative descriptors laid down in Annex I (Notes 2 and 3)
Species Species groups (Note 4) of marine birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and cephalopods of the marine region or subregion Spatial and temporal variation per species or population:
— distribution, abundance and/or biomass
— size, age and sex structure
— fecundity, survival and mortality/injury rates
— behaviour including movement and migration
— habitat for the species (extent, suitability)Species composition of the group (1); (3)
Habitats Broad habitat types of the water column (pelagic) and seabed (benthic) (Note 5), or other habitat types, including their associated biological communities throughout the marine region or subregion Per habitat type:
— habitat distribution and extent (and volume, if appropriate)
— species composition, abundance and/or biomass (spatial and temporal variation)
— size and age structure of species (if appropriate)
— physical, hydrological and chemical characteristicsAdditionally for pelagic habitats:
— chlorophyll a concentration
— plankton bloom frequencies and spatial extent (1); (6)
Ecosystems, including food webs Ecosystem structure, functions and processes, comprising:
— physical and hydrological characteristics
— chemical characteristics
— biological characteristics
— functions and processes Spatial and temporal variation in:
— temperature and ice
— hydrology (wave and current regimes; upwelling, mixing, residence time, freshwater input; sea level)
— bathymetry
— turbidity (silt/sediment loads), transparency, sound
— seabed substrate and morphology
— salinity, nutrients (N, P), organic carbon, dissolved gases (pCO2, O2) and pH
— links between habitats and species of marine birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and cephalopods
— pelagic-benthic community structure
— productivity (1); (4)
 Note 1: An indicative list of relevant parameters and characteristics for species, habitats and ecosystems is given, reflecting parameters affected by the pressures of Table 2 of this Annex and of relevance to criteria laid down in accordance with Article 9(3). The particular parameters and characteristics to be used for monitoring and assessment should be determined in accordance with the requirements of this Directive, including those of its Articles 8 to 11.
 Note 2: The numbers in this column refer to the respective numbered points in Annex I.
 Note 3: Only the state-based qualitative descriptors (1), (3), (4) and (6) which have criteria laid down in accordance with Article 9(3) are listed in Table 1. All other, pressure-based, qualitative descriptors under Annex I may be relevant for each theme.
 Note 4: These species groups are further specified in Part II of the Annex to Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 of 17 May 2017 laying down criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment, and repealing Decision 2010/477/EU (see page 43 of this Official Journal).
 Note 5: These broad habitat types are further specified in Part II of the Annex to Decision (EU) 2017/848.

 2a. 
with particular relevance for points (a) and (b) of Article 8(1), and Articles 9, 10 and 11

Theme Pressure (Note 1) Possible parameters Relevant qualitative descriptors laid down in Annex I (Notes 2 and 3)
Biological Input or spread of non-indigenous species Intensity of, and spatial and temporal variation in, the pressure in the marine environment and, where relevant, at sourceFor assessment of environmental impacts of the pressure, select relevant ecosystem elements and parameters from Table 1 (2)
Input of microbial pathogens 
Input of genetically modified species and translocation of native species 
Loss of, or change to, natural biological communities due to cultivation of animal or plant species 
Disturbance of species (e.g. where they breed, rest and feed) due to human presence 
Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities) (3)
Physical Physical disturbance to seabed (temporary or reversible) (6); (7)
Physical loss (due to permanent change of seabed substrate or morphology and to extraction of seabed substrate)
Changes to hydrological conditions
Substances, litter and energy Input of nutrients — diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition (5)
Input of organic matter — diffuse sources and point sources
Input of other substances (e.g. synthetic substances, non-synthetic substances, radionuclides) — diffuse sources, point sources, atmospheric deposition, acute events (8); (9)
Input of litter (solid waste matter, including micro-sized litter) (10)
Input of anthropogenic sound (impulsive, continuous) (11)
Input of other forms of energy (including electromagnetic fields, light and heat)
Input of water — point sources (e.g. brine)  2b. 
with particular relevance for points (b) and (c) of Article 8(1) (only activities marked * are relevant for point (c) of Article 8(1)), and Articles 10 and 13

Theme Activity
Physical restructuring of rivers, coastline or seabed (water management) Land claim
Canalisation and other watercourse modifications
Coastal defence and flood protection*
Offshore structures (other than for oil/gas/renewables)*
Restructuring of seabed morphology, including dredging and depositing of materials*
Extraction of non-living resources Extraction of minerals (rock, metal ores, gravel, sand, shell)*
Extraction of oil and gas, including infrastructure*
Extraction of salt*
Extraction of water*
Production of energy Renewable energy generation (wind, wave and tidal power), including infrastructure*
Non-renewable energy generation
Transmission of electricity and communications (cables)*
Extraction of living resources Fish and shellfish harvesting (professional, recreational)*
Fish and shellfish processing*
Marine plant harvesting*
Hunting and collecting for other purposes*
Cultivation of living resources Aquaculture — marine, including infrastructure*
Aquaculture — freshwater
Agriculture
Forestry
Transport Transport infrastructure*
Transport — shipping*
Transport — air
Transport — land
Urban and industrial uses Urban uses
Industrial uses
Waste treatment and disposal*
Tourism and leisure Tourism and leisure infrastructure*
Tourism and leisure activities*
Security/defence Military operations (subject to Article 2(2))
Education and research Research, survey and educational activities* Note 1: Assessments of pressures should address their levels in the marine environment and, if appropriate, the rates of input (from land-based or atmospheric sources) to the marine environment.
 Note 2: The numbers in this column refer to the respective numbered points in Annex I.
 Note 3: Only pressure-based qualitative descriptors (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11), which have criteria laid down in accordance with Article 9(3), are listed in Table 2a. All other, state-based, qualitative descriptors under Annex I may be relevant for each theme.
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