
Article 1 

1. For the purposes 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 Part 1 of the Annex to this Decision.
2. Where a comparability assessment for a biological quality element has not been completed within a Geographical Intercalibration Group, Member States shall, for the purpose of Section 1.4.1(iii) of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC, use in their monitoring systems classification the methods and the values of the boundaries between classes that are set out in Part 2 of the Annex to this Decision.
3. Member States may use the methods and the values of the boundaries between classes set out in the Annex to this Decision to establish the good ecological potential of water bodies designated as artificial or heavily modified water bodies in accordance with Article 4(3) of Directive 2000/60/EC.
Article 2 
Decision 2013/480/EU is repealed.
Article 3 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 12 February 2018.
For the Commission
Karmenu VELLA
Member of the Commission
ANNEX
Part 1 of this annex includes the results of the intercalibration exercise for which all steps of the intercalibration process have been fully completed, including their respective boundary values.
Part 2 includes national methods and their boundary values which are consistent with the normative definition set out in Section 1.2 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC but where it has not been technically feasible to complete the comparability assessment within a Geographical Intercalibration Group due to lack of common types, different pressures addressed or different assessment concepts.

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type River characterisation Catchment (km2) Altitude (m a.s.l.) and geomorphology Alkalinity Flow regime
R-A1 Pre-Alpine, 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 types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-A1:Germany, Austria, France, Italy, SloveniaType R-A2:Austria, France, Italy, Spain
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Type R-A1   
Austria Assessment of the biological quality elements — part benthic invertebrates [Erhebung der biologischen Qualitätselemente — Teil Makrozoobenthos (Detaillierte MZB-Methode)] 0,8 0,6
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). AFNOR NF-T-90-350 and arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,93 0,79
Germany PERLODES — Bewertungsverfahren von Fließgewässern auf Basis des Makrozoobenthos 0,8 0,6
Italy MacrOper, based on STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,97 0,73
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi bentoških nevretenčarjev 0,8 0,6
Type R-A2   
Austria Assessment of the biological quality elements — part benthic invertebrates [Erhebung der biologischen Qualitätselemente — Teil Makrozoobenthos (Detaillierte MZB-Methode)] 0,8 0,6
France (Alps) Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). AFNOR NF-T-90-350 and arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,93 0,71
France (Pyrenees) Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). AFNOR NF-T-90-350 and arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,81
Italy MacrOper, based on STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,95 0,71
Spain Iberian BMWP (IBMWP) 0,83 0,53
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Type and country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Type R-A1   
Austria Assessment of the biological quality elements — part phytobenthos [Leitfaden zur Erhebung der biologischen Qualitätselemente, Teil A3 — Fließgewässer/Phytobenthos] 0,88 0,56
France IBD 2007 (Coste et al, Ecol. Ind. 2009). AFNOR NF-T-90-354, December 2007. Arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,78
Germany Verfahrensanleitung für die ökologische Bewertung von Fließgewässern zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB), Modul Diatomeen 0,735 0,54
Italy Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi) (Mancini & Sollazzo, 2009) 0,87 0,7
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, fitobentos 0,8 0,6
Type R-A2   
Austria Assessment of the biological quality elements — part phytobenthos [Leitfaden zur Erhebung der biologischen Qualitätselemente, Teil A3 — Fließgewässer/Phytobenthos] 0,88 0,56
France IBD 2007 (Coste et al, Ecol. Ind. 2009). AFNOR NF-T-90-354, December 2007. Arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,78
Spain IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,94 0,74
Italy Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi) (Mancini & Sollazzo, 2009) 0,85 0,64

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type River characterisation Catchment (km2) Altitude and 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 material3 — 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 — 25 m width (bankfull size) > 0,4
R-C5 Large lowland mixed 1 000 — 10 000 Lowland, barbel zone, variation in velocity, max. altitude in catchment: 800 m a.s.l., > 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 types that have been intercalibrated:

Type R-C1:Belgium (Flanders), Belgium (Wallonia), Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United KingdomType R-C2:Spain, France, Ireland, Sweden, United KingdomType R-C3:Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden, France, Luxembourg, United KingdomType R-C4:Belgium (Flanders), Belgium (Wallonia), Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United KingdomType R-C5:Belgium (Wallonia), Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland. Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United KingdomType R-C6:Belgium (Wallonia), Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Sweden, United Kingdom
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria Assessment of the biological quality elements — part benthic invertebrates 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 Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 13 septembre 2012 relatif à l’identification, à la caractérisation et à la fixation des seuils d’état écologique applicables aux masses d’eau de surface et modifiant le Livre II du Code de l’Environnement, contenant le Code de l’Eau. Moniteur belge 12.10.2012 0,94(type R-C1)0,97(types R-C3, R-C5, R-C6) 0,75(type R-C1)0,74(types R-C3, R-C5, R-C6)
Czech Republic Czech system for ecological status assessment of rivers using benthic macroinvertebrates 0,8 0,6
Denmark Danish Stream Fauna Index (DSFI) 1,0 0,71
Estonia Estonian surface water ecological quality assessment — river macroinvertebrates 0,9 0,7
Germany PERLODES — Bewertungsverfahren von Fließgewässern auf Basis des Makrozoobenthos 0,8 0,6
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). AFNOR NF T90-350 et arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,8
Ireland Quality Rating System (Q-value) 0,85 0,75
Italy MacrOper, based on STAR_ICM index calculation 0,96 0,72
Latvia Latvian Macroinvertebrate Index (LMI) 0,92 0,72
Lithuania Lithuanian River Macroinvertebrate Index (LRMI) 0,8 0,6
Luxembourg Classification luxembourgeoise DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). AFNOR NF-T-90-350, AFNOR XP T 90-333 and XP T 90-388 0,96 0,72
Netherlands KRW-maatlat 0,8 0,6
Poland RIVECOmacro — MMI_PL 0,91(type R-C1) 0,72 (type R-C1)
Spain METI 0,93 0,7
Sweden DJ-index (Dahl & Johnson 2004) 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT)- WHPT 0,97 0,86
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria AIM for Rivers (Austrian Index Macrophytes for rivers) RC-3 0,875 0,625
Belgium (Flanders) MAFWAT — Flemish macrophyte assessment system R-C1 0,8 0,6
Belgium (Wallonia) IBMR-WL — Biological Macrophyte Index for Rivers (Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 13 septembre 2012 relatif à l’identification, à la caractérisation et à la fixation des seuils d’état écologique applicables aux masses d’eau de surface et modifiant le Livre II du Code de l’Environnement, contenant le Code de l’Eau. Moniteur belge 12.10.2012) R-C3 0,925 0,607
Czech Republic Assessment method of surface running water bodies in the Czech Republic using biological quality element macrophytes R-C3 (national type 1) 0,83 0,67
R-C3 (national type 4) 0,82 0,64
R-C4 0,86 0,62
Denmark DSPI — Danish Stream Plant Index R-C1, R-C4 0,7 0,5
Germany Verfahrensanleitung für die ökologische Bewertung von Fließgewässern zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB), Modul Makrophyten R-C1 0,745 0,495
R-C3 0,8 0,55
R-C4 0,575 0,395
Germany NRW-Verfahren zur Bewertung von Fließgewässern mit Makrophyten R-C1, R-C3, R-C4 0,995 0,695
France IBMR — Indice Biologique Macrophytique en Rivière French standard NF T90-395 (2003-10-01) R-C3 0,93 0,79
R-C4 0,905 0,79
Ireland MTR — IE — Mean Trophic Ranking R-C4 0,74 0,62
Italy IBMR — IT — Biological Macrophyte Index for Rivers R-C1 0,9 0,8
R-C4 0,9 0,8
Lithuania Lithuanian River Macrophyte Index R-C4 0,61 0,41
Latvia Latvian assessment method using macrophytes R-C4 0,75 0,55
Luxembourg IBMR — LU — Biological Macrophyte Index for Rivers R-C3, R-C4, R-C5 and R-C6 0,89 0,79
Netherlands Revised assessment method for rivers in The Netherlands using macrophytes R-C1 and R-C 0,8 0,6
Poland MIR — Macrophyte Index for Rivers R-C1 0,9 0,65
R-C3 0,91 0,684
R-C4 0,9 0,65
United Kingdom River LEAFPACS 2 R-C1, R-C3 and R-C4 0,8 0,6

 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria Assessment of the biological quality elements — part Phytobenthos [Leitfaden zur Erhebung der biologischen Qualitätselemente, Teil A3 -Fließgewässer/Phytobenthos] All types, altitude < 500 m 0,7 0,42
All types, altitude > 500 m 0,71 0,43
Belgium (Flanders) Proportions of Impact-Sensitive and Impact-Associated Diatoms (PISIAD) All types 0,8 0,6
Belgium (Wallonia) IPS (Coste, in CEMAGREF, 1982; Lenoir & Coste, 1996 and Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 13 septembre 2012 relatif à l’identification, à la caractérisation et à la fixation des seuils d’état écologique applicables aux masses d’eau de surface et modifiant le Livre II du Code de l’Environnement, contenant le Code de l’Eau. Moniteur belge 12.10.2012) All types 0,98 0,73
Czech Republic Czech assessment method for rivers using phytobenthos R-C3, R-C4, R-C5 0,8 0,63
Estonia Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) All types 0,85 0,7
France IBD 2007 (Coste et al, Ecol. Ind. 2009). AFNOR NF-T-90-354, December 2007. Arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface All types 0,94 0,78
Germany Verfahrensanleitung für die ökologische Bewertung von Fließgewässern zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB), Modul Diatomeen 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
Italy Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi) (Mancini & Sollazzo, 2009) All types 0,89 0,7
Ireland Revised form of Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) All types 0,93 0,78
Lithuania Lithuanian Phytobenthos Index R-C1, R-C4, R-C5, R-C6 0,73 0,55
Luxembourg Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) R-C3, R-C4 (low alkalinity) 0,98 0,78
R-C4 (high alkalinity), R-C5 and R-C6 0,99 0,78
Netherlands KRW Maatlat All types 0,8 0,6
Poland Indeks Okrzemkowy IO dla rzek (Diatom Index for rivers) All types 0,8 0,58
Spain Diatom multimetric (MDIAT) R-C2, R-C3, R-C4 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 (DARLEQ2) All types 1,0 0,75

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type River characterisation Ecoregion Catchment (km2) Altitude (m a.s.l.) Geology Substrate
R-E1a Carpathians: small to medium, mid-altitude 10 10 — 1 000 500 — 800 Mixed 
R-E1b Carpathians: small to medium, mid-altitude 10 10 — 1 000 200 — 500 Mixed 
R-E2 Plains: medium-sized, lowland 11 and 12 100 — 1 000 < 200 Mixed Sand and silt
R-E3 Plains: large, lowland 11 and 12 > 1 000 < 200 Mixed Sand, silt and gravel
R-E4 Plains: medium-sized, mid-altitude 11 and 12 100 — 1 000 200 — 500 Mixed Sand and gravel
R-EX4 Large, mid-altitude 10, 11 and 12 > 1 000 200 — 500 Mixed Gravel and boulder
R-EX5 Plains: small lowland 11 and 12 10 — 100 < 200 Mixed Sand and silt
R-EX6 Plains: small, mid-altitude 11 and 12 10 — 100 200 — 500 Mixed Gravel
R-EX7 Balkan: small, calcareous, mid-altitude 5 10 — 100 200 — 500 Calcareous Gravel
R-EX8 Balkan: small to medium-sized, calcareous karst spring 5 10 — 1 000  Calcareous Gravel, sand and silt

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

R-E1a:Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, SlovakiaR-E1b:Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, SlovakiaR-E2:Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, SloveniaR-E3:Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, SloveniaR-E4:Austria, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, SloveniaR-EX4:Czech Republic, Romania, SlovakiaR-EX5:Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, SlovakiaR-EX6:Hungary, Romania, SloveniaR-EX7:SloveniaR-EX8:Slovenia
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria Assessment of the biological quality elements — part benthic invertebrates R-E4 0,8 0,6
Bulgaria IBI (BG) (Irish Biotic Index (BG)) R-E1a, R-E1b 0,86 0,67
R-E2, R-E3 0,8 0,6
Czech Republic Czech system for ecological status assessment of rivers using benthic macroinvertebrates R-E1a, R-E1b, R-E2, R-E3 0,8 0,6
Hungary Hungarian Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index R-E1b, R-E3, R-E4, R-EX5, R-EX6 0,8 0,6
Romania Assessment method for ecological status of water bodies based on macroinvertebrates R-E1a, R-E1b, R-E3, R-EX4 0,74 0,58
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi bentoških nevretenčarjev R-E4, R-EX5, R-EX6 0,8 0,6
Slovakia Slovak assessment of benthic invertebrates in rivers R-E1a, R-E1b, R-E2, R-E3, R-E4, R-EX4 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria AIM for Rivers (Austrian Index Macrophytes for rivers) R-E4 0,875 0,625
Bulgaria Reference Index R-E2, R-E3 0,57 0,37
R-E4 0,51 0,27
Czech Republic Assessment method of surface running water bodies in the Czech Republic using biological quality element macrophytes R-E2, R-E3 0,75 0,5
Czech Republic Assessment method of surface running water bodies in the Czech Republic using biological quality element macrophytes R-E4 0,77 0,56
Hungary Reference Index R-E2, R-E3 0,7 0,37
Romania Romanian Macrophyte-based assessment system for rivers (Macrophyte River Index (MARI)) R-E2, R-E3, R-E4 R-E2 and R-E3: 0,875, R-E4: 0,783 all types: 0,625
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, makrofiti R-E2, R-E3, R-E4 0,8 0,6
Slovakia Macrophyte Biological Index for Rivers (IBMR-SK) R-E2, R-E3, R-E4 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria Assessment of the biological quality elements — part phytobenthos R-E4 0,7 0,42
Bulgaria Ecological status assessment of rivers in Bulgaria based on IPS diatom index R-E1a, R-E1b, R-E3 0,87 (national type R2, R4)0,85 (national type R7, R8) 0,66 (national type R2, R4)0,64 (national type R7, R8)
Czech Republic Assessment system for rivers using phytobenthos R-E1a, R-E1b, R-E2, R-E3, R-EX4 0,8 0,6
Hungary Ecological status assessment for rivers based on diatoms R-E2, R-E3, R-EX5 0,8 0,6
Romania National (Romanian) Assessment Method for Rivers Ecological Status based on Phytobenthos (Diatoms) RO-AMRP R-E1a, R-E1b, R-E3 0,8 0,6
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, fitobentos R-E4, R-EX5, R-EX6, R-EX7, R-EX8 0,8 0,6
Slovakia Ecological status assessment system for rivers using phytobenthos R-E1a, R-E1b, R-E2, R-E3, R-E4, R-EX4 0,9 0,7

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type River characterisation Catchment (km2) Geology Flow regime
R-M1 Small Mediterranean streams < 100 Mixed (except silicious) Highly seasonal
R-M2 Medium Mediterranean streams 100 — 1 000 Mixed (except silicious) Highly seasonal
R-M4 Mediterranean mountain streams  Non-silicious Highly seasonal
R-M5 Temporary streams   Temporary

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

R-M1:Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, SpainR-M2:Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, SpainR-M4:Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, SpainR-M5:Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Type and Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
R-M1   
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). AFNOR NF T90-350 et arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,7
Greece Hellenic Evaluation System-2 (HESY-2) 0,943 0,75
Italy MacrOper (based on STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index ICMi) 0,97 0,72
Portugal Rivers Biological Quality Assessment Method-Benthic Invertebrates (IPtIN, IPtIS) 0,87 (type 1) 0,678 (type 1)
0,85 (type 3) 0,686 (type 3)
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi bentoških nevretenčarjev 0,8 0,6
Spain Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party (IBMWP) 0,845 0,698
Spain Iberian Mediterranean Multimetric Index—using quantitative data (IMMi-T) 0,811 0,707
R-M2   
Bulgaria IBI (BG) (Irish Biotic Index (BG)) 0,8 0,6
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). AFNOR NF T90-350 et arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,7
Greece Hellenic Evaluation System-2 (HESY-2) 0,944 0,708
Italy MacrOper (based on STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index ICMi) 0,94 0,7
Portugal Rivers Biological Quality Assessment Method-Benthic Invertebrates (IPtIN, IPtIS) 0,83 (type 2) 0,693 (type 2)
0,88 (type 4) 0,676 (type 4)
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi bentoških nevretenčarjev 0,8 0,6
Spain Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party (IBMWP) 0,845 0,698
Spain Iberian Mediterranean Multimetric Index—using quantitative data (IMMi-T) 0,811 0,707
R-M4   
Cyprus STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,972 0,729
France Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). AFNOR NF T90-350 et arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,7
Greece Hellenic Evaluation System-2 (HESY-2) 0,85 0,637
Italy MacrOper (based on STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index ICMi) 0,94 0,7
Spain Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party (IBMWP) 0,84 0,7
Spain Iberian Mediterranean Multimetric Index—using quantitative data (IMMi-T) 0,85 0,694
R-M5   
Cyprus STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi) 0,982 0,737
Greece Hellenic Evaluation System-2 (HESY-2) 0,963 0,673
Italy MacrOper (based on STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index ICMi) 0,97 0,73
Portugal Rivers Biological Quality Assessment Method-Benthic Invertebrates (IPtIN, IPtIS) 0,973 (type 5) 0,705 (type 5)
0,961 (type 6) 0,708 (type 6)
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi bentoških nevretenčarjev 0,8 0,6
Spain Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party (IBMWP) 0,83 0,63
Spain Iberian Mediterranean Multimetric Index—using quantitative data (IMMi-T) 0,83 0,62
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Type and Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
R-M1, M2, M4   
Bulgaria (R-M1 and R-M2) RI (BG) (Reference Index (BG)) 0,64 0,35
Cyprus IBMR — Biological Macrophyte Index for Rivers 0,795 0,596
France IBMR — Indice Biologique Macrophytique en Rivière French standard NF T90-395 (2003-10-01) 0,93 0,745
Greece IBMR — Biological Macrophyte Index for Rivers 0,75 0,56
Italy IBMR — Biological Macrophyte Index for Rivers 0,9 0,8
Portugal IBMR — Biological Macrophyte Index for Rivers 0,92 0,69
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, makrofiti 0,8 0,6
Spain IBMR — Biological Macrophyte Index for Rivers 0,95 0,74
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Type and Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
R-M1   
Bulgaria IPS (Indice de polluo-sensibilité) 0,82 0,63
France IBD 2007 (Coste et al, Ecol. Ind. 2009). AFNOR NF-T-90-354, December 2007. Arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,78
Greece IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) Intercalibrated (EQR IPS) 0,956 0,717
Italy Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi) (Mancini & Sollazzo, 2009) 0,8 0,61
Portugal IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,97 (type 1) 0,73 (type 1)
0,91 (type 3) 0,68 (type 3)
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, fitobentos 0,8 0,6
Spain IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,937 0,727
R-M2   
Bulgaria IPDS (Indice de polluo-sensibilité) 0,82 0,63
France IBD 2007 (Coste et al, Ecol. Ind. 2009). AFNOR NF-T-90-354, December 2007. Arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,78
Greece IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) Intercalibrated (EQR IPS) 0,953 0,732
Italy Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi)(Mancini & Sollazzo, 2009) 0,8 0,61
Portugal IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982)) 0,91 (type 2) 0,68 (type 2)
0,97 (type 4) 0,73 (type 4)
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, fitobentos 0,8 0,6
Spain IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,938 0,727
R-M4   
Cyprus IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,91 0,683
France IBD 2007 (Coste et al, Ecol. Ind. 2009). AFNOR NF-T-90-354, December 2007. Arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,94 0,78
Greece IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) Intercalibrated (EQR IPS) 0,932 0,716
Italy Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi)(Mancini & Sollazzo, 2009) 0,8 0,61
Spain IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,935 0,727
R-M5   
Cyprus IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,958 0,718
Italy Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi)(Mancini & Sollazzo, 2009) 0,88 0,65
Portugal IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,8 (Type 5) 0,651 (Type 5)
0,94 (Type 6) 0,7 (Type 6)
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, fitobentos 0,8 0,6
Spain IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,935 0,7

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type River characterisation Catchment areaof stretch (km2) Altitude and geomorphology Alkalinity(meq/l) Organic material(mg Pt/l)
R-N1 Small lowland siliceous moderate alkalinity 10 — 100 < 200 m a.s.l. or below the highest coastline 0,2 — 1 < 30(< 150 in Ireland)
R-N3 Small/medium lowland organic low alkalinity 10 — 1 000 < 0,2 > 30
R-N4 Medium lowland siliceous moderate alkalinity 100 — 1 000 0,2 — 1 < 30
R-N5 Small mid-altitude siliceous low alkalinity 10 — 100 Between lowland and highland < 0,2 < 30
R-N9 Small/medium mid-altitude siliceous low alkalinity organic (humic) 10 — 1 000 Between lowland and highland < 0,2 > 30

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

R-N1:Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United KingdomR-N3:Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United KingdomR-N4:Finland, Norway, Sweden, United KingdomR-N5:Finland, Norway, Sweden, United KingdomR-N9:Finland, Norway, Sweden
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Finland Revised Finnish river invertebrate fauna assessment method 0,8 0,6
Ireland Quality Rating System (Q-value) 0,85 0,75
Norway ASPT 0,99 0,87
Sweden DJ-index (Dahl & Johnson 2004) 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT)- WHPT 0,97 0,86
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated
The following results apply to clear, low alkalinity river types

Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Norway AcidIndex2 (Modified Raddum index2) (river acidification) 0,675 0,515
United Kingdom — Scotland WFD-AWIC 0,91 0,83
United Kingdom — England and Wales WFD-AWIC 0,98 0,89
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated
The following results apply to humic, low alkalinity river types

Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Sweden MISA: Multimetric Invertebrate Stream Acidification index 0,55 0,4
United Kingdom WFD-AWIC 0,93 0,83
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Type and Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
R-N3 and R-N9   
Finland Trophic index TIc 0,889 0,61
Sweden Trophic index TIc 0,889 0,61
Norway Trophic index TIc 0,889 0,61
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Finland Finnish river phytobenthos method 0,8 0,6
Sweden Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) 0,89 0,74
Ireland Revised form of Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) 0,93 0,78
United Kingdom DARLEQ 2 1,0 0,75
Norway Periphyton Index of Trophic Status (PIT) 0,99(Ca ≤ 1 mg/l) 0,83
0,95(Ca > 1 mg/l)

Overview of regional groups that have been established for the river fish intercalibration:

Lowland-Midland group — Belgium (Flanders), Belgium (Wallonia), France, Germany, Netherlands, Lithuania, Luxembourg, United Kingdom (England and Wales), Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Hungary

Nordic group — Finland, Ireland, Sweden, United Kingdom (Scotland and Northern Ireland), Norway

Alpine-type Mountains group — Austria, France, Germany, Slovenia, Italy

Mediterranean South Atlantic group — Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria

Danubian group — Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Belgium Flanders Upstream and Lowland IBI 0,85 0,65
Belgium Wallonia IBIP (Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 13 septembre 2012 relatif à l’identification, à la caractérisation et à la fixation des seuils d’état écologique applicables aux masses d’eau de surface et modifiant le Livre II du Code de l’Environnement, contenant le Code de l’Eau. Moniteur belge 12.10.2012) 0,958 0,792
France FBI (Fish-Based Index): Indice Poissons Rivière (IPR). AFNOR NF-T-90-344. 1,131 0,835
Germany FIBS — fischbasiertes Bewertungssystem für Fließgewässer zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie in Deutschland 1,086 0,592
Latvia Latvian Fish Index 0,88 0,66
Lithuania Lithuanian River Fish Index 0,94 0,72
Luxembourg Classification française DCE Indice Poissons Rivière (IPR). AFNOR NF-T-90-344 1,131 0,835
Netherlands NLFISR 0,8 0,6
Poland EFI+PL index 0,8 0,6


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Finland Finnish Fish Index (FiFi) — type L2 0,665 0,499
Finland Finnish Fish Index (FiFi) — type L3 0,658 0,493
Finland Finnish Fish Index (FiFi) — type M1 0,709 0,532
Finland Finnish Fish Index (FiFi) — type M2 0,734 0,55
Finland Finnish Fish Index (FiFi) — type M3 0,723 0,542
Ireland Fish Classification Scheme 2 Ireland (FCS2) 0,845 0,54
Sweden Swedish method VIX 0,739 0,467
United Kingdom — Northern Ireland IR_FCS2 0,845 0,54
United Kingdom — Scotland FCS2 Scotland 0,85 0,6


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Greece Hellenic Fish Index (HeFI) 0,8 0,6
Portugal F-IBIP — Fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity for Portuguese Wadeable Streams 0,85 0,675
Spain IBIMED — type T2 0,816 0,705
Spain IBIMED — type T3 0,929 0,733
Spain IBIMED — type T4 0,864 0,758
Spain IBIMED — type T5 0,866 0,65
Spain IBIMED — type T6 0,916 0,764


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria FIA 0,875 0,625
France FBI (Fish-Based Index): Indice Poissons Rivière (IPR). AFNOR NF-T90-344 1,131 0,876
Germany FIBS — fischbasiertes Bewertungssystem für Fließgewässer zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie in Deutschland 1,086 0,592
Italy NISECI index (New Index of Ecological Status of Fish Communities) 0,8 0,52
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi rib 0,8 0,6


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Bulgaria TsBRI (Type Specific Bulgarian Fish Index) 0,86 0,65
Czech Republic Czech multimetric method CZI 0,78 0,585
Romania EFI+ European Fish index (cyprinid wading type) 0,939 0,7
Romania EFI+ European Fish index (salmonid type) 0,911 0,755
Slovakia Fish Index of Slovakia FIS 0,71 0,57

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type River characterisation Catchment area of stretch (km2) Alkalinity (meq/l)
R-L1 Very large low alkalinity rivers > 10 000 < 0,5
R-L2 Very large medium to high alkalinity rivers > 10 000 > 0,5

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

R-L1:Finland, Norway, SwedenR-L2:Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria Assessment of the Biological Quality Elements — part benthic invertebrates (for large alpine rivers) 0,8 0,6
Austria Slovak assessment of benthic invertebrates in large rivers (for large lowland rivers) 0,8 0,6
Belgium (Flanders) Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) 0,9 0,7
Bulgaria mRBA — Modified Rapid Biological Assessment 0,8 0,6
Croatia Ecological status assessment system based on benthic invertebrates in very large rivers 0,8 0,6
Czech Republic Czech system for ecological status assessment of large non-wadeable rivers using benthic macroinvertebrates 0,8 0,6
Germany Germany PTI — Potamon-Typie-Index 0,8 0,6
Estonia Estonian surface water ecological quality assessment _ large river macroinvertebrates 0,9 0,7
Spain IBMWP — Iberian Biological Monitoring Working Party 0,79 0,48
Finland Revised Finnish river invertebrate fauna assessment method 0,8 0,6
Hungary Hungary HMMI_II — Hungarian Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index for large and very large rivers 0,8 0,6
Italy ISA (Indice per la classificazione sulla base dei Substrati Artificiali) — mediterranean rivers 0,94 0,7
Italy ISA (Indice per la classificazione sulla base dei Substrati Artificiali) — non-mediterranean rivers 0,96 0,72
Lithuania Lithuanian River Macroinvertebrate Index 0,8 0,6
Latvia LRMI — Latvian large River Macroinvertebrate Index 0,88 0,63
Netherlands WFD metrics for natural water types 0,8 0,6
Norway Norway ASPT — Average Score Per Taxon 0,99 0,87
Poland RIVECOmacro — MMI_PL 0,91 0,71
Romania ECO-BENT — Assessment method for ecological status of water bodies based on macroinvertebrates 0,79 0,53
Sweden Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) and DJ-index 0,8 0,6
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi bentoških nevretenčarjev 0,8 0,6
Slovakia Slovak assessment of benthic invertebrates in large rivers 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Austria German PhytoFluss-Index 4.0 0,8 0,6
Belgium (Flanders) German PhytoFluss-Index 2.0 0,8 0,6
Bulgaria German PhytoFluss-Index 4.0 0,8 0,6
Croatia HRPI — Hungarian River Phytoplankton Index 0,8 0,6
Czech Republic CZ — Assessment method for ecological status of rivers based on phytoplankton 0,8 0,6
Germany German PhytoFluss-Index 0,8 0,6
Estonia EST_PHYPLA_R — Estonian Large River Phytoplankton Index 0,85 0,65
Hungary HRPI — Hungarian River Phytoplankton Index 0,8 0,6
Lithuania German PhytoFluss-Index for lowland rivers of type 15.2 0,8 0,6
Latvia Latvian Large River Phytoplankton Index 0,8 0,6
Poland IFPL metric — Method for large rivers assessment using phytoplankton 1,08 0,92
Romania ECO-FITO — Assessment Method for Ecological Status of the Water Bodies based on Phytoplankton 0,92 0,76
Slovakia Phytoplankton-SK — Slovak assessment of phytoplankton in large rivers 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
R-L1   
Finland Finnish river phytobenthos method 0,8 0,6
Sweden Benthic algae in running water — diatom analysis 0,89 0,74
R-L2   
Austria Assessment of the Biological Quality Elements — part phytobenthos 0,85 0,57
Bulgaria IPS (Indice de Polluo-Sensibilité) 0,76 0,58
Czech Republic Assessment system for rivers using phytobenthos 0,8 0,6
Estonia Estonian surface water ecological quality assessment — river phytobenthos 0,83 0,64
France IBD 2007 (Coste et al, Ecol. Ind. 2009). AFNOR NF T90-354, April 2016. Arrêté ministériel du 25 janvier 2010 modifié relatif aux méthodes et critères d’évaluation de l’état écologique {…} des eaux de surface 0,92 0,76
Spain IPS (Coste in Cemagref, 1982) 0,68 0,48
Germany Verfahrensanleitung für die ökologische Bewertung von Fließgewässern zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB), Modul Diatomeen 0,725 0,55
Croatia Ecological status assessment system for phytobenthos in rivers based on diatoms 0,8 0,61
Hungary Ecological status assessment for rivers based on diatoms 0,762 0,6
Italy Intercalibration Common Metric Index (ICMi) (Mancini &Sollazzo 2009) 0,89 (national type C) 0,7 (national type C)
0,82 (national type M3) 0,62 (national type M3)
Netherlands WFD-metrics for natural water types 0,8 0,6
Portugal IPS — Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index 0,9 (national type R_GRS/Guadiana river) 0,67 (national type R_GRS/Guadiana river)
Slovakia Ecological status assessment system for rivers using phytobenthos 0,9 0,7
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja vodotokov na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, fitobentos 0,8 0,6

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


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:Austria, France, Germany, Italy and SloveniaTypes L-AL4:Austria, France, Germany, Italy
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Austria Evaluation of the biological quality elements, Part B2 — phytoplankton 0,8 0,6
France Phytoplankton Index for Lakes (IPLAC): Indice Phytoplancton Lacustre 0,8 0,6
Germany PSI (Phyto-Seen-Index) — Bewertungsverfahren für Seen mittels Phytoplankton zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie in Deutschland 0,8 0,6
Italy Italian Phytoplankton Assessment Method (IPAM) 0,8 0,6
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja jezer na podlagi fitoplanktona 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated IC type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Austria AIM for Lakes (Austrian Index Macrophytes for lakes) L-AL3+L-AL4 0,8 0,6
France French Macrophyte Index for Lakes (IBML): Indice Biologique Macrophytique en Lacs L-AL3+L-AL4 0,92 0,72
Germany Verfahrensanleitung für die ökologische Bewertung von Seen zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB), Modul Makrophyten L-AL3+L-AL4 0,76 0,51
Germany Verfahrensanleitung für die ökologische Bewertung von Seen zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB), Modul Makrophyten und Phytobenthos LAL4 0,74 0,47
Italy MacroIMMI (Macrophytic index for the evaluation of the ecological quality of the Italian lakes) L-AL3+L-AL4 0,8 0,6
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja jezer na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, makrofiti L-AL3 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja jezer na podlagi bentoških nevretenčarjev 0,8 0,6
Germany AESHNA — Bewertungsverfahren für das eulitorale Makrozoobenthos in Seen zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie in Deutschland 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Austria ALFI (Austrian lake fish index): A multimetric index to assess the ecological status of alpine lakes based on fish fauna 0,8 0,6
Germany DeLFI_SITE — Deutsches probennahmestandort-spezifisches Bewertungsverfahren für Fische in Seen zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie 0,85 0,69
Italy Lake Fish Index (LFI) 0,82 0,64

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Lake characterisation Altitude (m above sea level) Mean depth (m) Alkalinity (meq/l) 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

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated

Types L-CB1:Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, United KingdomTypes L-CB2:Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Belgium (Flanders) Flemish phytoplankton assessment method for lakes 0,8 0,6
Denmark Danish Lake Phytoplankton Index 0,8 0,6
Estonia Estonian surface water ecological quality assessment — lake phytoplankton 0,8 0,6
Germany PSI (Phyto-Seen-Index) — Bewertungsverfahren für Seen mittels Phytoplankton zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie in Deutschland — German Phyto-Lake-Index (Phyto-See-Index) 0,8 0,6
Ireland IE Lake Phytoplankton Index 0,8 0,6
Latvia Latvian Lake Phytoplankton Index 0,81 0,61
Lithuania German Phytoplankton Index (PSI) 0,81 0,61
Netherlands WFD — metrics for natural water types 0,8 0,6
Poland Phytoplankton method for Polish Lakes (PMPL) 0,8 0,6
UK Phytoplankton Lake Assessment Tool with Uncertainty Module (PLUTO) 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated IC type Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Belgium (Flanders) Flemish macrophyte assessment system All types 0,8 0,6
Denmark Danish Lake Macrophytes Index All types 0,8 0,6
Estonia Estonian surface water ecological quality assessment — lake macrophytes LCB1 0,78 0,52
LCB2 0,76 0,5
Germany Verfahrensanleitung für die ökologische Bewertung von Seen zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB), Modul Makrophyten All types 0,8 0,6
Latvia Latvian macrophyte assessment method All types 0,8 0,6
Lithuania Lithuanian Lake Macrophyte Index All types 0,75 0,5
Netherlands WFD-metrics for natural water types All types 0,8 0,6
Poland Macrophyte based indication method for lakes — Ecological Status Macrophyte Index ESMI (multimetric) All types 0,68 0,41
UK Lake LEAFPACS 2 All types 0,8 0,66

 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate
Belgium (Flanders) Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) 0,9 0,7
Estonia Estonian surface water ecological quality assessment — lake macroinvertebrates 0,86 0,7
Germany AESHNA — Bewertungsverfahren für das eulitorale Makrozoobenthos in Seen zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie in Deutschland 0,8 0,6
Latvia Latvian Lake Macroinvertebrate Multimetric Index (LLMMI) 0,85 0,52
Lithuania Lithuanian Lake Macroinvertebrate Index 0,74 0,5
Netherlands WFDi — Metric for Natural Watertypes 0,8 0,6
UK Chironomid Pupal Exuvial Technique (CPET) 0,77 0,64

Description of common intercalibration types


Type Lake characterisation Altitude (m above sea level) Mean depth (m) Alkalinity (meq/l) 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
L-CB4 Heavily modified water bodies 200 — 700 3 — 30 > 0,2 0,1 — 5

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated

Types L-CB1:Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, United KingdomTypes L-CB2:Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, United KingdomTypes L-CB3:Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Latvia, PolandTypes L-CB4:Czech Republic
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate
Czech Republic CZ-FBI 0,87 0,619
Denmark Danish Lake Fish Index 0,75 0,54
EE LAFIEE 0,8 0,61
Germany DeLFI_SITE — Deutsches probennahmestandort-spezifisches Bewertungsverfahren für Fische in Seen zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie 0,95 0,8
France ELFI (European Lake Fish Index): Indice Ichtyofaune Lacustre (IIL) 0,73 0,49
Latvia Latvian Lake Fish Index 0,76 0,57
Lithuania Lithuanian Lake Fish Index 0,865 0,605
Netherlands VISMAATLAT 0,8 0,6
Poland LFI+ 0,866 0,595
Poland LFI EN 0,804 0,557

Description of common intercalibration types


Type Lake characterisation Altitude (m above sea level) Mean depth (m) Alkalinity (meq/l) Conductivity (μS/cm)
L-EC1 Lowland very shallow hard-water < 200 < 6 1 — 4 300 — 1 000

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated

Types L-EC1:Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Bulgaria HLPI-Hungarian lake phytoplankton index 0,8 0,6
Hungary HLPI-Hungarian lake phytoplankton index 0,8 0,6
Romania HLPI-Hungarian lake phytoplankton index 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-goodboundary Good-moderateboundary
Bulgaria RI-BG — Adapted Reference Index 0,83 0,58
Hungary HU-RI — Adapted Reference Index 0,89 0,67
Romania MIRO — Macrophyte Index for Romanian Lakes (Adapted Reference Index) 0,86 0,66
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Bulgaria HMMI_lakes (Hungarian Macrozoobenton Multimetric Index for Lakes 0,85 0,65
Hungary HMMI_lakes (Hungarian Macrozoobenton Multimetric Index for Lakes 0,85 0,65
Romania ECO-NL-BENT Romanian ecological status assessment system for natural lakes using benthic invertebrates 0,93 0,6

INTERCALIBRATION RESULTS NOT COMPLETED

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Lake characterization Altitude(m) Annual mean precipitation (mm) and T ( oC) Mean depth (m) Area (km2) Catchment (km2) Alkalinity (meq/l)
L-M5/7 Reservoirs, deep, large, siliceous, ‘wet’ areas < 1 000 > 800 and/or < 15 > 15 0,5 — 50 < 20 000 < 1
L-M8 Reservoirs, deep, large, calcareous < 1 000 — > 15 0,5 — 50 < 20 000 > 1

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated

Types L-M5/7:France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, SpainTypes L-M8:Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain


Country and Type National classificationmethods intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-goodboundary Good-moderateboundary
LM 5/7
France Phytoplankton Index for Lakes (IPLAC): Indice Phytoplancton Lacustre n.d. 0,6
Greece New Mediterranean Assessment System for Reservoirs (NMASRP) n.d. 0,6
Italy New Italian Method (NITMET) n.d. 0,6
Portugal Reservoirs Biological Quality Assessment Method — Phytoplankton (New Mediterranean Assessment System for Reservoirs Phytoplankton: NMASRP). n.d. 0,6
Spain Mediterranean Assessment System for Reservoirs Phytoplankton (MASRP). n.d. 0,58
L-M8
Cyprus New Mediterranean Assessment System for Reservoirs Phytoplankton (NMASRP). n.d. 0,6
France Phytoplankton Index for Lakes (IPLAC): Indice Phytoplancton Lacustre n.d. 0,6
Greece New Mediterranean Assessment System for Reservoirs (NMASRP) n.d. 0,6
Italy New Italian Method (NITMET) n.d. 0,6
Spain Mediterranean Assessment System for Reservoirs Phytoplankton (MASRP). n.d. 0,6


Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Lake characterisation Altitude (m above sea level) Mean depth (m) Alkalinity (meq/l) Colour(mg Pt/l)
L-N1 Lowland, shallow, moderate alkalinity, clear < 200 3 — 15 0,2 — 1 < 30
L-N2a Lowland, shallow, low alkalinity, clear < 200 3 — 15 < 0,2 < 30
L-N2b Lowland, deep, low alkalinity, clear < 200 > 15 < 0,2 < 30
L-N3a Lowland, shallow, low alkalinity, meso-humic < 200 3 — 15 < 0,2 30 — 90
L-N5 Mid-altitude, shallow, low alkalinity, clear 200 — 800 3 — 15 < 0,2 < 30
L-N6a Mid-altitude, shallow, low alkalinity, meso-humic 200 — 800 3 — 15 < 0,2 30 — 90
L-N8a Lowland, shallow, moderate alkalinity, meso-humic < 200 3 — 15 0,2 — 1 30 — 90

Types L-N1, L-N2a, L-N3a, LN-8a:Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.Types L-N2b:Norway, Sweden, United KingdomTypes L-N5, L-N6a:Norway, Sweden
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classificationmethods intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-goodboundary Good-moderateboundary
Finland Finnish phytoplankton assessment method for lakes 0,8 0,6
Ireland IE Lake Phytoplankton Index 0,8 0,6
Norway Lake phytoplankton ecological status classification method 0,8 0,6
Sweden Ecological assessment methods for lakes. quality factor phytoplankton 0,8 0,6
UK Phytoplankton Lake Assessment Tool with Uncertainty Module (PLUTO) 0,8 0,6

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


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

Types 101, 102, 201 and 202:Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.Type 301a:Ireland, United Kingdom.Type 302a:Ireland, United Kingdom
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classificationmethods intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate
Finland Finnish macrophyte classification system (Finnmac) 0,8 (all types) 0,6 (all types)
Ireland Free Macrophyte Index 0,9 (all types) 0,68 (all types)
Norway National macrophyte index (Trophic Index — TIc) Type 101: 0,98Type 102: 0,96Type 201: 0,95Type 202: 0,99 Type 101: 0,87Type 102: 0,87Type 201: 0,75Type 202: 0,77
Sweden Trophic Macrophyte Index (TMI) Type 101: 0,93Type 102: 0,93Type 201: 0,89Type 202: 0,91 Type 101: 0,8Type 102: 0,83Type 201: 0,78Type 202: 0,78
UK Lake LEAFPACS 2 0,8 (all types) 0,66 (all types)
UK Free Macrophyte Index 0,9 (all types) 0,68 (all types)



Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Lake characterisation Ecoregion Altitude(m absl) Alkalinity (meq/l) Colour (mg Pt/l)
Lake littoral acidification    
L-N-BF1 Lowland/mid-altitude, low alkalinity, clear n.d. < 800 0,05 — 0,2 < 30
Lake profundal eutrophication    
L-N-BF2 Ecoregion 22, low alkalinity, clear and humic 22 Area > 1 km2, max depth > 6 m < 0,2 n.d.

Types L-N-BF1:Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Ireland, FinlandTypes L-N-BF2:Finland, Sweden
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classificationmethods intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good Good-moderate
 Lake littoral acidification  
Norway MultiClear: Multimetric Invertebrate Index for Clear Lakes 0,95 0,74
Sweden MILA: Multimetric Invertebrate Lake Acidification index 0,85 0,6
UK LAMM (Lake Acidification Macroinvertebrate Metric) 0,86 0,7
 Lake profundal eutrophication  
Finland Revised Finnish lake invertebrate fauna assessment method (PICM) 0,8 0,6
Sweden BQI (Benthic Quality Index) 0,84 0,67

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Lake characterisation Lake area km2 Alkalinity (meq/l) Colour (mg Pt/l)
L-N-F1 Dimictic clear water lakes < 40 < 0,2 < 30
L-N-F2 Dimictic humic lakes < 5 < 0,2 30 — 90

Types L-N-F1:Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United KingdomTypes L-N-F2:Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classificationmethods intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Eutrophication
Finland EQR4 0,8 0,6
Ireland FIL2 0,76 0,53
UK (Northern Ireland) FIL2 0,76 0,53
Norway EindexW3 0,75 0,56
Sweden EindexW3 0,75 0,56
Acidification
Norway AindexW5 0,74 0,55
Sweden AindexW5 0,74 0,55

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Lake characterisation Alkalinity (meq/l) Ecoregions
HA High alkalinity lakes > 1 Alpine, Central-Baltic, Eastern Continental, Mediterranean
MA Moderate alkalinity lakes 0,2 — 1 Alpine, Central-Baltic, Eastern Continental, Mediterranean, Northern
LA Low alkalinity lakes < 0,2 Northern

Types HA:Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, United KingdomTypes MA:Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Sweden, United KingdomTypes LA:Finland, Ireland, Sweden, United Kingdom


Country a and Type National classificationmethods intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
HA type
Belgium (Flanders) Proportions of Impact-Sensitive and Impact-Associated Diatoms (PISIAD) 0,8 0,6
Germany Verfahrensanleitung für die ökologische Bewertung von Seen zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB), Modul Phytobenthos 0,8 0,55
Hungary MIL — Multimetric Index for Lakes 0,8 0,69
Ireland Lake Trophic Diatom Index (IE) 0,9 0,63
Italy Italian national method for the evaluation of the ecological quality of lake waterbodies using benthic diatoms (EPI-L) 0,75 0,5
Lithuania Lithuanian Lake Phytobenthos Index 0,63 0,47
Poland PL IOJ (Multimetryczny Indeks Okrzemkowy dla Jezior = Multimetric Diatom Index for Lakes) 0,91 0,76
Sweden IPS 0,89 0,74
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja jezer na podlagi fitobentosa in makrofitov, fitobentos 0,8 0,6
UK DARLEQ 2 0,92 0,7
MA type
Belgium (Flanders) Proportions of Impact-Sensitive and Impact-Associated Diatoms (PISIAD) 0,8 0,6
Finland Finnish lake phytobenthos method 0,8 0,6
Ireland Lake Trophic Diatom Index (IE) 0,9 0,63
Italy Italian national method for the evaluation of the ecological quality of lake waterbodies using benthic diatoms (EPI-L) 0,75 0,5
Romania National (Romanian) Assessment Method for Natural Lakes Ecological Status based on Phytobenthos (Diatoms) RO-AMLP 0,8 0,6
Sweden IPS 0,89 0,74
UK DARLEQ 2 0,93 0,66
LA type
Ireland Lake Trophic Diatom Index (IE) 0,9 0,66
UK DARLEQ 2 0,92 0,7

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Surface salinity (psu) Bottom salinity(psu) Exposure Ice days Other Characteristics
BC1 0,5 — 6 Oligohaline 1 — 6 Exposed 90 — 150 Sites in the Quark and the Bothnian Sea, extending to the Archipelago Sea (for phytoplankton the latter is excluded and integrated in type BC9). Influence of humic substances
BC2 6 — 22 Mesohaline 2 — 6 Very Sheltered  Lagoons
BC3 3 — 6 Oligohaline 3 — 6 Sheltered 90 — 150 Finnish and Estonian coasts of Gulf of Finland
BC4 5 — 8 Lower mesohaline 5 — 8 Sheltered < 90 Sites of Estonia and Latvia in the Gulf of Riga
BC5 6 — 8 Lower mesohaline 6 — 12 Exposed < 90 Sites in the southeastern Baltic Sea along the coast of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland
BC6 8 — 12 Mid mesohaline 8 — 12 Sheltered < 90 Sites along the Western Baltic Sea at the southern Swedish coast and the southeastern Danish coast
BC7 6 — 8 Mid mesohaline 8 — 11 Exposed < 90 Western Polish coast and eastern German coast
BC8 13 — 18 Upper mesohaline 18 — 23 Sheltered < 90 Danish and German coasts in the Western Baltic Sea
BC9 3 — 6 Lower mesohaline 3 — 6 Moderately exposed to exposed 90 — 150 Sites in the western Gulf of Finland, Archipelago Sea and Asko archipelago (only for phytoplankton)

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Type BC1:Finland SwedenType BC2:GermanyType BC3:Estonia, FinlandType BC4:Estonia, LatviaType BC5:Latvia, LithuaniaType BC6:Sweden, DenmarkType BC7:Germany, PolandType BC8:Germany, DenmarkType BC9:Finland, Sweden, Estonia (type only relevant for phytoplankton)
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated

Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
BC7
Germany German coastal phytoplankton method 0,8 0,6
Poland Polish coastal phytoplankton method 0,8 0,6
BC8
Denmark Danish coastal phytoplankton method 0,8 0,6
Germany German coastal phytoplankton method 0,8 0,6

Results for parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll-a)

Country and Type Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
BC1
Finland (Quark outer) 0,76 0,59 1,7 2,2
Finland (Bothnian Sea outer) 0,78 0,6 1,6 2,1
Sweden (Quark outer) 0,75 0,58 1,6 2,1
Sweden (Bothnian Sea outer) 0,8 0,6 1,5 2,0
BC4
Estonia 0,83 0,67 2,4 3,0
Latvia 0,82 0,67 2,2 2,7
BC5
Latvia 0,65 0,39 1,85 3,1
Lithuania 0,88 0,6 2,5 4,9
BC6
Denmark 0,78 0,62 1,36 1,72
Sweden 0,79 0,64 1,44 1,78
BC9
Estonia 0,82 0,67 2,2 2,7
Finland 0,79 0,65 1,9 2,3
Sweden 0,8 0,67 1,5 1,8
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
BC3
Estonia EPI — Estonian coastal water phytobenthos Index (macroalgae and angiosperms) 0,98 0,86
Finland Fucus depth limit (macroalgae) 0,92 0,79
BC4
Estonia EPI — Estonian Phytobenthos Index (macroalgae and angiosperms) 0,91 0,7
Latvia PEQI — Phytobenthos Ecological Quality Index 0,9 0,75
BC5
Latvia MDFLD — Maximum depth of the red alga Furcellaria lumbricalis distribution (macroalgae) 0,9 0,75
Lithuania MDFLD — Lithuanian maximum depth of the red alga Furcellaria lumbricalis distribution (macroalgae) 0,84 0,68
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
BC1
Finland BBI — Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index 0,96 0,56
Sweden BQI — Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) 0,77 0,31
BC3
Estonia ZKI — Estonian coastal water macrozoobenthos community index 0,39 0,24
Finland BBI — Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index 0,94 0,56
BC5
Latvia BQI — Benthic quality index 0,87 0,61
Lithuania BQI — Lithuanian benthic quality index 0,94 0,81
BC6
Denmark Danish Quality Index version 2 (DKI ver2) 0,84 0,68
Sweden BQI — Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) 0,76 0,27
BC7
Germany MarBIT- Marine Biotic Index Tool — 0,6
Poland B — Macrozoobenthos BQE assessment by multimetric index — 0,58
BC8
Denmark Danish Quality Index version 2 (DKI ver2) 0,86 0,72
Germany MarBIT — Marine Biotic Index Tool 0,8 0,6

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Characterisation Salinity (psu)Tidal range (m)Depth (m) Current Velocity (knots) Exposure MixingResidence Time
Type for opportunistic blooming macroalgae, seagrasses, saltmarshes and benthic invertebrate fauna
NEA 1/26 Open oceanic or enclosed seas, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow < 30Mesotidal 1-5< 30 Medium 1 — 3Exposed or sheltered Fully mixedDays (to weeks in the Wadden Sea)
Subtypes for intertidal macroalgae
NEA 1/26 A2 Open oceanic, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow, Temperate waters (mainly, > 13 oC) and high irradiance (mainly, PAR > 29 Mol/m2 day) > 30Mesotidal 1 — 5< 30 Medium 1 — 3Exposed or sheltered Fully mixed Days
NEA 1/26 B21 Open oceanic or enclosed seas, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow Cool waters (mainly, < 13 oC) and medium irradiance (mainly, PAR < 29 Mol/m2 day) > 30 Mainly mesotidal 1 — 5 < 30 Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or sheltered Fully mixed Days
Subtypes for phytoplankton
NEA 1/26a Open oceanic, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow > 30 Mesotidal 1 — 5 < 30 Medium 1 -3 Exposed or sheltered Fully mixed Days
NEA 1/26b Enclosed seas, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow > 30 Mesotidal 1 — 5 < 30 Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or sheltered Fully mixed Days
NEA 1/26c Enclosed seas, enclosed or sheltered, partly stratified > 30 Microtidal/Mesotidal < 1 — 5 < 30 Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or sheltered Partly stratified Days to weeks
NEA 1/26d Scandinavian coast, exposed or sheltered, shallow > 30 Microtidal < 1 < 30 Low < 1 Exposed or moderately exposed Partly stratified Days to weeks
NEA 1/26e Areas of upwelling, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow > 30 Mesotidal < 1 < 30 Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or sheltered Fully mixed Days
Types for phytoplankton, macroalgae, seagrasses, saltmarshes, benthic invertebrate fauna
NEA 5 Helgoland (German Bight), rocky, exposed and partly stratified > 30Mesotidal< 30 Medium 1 — 3 Exposed Partly stratified Days
NEA 3/4 Polyhaline, Exposed or moderately exposed (Wadden Sea type) Polyhaline 18 — 30 Mesotidal 1 — 5 < 30 Medium 1 — 3 Exposed or moderately exposed Fully mixed Days
NEA 7 Deep fjordic and sea loch systems > 30 Mesotidal 1 -5 > 30 Low < 1 Sheltered Fully mixed Days
NEA 8a Skagerrak Inner Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, moderately exposed, shallow Polyhaline 25 — 30 Microtidal < 1 > 30 Low < 1 Moderately exposed Fully mixed Days to weeks
NEA 8b Skagerrak Inner Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, moderately sheltered, shallow Polyhaline 10 — 30 Microtidal < 1 < 30 Low < 1 Sheltered to moderately exposed Partly stratified Days to weeks
NEA 9 Fjord with a shallow sill at the mouth with a very deep maximum depth in the central basin with poor deepwater exchange Polyhaline 25 — 30 Microtidal < 1 > 30 Low < 1 Sheltered Partly stratified Weeks
NEA 10 Skagerrak Outer Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, exposed, deep Polyhaline 25 — 30 Microtidal < 1 > 30 Low < 1 Exposed Partly stratified Days

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Type NEA1/26 opportunistic blooming macroalgae, seagrasses, saltmarshes, benthic invertebrate fauna:Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United KingdomType NEA1/26 A2: intertidal macroalgae:France, Spain, PortugalType NEA1/26 B21: intertidal macroalgae:France, Ireland, Norway, United KingdomType NEA1/26a phytoplankton:Spain, France, Ireland, Norway, United KingdomType NEA1/26b phytoplankton:Belgium, France, Netherlands, United KingdomType NEA1/26c phytoplankton:Germany, DenmarkType NEA1/26d phytoplankton:DenmarkType NEA1/26e phytoplankton:Portugal, SpainType NEA 5:GermanyType NEA3/4:Germany, NetherlandsType NEA7:Norway, United KingdomType NEA8a:Norway, SwedenType NEA8b:Denmark, SwedenType NEA9:Norway, SwedenType NEA10:Norway, Sweden
 Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

Parameter values are expressed in μg/l as the 90 %ile value calculated over the defined growing season in a six year period.


Country and Type Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
NEA 1/26a
France 0,76 0,33 4,4 10,0
Ireland 0,82 0,6 9,9 15,0
Norway 0,67 0,33 2,5 5,0
Spain (Eastern Cantabrian coast) 0,67 0,33 1,5 3,0
Spain (Western-Central Cantabrian Coast) 0,67 0,33 3,0 6,0
Spain (Gulf of Cadiz coast) 0,67 0,33 5,0 10,0
United Kingdom 0,8 0,6 5,0 10,0
NEA 1/26b
Belgium 0,8 0,67 12,5 15,0
France 0,67 0,44 10,0 15,0
Netherlands 0,67 0,44 10,0 15,0
United Kingdom (south) 0,82 0,63 9,8 14,3
United Kingdom (north) 0,8 0,6 10,0 15,0
NEA 1/26c    
Germany 0,67 0,44 5,0 7,5
Denmark 0,67 0,44 5,0 7,5
NEA 1/26e
Portugal (Iberian strong upwelling-A5) 0,67 0,44 8,0 12,0
Portugal (upwelling-A6,A7) 0,88 0,49 4,5 8,2
Spain (Western Iberian upwelling coast) 0,67 0,44 6,0 9,0
Spain (Western Iberian upwelling coast — rías) 0,67 0,44 8,0 12,0
NEA 3/4
Germany (Eems Dollard) 0,8 0,6 7,0 11,0
Germany (Wadden Sea) 0,8 0,6 7,0 11,0
Netherlands (Eems Dollard) 0,8 0,6 6,75 10,13
Netherlands (Wadden Sea) 0,8 0,6 9,6 14,4
Netherlands (North Sea) 0,8 0,6 11,25 16,88
NEA 8a
Norway 0,79 0,57 3,95 5,53
Sweden 0,75 0,49 1,54 2,35
NEA 8b (The Sound)
Denmark 0,79 0,59 1,22 1,63
Sweden 0,8 0,6 1,18 1,56
NEA 8b (The Kattegat and Great Belt)
Denmark 0,83 0,64 1,22 1,58
Sweden 0,84 0,65 1,18 1,52
NEA 9
Norway 0,76 0,43 3,92 6,9
Sweden 0,73 0,38 1,89 3,6
NEA 10
Norway 0,73 0,49 3,53 5,26
Sweden 0,71 0,46 1,39 2,14

Intertidal or subtidal macroalgae rocky bottom
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type NEA1/26 A2 intertidal macroalgae
France CCO — Cover, Characteristic species, Opportunistic species on intertidal rocky bottoms 0,8 0,6
Portugal PMarMAT — Marine Macroalgae Assessment Tool 0,8 0,61
Spain CFR — Quality of Rocky Bottoms 0,81 0,6
Spain RICQI — Rocky Intertidal Community Quality Index 0,82 0,6
Spain RSL — Reduced Species List 0,75 0,48
Type NEA1/26 B21 intertidal macroalgae
Ireland RSL — Rocky Shore Reduced Species List 0,8 0,6
Norway RSLA — Rocky Shore Reduced Species List with Abundance 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom RSL — Rocky Shore Reduced Species List 0,8 0,6
Type NEA 7 intertidal macroalgae 
Norway RSLA — Rocky Shore Reduced Species List with Abundance 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom RSL — Rocky Shore Reduced Species List 0,8 0,6
Type NEA8a/9/10 subtidal macroalgae
Norway MSMDI — Multi Species Maximum Depth Index 0,8 0,6
Sweden MSMDI — Multi Species Maximum Depth Index 0,8 0,6

Intertidal blooming macroalgae soft bottom, indicative of abundance
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type NEA 1/26
Germany OMAI — Opportunistic Macroalgae-cover/acreage on soft sediment intertidal in coastal waters 0,78 0,59
France CWOGA — Macroalgal Bloom Assessment 0,825 0,617
Ireland OGA tool — Opportunistic Green Macroalgal Abundance 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom OMBT — Opportunistic macroalgal blooming tool 0,8 0,6

Seagrasses
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type NEA 1/26
Germany SG — Assessment tool for intertidal seagrass in coastal and transitional waters 0,8 0,6
France SBQ — Seagrass beds quality in coastal and transitional water bodies 0,8 0,645
Ireland Intertidal Seagrass tool 0,8 0,61
Netherlands SG — Monitoring beds of SG per waterbody using aerial photographs, ground truth and specifying surface & density per species 0,8 0,6
Portugal SQI — Seagrass quality index 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom Intertidal Seagrass tool 0,8 0,61
Type NEA 3/4
Germany SG — Bewertungssystem für Makroalgen und Seegräser der Küsten- und Übergangsgewässer zur Umsetzung der EG-Wasserrahmenrichtlinie in Deutschland 0,8 0,6
Netherlands Monitoring beds of SG per waterbody using aerial photographs, ground truth and specifying surface and density per species 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type NEA 1/26
Belgium BEQI — Benthic Ecosystem Quality Index 0,8 0,6
Denmark Danish Quality Index (DKI) 0,8 0,6
Germany M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,85 0,7
France M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,77 0,53
Ireland IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
Netherlands BEQI2 -Benthic Ecosystem Quality Index 2 0,8 0,6
Norway NQI — Norwegian Quality Index 0,72 0,63
Portugal BAT — Benthic Assessment Tool 0,79 0,58
Spain M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,77 0,63
United Kingdom IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
Type NEA 3/4
Germany M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,85 0,7
Netherlands BEQI2 — Benthic Ecosystem Quality Index 2 0,8 0,6
Type NEA 7
Norway NQI — Norwegian Quality Index 0,72 0,63
United Kingdom IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
Type NEA 8b
Denmark Danish Quality Index (DKI) 0,84 0,68
Sweden BQI — Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) 0,71 0,54
Type NEA 8a/9/10
Norway NQI — Norwegian Quality Index 0,82 0,63
Sweden BQI — Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna) 0,71 0,54

Description of types that have been intercalibrated (for phytoplankton only)

For benthic invertebrate fauna, macroalgae and seagrasses the intercalibration results apply to the entire Mediterranean Sea covered by the Country


Type Description Density (kg/m3) Annual mean salinity (psu)
Type I Highly influenced by freshwater input < 25 < 34,5
Type IIA, IIA Adriatic 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
Type Island-W* Island coast (Western Basin) All range All range

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Type I:France, ItalyType IIA:France, Spain, ItalyType IIA Adriatic:Italy, SloveniaType Island-W* (no boundaries for this type and no possible the intercalibration due to justified reasons):France, Spain, ItalyType IIIW:France, Spain, ItalyType IIIE:Greece, Cyprus
 Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)
 Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

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.


Country and Type Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type II A
France 0,67 0,37 1,92 3,5
Spain 0,67 0,37 1,92 3,5
Type II A Adriatic
Croatia 0,82 0,61 1,7 4,0
Italy 0,82 0,61 1,7 4,0
Slovenia 0,82 0,61 1,7 4,0
Type IIIW
France 0,67 0,42 1,18 1,89
Spain 0,67 0,42 1,18 1,89
Type IIIE
Cyprus 0,66 0,37 0,29 0,53
Greece 0,66 0,37 0,29 0,53
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated

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


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Cyprus EEI-c — Ecological Evaluation Index 0,76 0,48
France CARLIT — Cartography of Littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities 0,75 0,6
Greece EEI-c — Ecological Evaluation Index 0,76 0,48
Croatia CARLIT — Cartography of Littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities 0,75 0,6
Italy CARLIT — Cartography of Littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities 0,75 0,6
Malta CARLIT — Cartography of Littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities 0,75 0,6
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja obalnega morja na podlagi makroalg 0,76 0,48
Spain CARLIT — Cartography of Littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities 0,75 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Croatia POMI — Posidonia oceanica Multivariate Index 0,775 0,55
Cyprus PREI — Posidonia oceanica Rapid Easy Index 0,775 0,55
France PREI — Posidonia oceanica Rapid Easy Index 0,775 0,55
Italy PREI — Posidonia oceanica Rapid Easy Index 0,775 0,55
Malta PREI — Posidonia oceanica Rapid Easy Index 0,775 0,55
Spain POMI — Posidonia oceanica Multivariate Index 0,775 0,55
Spain Valencian-CS 0,775 0,55
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Italy M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,81 0,61
Slovenia Metodologija vrednotenja ekološkega stanja obalnega morja na podlagi bentoških nevretenčarjev 0,83 0,62
Cyprus Bentix 0,75 0,58
France AMBI 0,83 0,58
Greece Bentix 0,75 0,58
Spain BOPA 0,95 0,54
Spain MEDOCC 0,73 0,47

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Description
CW-BL1 Mesohaline, microtidal (< 1 m), shallow (< 30 m), moderately exposed to very exposed, mixed substratum (fine sand for zoobenthos)

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated: Bulgaria and Romania
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Bulgaria IBI 0,8 0,63
Romania IBI 0,8 0,63
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Bulgaria EI-Ecological index 0,837 0,644
Romania EI-Ecological index 0,837 0,644
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Bulgaria M-AMBI(n) — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index Normalized 0,9 0,68
Romania M-AMBI(n) — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index Normalized 0,9 0,68

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Surface salinity psu Bottom salinity (psu) Exposure Ice days Other Characteristics
BT1 0 — 8 Oligohaline 0 — 8 Very sheltered — Polish Vistula lagoon and Lithuanian Curonian lagoon

Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

Lithuania and Poland

Results for parameter indicative of biomass (Chrophyll a)

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


Country Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Lithuania 0,83 0,57 31,7 46,6
Poland 0,77 0,61 33,46 42,2

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Type Characterisation Salinity (psu),Tidal range (m), Depth (m) Current Velocity (knots), Exposure MixingResidence Time
NEA 11 Transitional Waters 0 — 35 Micro to macrotidal < 30 Variable Sheltered or moderately exposed Partly permanently stratified Days to weeks

Countries sharing type that have been intercalibrated:

Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Description of sub common intercalibration types for Biological quality element Benthic Invertebrate Fauna:


Sub type Characterisation MS sharing sub-type
A Lagoons Ireland, Spain, United Kingdom
B Freshwater-oligohaline, medium river flow Ireland, Spain, United Kingdom
C Mesotidal estuary with irregular river flow Portugal, Spain
D Large estuaries Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom
E Small-medium estuary with > 50 % intertidal area Ireland, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom
F Small-medium estuary with < 50 % intertidal area Ireland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom
 Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)
 Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

Parameter values are expressed in μg/l measured as the national chlorophyll-a metric calculated in a six year period. National metrics for France, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain typically use a measure of P90 Chl-a with salinity adjusted thresholds, Ireland uses a combination of P90 Chl-a and median values, and United Kingdom uses a metric based on a count of exceedances of certain statistical measures. In the case of UK, P90 values were calculated only for IC purposes.


Country Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France 0,67 0,397 5,33 8,88
Ireland 0,8 0,6 12,96 25,96
Netherlands 0,8 0,6 12,0 18,0
Portugal-North 0,667 0,467 10,0 14,288
Spain — Central Cantabrian and Galician estuaries — Mixing zone 0,67 0,44 8,0 12,0
Spain — Central Cantabrian and Galician estuaries — Euhaline 0,67 0,33 4,0 8,0
Spain — East Cantabrian estuaries — Euhaline 0,67 0,33 1,95 3,9
Spain — East Cantabrian estuaries — Polyhaline 0,67 0,33 3,3 6,6
Spain — East Cantabrian estuaries — Mesohaline 0,67 0,33 5,1 10,2
Spain — East Cantabrian estuaries — Oligohaline 0,67 0,33 6,6 13,2
Spain — Gulf of Cádiz estuaries — Mixing zone 0,67 0,33 3,75 7,5
Spain — Gulf of Cádiz estuaries — Euhaline 0,67 0,33 3,0 6,0
United Kingdom 0,8 0,6 10,0 15,0


Intertidal blooming macroalgae soft bottom, indicative of abundance
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France TWOGA — Macroalgal Bloom Assessment 0,8 0,6
Ireland OGA Tool — Opportunistic Green Macroalgal Abundance 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom OMBT- Opportunistic macroalgal blooming tool 0,8 0,6

Seagrasses
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Germany SG-Assessment tool for intertidal seagrass in coastal and transitional waters 0,8 0,6
France SBQ-Seagrass beds quality in coastal and transitional water bodies 0,8 0,645
Ireland Intertidal Seagrass tool 0,8 0,61
Netherlands SG- Monitoring beds of SG per waterbody using aerial photographs, ground truth and specifying surface & density per species 0,8 0,6
Portugal SQI-Seagrass quality index 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom Intertidal Seagrass tool 0,8 0,61

Saltmarshes
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Spain — Cantabria AQI — Angiosperm Quality Index 0,88 0,73
Portugal AQuA — Angiosperm Quality Assessment Index 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom SM — UK Saltmarsh Tool 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Sub type D
Germany M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,85 0,7
Netherlands BEQI2 — Benthic Ecosystem Quality Index 2 0,8 0,6
Spain M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,77 0,53
Portugal BAT — Benthic Assessment Tool 0,838 0,582
Sub type E
Spain M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,77 0,53
Spain QSB — Quality of Soft Bottoms 0,8 0,6
Sub type F
Spain M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,77 0,53
Portugal BAT- Benthic Assessment Tool 0,806 0,58
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Belgium EBI — Zeeschelde Estuarine Biotic Index 0,85 0,615
France ELFI — Estuarine and Lagoon Fish Index 0,91 0,675
Germany FAT — TW — Fischbasiertes Bewertungswerkzeug für Übergangsgewässer der norddeutschen Ästuare 0,84 0,62
Ireland TFCI — Transitional Fish Classification Index 0,81 0,58
Ireland EMFI — Estuarine Multi-metric Fish Index 0,92 0,65
Netherlands FAT — TW — WFD Fish index for transitional waters, type O2 0,8 0,6
Portugal EFAI — Estuarine Fish Assessment Index 0,865 0,7
Spain AFI — AZTI’s Fish Index 0,78 0,55
Spain TFCI — Transitional Fish Classification Index 0,9 0,65
United Kingdom TFCI — Transitional Fish Classification Index 0,81 0,58
United Kingdom EMFI — Estuarine Multi-metric Fish Index 0,92 0,65

Description of types that have been intercalibrated


Common IC type Type characteristics MS sharing IC common type
CL-Oligohaline Coastal lagoons (Salinity < 5 psu) Spain, France, Italy
CL-Mesohaline chocked and restricted Coastal lagoons (Salinity 5 — 18 psu) Spain, France, Italy, Greece
CL-Polyhaline chocked and restricted Coastal lagoons (Salinity 18 — 40 psu) Spain, France, Italy, Greece
Hyperhalines (Salinity > 40 psu). Hyperhalines (Salinity > 40 psu) Spain
Estuaries Estuaries (salt wedge type) Spain, Croatia

 Phytoplankton: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country and type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Coastal lagoons Polyhaline chocked
France PhIL — Phytoplankton index for Mediterranean polyhaline lagoons 0,71 0,39
Greece MPI — Multimetric Phytoplankton Index 0,78 0,51
Italy MPI — Multimetric Phytoplankton Index 0,78 0,51
Coastal lagoons Polyhaline restricted
France PhIL — Phytoplankton index for Mediterranean polyhaline lagoons 0,71 0,39
Greece MPI — Multimetric Phytoplankton Index 0,82 0,54
Italy MPI — Multimetric Phytoplankton Index 0,82 0,54
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France Exclame 0,8 0,6
Greece EEI-c — Ecological Evaluation Index 0,7 0,4
Italy MaQI — Macrophyte Quality Index 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated


Country and Type National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Coastal lagoons Polyhaline restricted
France M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,84 0,63
Italy M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,96 0,71
Greece M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index 0,83 0,62
CL-Mesohaline chocked and restricted
Italy M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index — 0,71
Greece M-AMBI — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index — 0,62
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods

Mediterranean group


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Italy NISECI index (New Index of Ecological Status of Fish Communities) 0,8 0,6
Bulgaria TsBRI (Type Specific Bulgarian Fish Index) 0,86 0,65
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods intercalibrated — Type R-L2


Country National classification systems intercalibrated Ecological Quality Ratios
High-Good boundary Good-Moderate boundary
Belgium (Flanders) PISIAD index (Proportions of Impact-Sensitive and Impact-Associated Diatoms) 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Italy BQIES (Benthic Quality Index Expected Species number) 0,88 0,76
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France ELFI (European Lake Fish Index): Indice Ichtyofaune Lacustre (IIL) 0,73 0,49
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification methods Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France Phytoplankton Index for Lakes (IPLAC): Indice Phytoplancton Lacustre 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification methods Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France French Macrophyte Index for Lakes (IBML): Indice Biologique Macrophytique en Lacs 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification methods Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Belgium (Flanders) Fish-based index for lakes and reservoirs in Flanders (Belgium) 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification methods Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France Phytoplankton Index for Lakes (IPLAC): Indice Phytoplancton Lacustre 0,8 0,6
Greece HeLPhy — Hellenic Lake Phytoplankton Assessment Method 0,8 0,6
Italy Italian phytoplankton assessment method (IPAM) 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification methods Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France French Macrophyte Index for Lakes (IBML): Indice Biologique Macrophytique en Lacs 0,8 0,6
Greece HeLM — Hellenic Lake Macrophytes Assessment Method 0,8 0,6
Italy VLMMI — Volcanic Lakes Multimetric Macrophyte Index 0,7 0,5
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification methods Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Greece GLBiI — Greek Lake Benthic invertebrate Index 0,8 0,6
Italy BQIES (Benthic Quality Index Expected Species number) 0,88 0,76
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification methods Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
France ELFI (European Lake Fish Index): Indice Ichtyofaune Lacustre (IIL) 0,73 0,49
Greece GLFI — Greek Lake Fish Index 0,8 0,6
Italy Lake Fish Index (LFI) 0,82 0,64
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification methods


Country National classification methods Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Bulgaria Bulgarian fish based method for ecological classification and monitoring of lakes 0,76 0,52
 Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)
 Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values


Country and Type Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
BC2 (including German national types B1, B2a, B2b)
Germany (B1) 0,91 0,67 9,3 12,7
Germany (B2a) 0,89 0,67 1,8 2,4
Germany (B2b) 0,93 0,67 1,4 1,95
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems

Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
BC2
Germany PHYBIBCO — PHYtoBenthic Index for Baltic inner coastal waters 0,8 0,6
BC1
Finland Fucus depth limit(macroalgae) 0,9 0,74
Sweden MSMDI (macroalgae and angiosperms) 0,6 0,4
BC6
Denmark Depth limit of eelgrass, Zostera marina (angiosperm) 0,9 0,74
Sweden MSMDI(macroalgae and angiosperms) 0,6 0,4
BC7
Germany Balcosis — Baltic ALgae COmmunity AnalySIs System(macroalgae and angiosperms) 0,8 0,6
Poland MQAI — Macrophyte Quality Assessment Index 0,9 0,7
BC8
Germany Balcosis — Baltic ALgae COmmunity AnalySIs System(macroalgae and angiosperms) 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameters values for parameter indicative of abundance (Depth limit of eelgrass Zostera marina (angiosperm)

Country and Type Ecological Quality Ratios Parameter values/ranges Depth limit (m) Eelgrass Zoster marina
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
BC8
DenmarkOpen coast 0,9 0,74 8,5 7
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
BC2   
Germany MarBIT- Marine Biotic Index Tool 0,8 0,6
BC4   
Estonia ZKI — Estonian coastal water macrozoobenthos community index 0,39 0,24
Latvia BQI — Benthic quality index 0,88 0,75
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems

Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
NEA 7
United Kingdom Phytoplankton tool 0,8 0,6
 Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)
 Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values
Parameter values are expressed in μg/l as the 90 %ile value calculated over the defined growing season in a six year period.

Country and Type Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
NEA 1/26d
Denmark 0,66 0,5 3,0 4,0
NEA 5    
Germany 0,67 0,44 5,0 7,5
NEA 7    
Norway 0,67 0,33 2,5 5,0
United Kingdom (inshore/North Sea) 0,67 0,33 10,0 15,0
United Kingdom (Atlantic) 0,67 0,33 5,0 10,0

Intertidal or subtidal macroalgae rocky bottom
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type NEA 5   
Germany HPI — Helgoland Phytobenthic Index 0,8 0,6

Intertidal blooming macroalgae soft bottom, indicative of abundance
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
NEA 3/4
Germany OMAI — Opportunistic Macroalgae-cover/acreage on soft sediment intertidal in coastal waters 0,8 0,6

Saltmarshes
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Germany EM — Assessment of saltmarsh vegetation in coastal and transitional waters 0,8 0,6
Ireland SMAATIE — Saltmarsh Angiosperm Assessment Tool for Ireland 0,8 0,6
Netherlands TSM — WFD-metrics for natural watertypes: tidal salt marsh 0,8 0,6
United Kingdom SM — UK Saltmarsh Tool 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type NEA 8b
Sweden MSMDI (macroalgae and angiosperms) 0,8 0,6
Denmark Depth limit of eelgrass Zostera marina (angiosperm) 0,9 0,74
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type NEA 1/26
Portugal RAT — Rocky Shore Assessment Tool 0,8 0,6
Spain BO2A — Benthic Opportunistic polychaetes/amphipods index 0,83 0,5
Type NEA 5*
Germany MarBIT — Marine Biotic Index Tool 0,8 0,6
 Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)
 Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

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.


Country and Type Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Type I
France 0,67 0,33 4,925 10,0
Italy 0,85 0,62 5,6 14,1
Type II A Tyrrhenian    
Italy 0,84 0,62 1,17 2,9
Type III W Adriatic
Italy    1,7
Type III W Tyrrhenian
Italy    1,17

 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Greece CymoSkew 0,75 0,5
 Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)
 Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

Parameter values are expressed in μg/l as the 90 %ile value calculated over the defined growing season


Country Ecological Quality Ratios Values (μg/l)
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Belgium 1,0 0,6 100 200

Saltmarshes
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Belgium TMQI -Tidal Marsh Quality Index 0,85 0,75
Germany EM — Assessment of saltmarsh vegetation in coastal and transitional waters 0,8 0,6
Ireland SMAATIE — Saltmarsh Angiosperm Assessment Tool for Ireland 0,8 0,6
Netherlands TSM — WFD-metrics for natural watertypes: tidal salt marsh 0,8 0,6

Seagrasses
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Spain — Cantabria AQI — Angiosperms Quality Index 0,85 0,7
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Belgium BEQI — Benthic Ecosystem Quality Index 0,75 0,5
Sub type D
Germany AeTV — Aestuar Type Verfahren 0,8 0,6
Ireland IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
Spain TasBEM — Taxonomically Sufficient Benthic Multimetric 0,79 0,66
United Kingdom IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
Sub type E
Germany AeTV — Aestuar Type Verfahren 0,8 0,6
Germany M-AMBI - 0,85 0,7
Ireland IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
Spain TasBEM — Taxonomically Sufficient Benthic Multimetric 0,79 0,66
United Kingdom IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
Sub type F
Ireland IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
Spain TasBEM — Taxonomically Sufficient Benthic Multimetric 0,79 0,66
United Kingdom IQI — Infaunal Quality Index 0,75 0,64
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Coastal lagoons oligohaline and mesohaline
Spain (Balearic Islands) FITOHMIB 0,93 0,73
Estuaries
Spain (Southern Coast) TWIf — Phytoplankton index for transitional waters 0,5 0,36
Croatia MPI — Multimetric Phytoplankton Index 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country and Type National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Coastal lagoons Oligohaline, Mesohaline and Polyhaline
Spain (Balearic Islands) INVHMIB 0,93 0,73
Coastal lagoons Oligohaline   
Spain (Northeastern Coast) QAELS 0,86 0,58
Coastal lagoons Mesohaline
Spain (Northeastern Coast) QAELS 0,72 0,62
Estuaries
Spain (without salt wedge — Southern Coast) BO2A 0,87 0,45
Spain (with salt wedge — Southern Coast) BO2A 0,87 0,52
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Italy HFBI — Habitat Fish Bio-Indicator 0,94 0,55
Croatia M-EFI — Modified Estuarine Fish Index 0,8 0,6
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Romania IBI — Integrated Biological Index 0,7 0,42
 Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems


Country National classification systems Ecological Quality Ratios
High-good boundary Good-moderate boundary
Romania M-AMBI(n) — Multivariate AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index Normalized 0,9 0,68
