Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Assessment of progress towards the achievement of Good Environmental Status for contaminants (Descriptor 8)

In 2013 Ireland competed an Initial Assessment of its maritime area. This assessment builds on that and is based on monitoring data collected under the Water Framework Directive (Dir 2000/60/EC) and OSPAR Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme. The objective of this updated assessment is to meet the requirements of MSFD Articles 8, 9 and 10 concerning qualitative descriptors for determining Good Environmental Status, in this case specifically Descriptor 8, that “Concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to pollution effects” (Directive 2008/56/EC). This updated assessment is based on these same programmes, for chemical contaminants the assessment period covered is 2012 to 2015, the dogwhelk imposex assessment is based on data spanning 1993 to 2018 and acute pollution events are based on data from 2014 to 2018. The assessment addressed the criteria established in Commission Decision 2017/848. Data coverage varies depending on the programme, some programmes are shorter and then others are more longer term. The start of data is from 1993 to 2018. The objective of this updated assessment is to meet the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Articles 8, 9 and 10 concerning qualitative descriptors for determining Good Environmental Status, in this case specifically Descriptor 8, that “Concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to pollution effects” (Directive 2008/56/EC).