Transitional waters North East Atlantic geographic intercalibration group: Intercalibration of a new Fish ecological assessment method

• Main Authors: HARRISON Trevor, KELLY Fiona, LEPAGE Mario, SALAS HERRERO Maria Fuensanta
• Language: English
• Published: Publications Office of the European Union 2018
• Subjects: North East Atlantic
• Online Access: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC115083; https://doi.org/10.2760/385083

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires the national classifications of good ecological status to be harmonised through an intercalibration exercise. In this exercise, significant differences in status classification among Member States are harmonized by comparing and, if necessary, adjusting the good status boundaries of the national assessment methods. Intercalibration is performed for rivers, lakes, coastal and transitional waters, focusing on selected types of water bodies (intercalibration types), anthropogenic pressures and Biological Quality Elements. Intercalibration exercises are carried out in Geographical Intercalibration Groups - larger geographical units including Member States with similar water body types - and followed the procedure described in the WFD Common Implementation Strategy Guidance document on the intercalibration process (European Commission, 2011). The Technical report on the Water Framework Directive intercalibration describes in detail how the intercalibration exercise has been carried out for the water categories and biological quality elements. The Technical report is organized in volumes according to the water category (rivers, lakes, coastal and transitional waters), Biological Quality Element and Geographical Intercalibration group. The North East Atlantic Geographic Intercalibration Group (NEAGIG) has successfully intercalibrated the fish quality element for transitional waters in the Second Intercalibration Phase (2008-2012). This report outlines the intercalibration of a new assessment method with those included in the completed NEAGIG intercalibration exercise. JRC.D.2 - Water and Marine Resources