Report: “Ecological State Assessment of German Transitional and Coastal Waters 2009” Report: Environmental Assessment of German Transitional and Coastal Waters 2009

The status of coastal waters was assessed with a view to establishing water quality management plans under the Water Framework Directive. Based on monitoring data collected in the past six years, the biological quality elements phytoplankton, macrophytes, macrozoobenthos, and fish (in Estuaries) were assessed using largely harmonised methods. Applying a five-class scale, most of the 72 water bodies were rated “moderate”, “poor”or “bad” (particularly in the Baltic Sea), with only one ¿good¿rating. High nutrient input is considered to be the principal cause. The status of coastal waters was assessed for the management plans of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). On the basis of monitoring data from the last six years, the biological quality components phytoplankton, macrophytes and macrozoobenthos as well as fish (in river estuaries) have been tested using largely coordinated methods. On the five-level assessment scale, the 72 bodies of water were classified as moderate, unsatisfactory (especially in the Baltic Sea) as moderate, unsatisfactory (especially in the Baltic). Material loads from increased nutrient inputs are considered to be the main cause of this.