EQB — Organic Quality Elements of Coastal Marine Waters

Directive 2000/60/EC, in relation to the protection of aquatic environments and in particular the protection of ecosystems, introduces the concept of “environmental quality”, establishing the obligation to achieve the best possible “ecological status” and “chemical state”, i.e. the achievement of a “good status” by 2015. For biological quality, the Organic Quality Elements (hereinafter EQB) represented, for marine waters, by benthic macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton, macroalgae and angiosperms (Posidonia oceanica) shall be monitored, assessing abundances, specific composition, the presence of sensitive taxa, species diversity and biomass, as indicated in Ministerial Decree 260/2010. For physico-chemical quality oxygenation and nutrients (sumed in the TRIX Trophic Index) and for chemical elements, other specific pollutants not included in the priority list (Tab. 2/A of Ministerial Decree 260/2010) shall be taken into account in support of the EQBs; salinity, temperature, transparency and hydromorphological elements contribute to a better interpretation of the results.In monitoring marine waters of Veneto, phytoplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates are analysed. This limitation is dictated by the geomorphological characteristics of the coast and of the seabeds in front, since there is no rocky coastline the macroalgae EQB is not determinable, while as regards the angiosperms (rizophytes adapted to aquatic life) their presence is limited to the waters of the Friuli coast, in Veneto it remains trace from the discovery of dead roots in areas adjacent to some rocky outcrops called Tegnùe. For ecological classification, EQBs shall be monitored with a cycle not exceeding three years in operational monitoring, with the exception of phytoplankton monitored every year, according to the frequencies indicated in Ministerial Decree 260/2010