title: Implementation of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive: a methodological approach for the assessment of environmental status, from the Basque Country (Bay of Biscay).
abstract: The implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is directing European marine research towards the coordinated and integrated assessment of sea environmental status, following the ecosystem-based approach. The MSFD uses a set of 11 descriptors which, together, summarise the way in which the whole system functions. As such, the European Commission has proposed an extensive set of indicators, to assess environmental status. Hence, taking account of the large amount of data available for the Basque coast (southern Bay of Biscay), together with a recent proposal for assessment within the MSFD, an integrated environmental status assessment approach is developed (for the first time) in this contribution. The strengths and weaknesses of the method, combined with proposals from the MSFD, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: AZTI-Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia, Portualdea s/n, 20110 Pasaia, Spain. aborja@azti.es
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borja
authors.forename: Ibon
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galparsoro
authors.forename: Xabier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Irigoien
authors.forename: Ane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iriondo
authors.forename: Iratxe
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Menchaca
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muxika
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quincoces
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Revilla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Germán Rodríguez
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santurtún
authors.forename: Oihana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Solaun
authors.forename: Ainhize
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uriarte
authors.forename: Victoriano
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.forename: Izaskun
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zorita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005068:Eutrophication; D005398:Fisheries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D058865:Introduced Species; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D013030:Spain; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000592:standards; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants