Report of the Workshop on guidance for the review of MSFD decision descriptor 6 – seafloor integrity II (WKGMSFDD6-II)

In September 2014, ICES was tasked with assessing D6 seafloor integrity issues, focusing on methods and bounds for setting GES. The results of this D6 workshop provided a guidance report with dedicated recommendations. However, when the D6 report was reviewed during the MSFD Common Implementation Strategy meeting of Working Group on Good Environmental Status (WG GES) in October 2014, it was highlighted that more details will be required to guide MSs on: i) how to link higher level criteria to specific indicators and ii) how these indicators could be implemented in national monitoring and assessment programmes. The need for further clarification, provided the opportunity to organize a follow-up workshop on Descriptor 6 seafloor integrity with the aim to review the 2010 Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status (GES) of marine waters. This workshop was held in Copenhagen on 16–19 February 2015. This report summarizes the result of this workshop, which was attended by experts in MSFD implementation and/or scientists specialising in assessing seafloor integrity.