1. EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive Descriptor 11: Underwater Noise
Lindy Weilgart, Ph.D.

2. EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Established in 2008 by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union
In 2010, the European Commission set the criteria for Good Environmental Status (GES) by various Descriptors—11 in total
Targets of MSFD are:
protection of marine environment
Sustainable use of marine goods and services
GES in European seas by 2020

3. EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
First regulation that specifically mentions noise
A major effort in addressing underwater noise at a large scale
Ecosystem scale of management
Regional approach to implementation

4. EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Preparatory steps are an initial assessment of actual status in national marine waters
Next step is determination of what GES would look like
Comparison of actual and desired status leads to establishment of environmental targets
These three steps must be reported to European Commission in 6-yr cycles, for the first time in July 2012

5. Implementation Steps
Initial assessment of environmental status of MS waters (2012)
Determination of GES (2012)
Establishment of environmental targets and indicators (2012)
Monitoring programme for ongoing assessment and regular updating of targets (2014)
Programme of measures designed to achieve or maintain GES (design 2015, operational 2016)
Initial assessment, objectives, targets & indicators
2012
(+ 6 years)
Monitoring Programmes
2014
Programmes of Measures
2015
Implementation of the marine strategy
2016
Six year review of the different elements of the strategy
2018 – 2021
GES
2020
Courtesy of:
René Dekeling
Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, NL

6. EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Laws from the Council of the European Union bind Member States (MS) to implement them.
This can be achieved through Council Regulations or Council Directives.
- For Regulations, MS directly apply the statements of the regulations;
- For Directives, they need to be transposed into national laws

7. EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Sets framework—structure and timeline—but no details
Details are developed within a common implementation strategy
Details of implementation left to MS to decide how to turn (“transpose”) EU Directive into national laws
Qualitative descriptors are “translated” into quantitative criteria and indicators

8. EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Coordination and cooperation between EU countries is key
Does not replace existing legislation that regulates at smaller scales (SEA, EIA and Habitats Directives)
No overarching EU targets but this may change
Does not apply to naval activities, but MS should try to conduct them with objectives of Directive
11 Descriptors, 29 Criteria, 56 Indicators

9. EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
GES Descriptors:
1: Biodiversity
2: Invasive species
3: Overfishing
4: Maintenance of marine food webs
5: Eutrophication
6: Benthic ecosystems
7: Hydrographic conditions
8: Contaminants not giving rise to pollution effects
9: Seafood contaminants safe for human consumption
10: Marine litter
11: Introduction of energy, including underwater noise

10. 2 indicators described:
Descriptor 11: Introduction of energy, including underwater noise, is at levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment
2 indicators described:
- short duration: low and mid-frequency impulsive* noise
*includes sonars
- long lasting: low frequency continuous noise
Clarification/guidance required  Expert group formed (TSG Noise)

11. Indicators
Criterion Distribution in time and place of loud, low and mid frequency impulsive sounds
- The proportion of days and their distribution within a calendar year, over geographical locations whose shape and area are to be determined, and the spatial distribution in which source level (or suitable proxy) of anthropogenic sound sources, measured over the frequency band 10 Hz to 10 kHz, exceeds a value that is likely to entail significant impact on marine animals (11.1.1).

12. Impulsive noise indicator
Main effect: “considerable” displacement, habitat loss
CI of activities, not indiv projects
Most MS no quant. descr. of GES due to insufficient knowledge of CI
As an indicator, behav. change possibly more relevant than injury, because it affects larger part of the pop and area
Assess pressure of piling, seismic, sonar cumulatively (not achieved previously at this scale), then evaluate effects and set targets
Assess area impacted
Set up register of impulsive noise activities at regional and EU level, use to establish current level and trend in impulsive sounds

13. Impulsive Activities Included in Register
Register can be used for noise mapping
Most important sources for inclusion: seismic, pile-driving, explosives, sonar, some ADDs
For impact pile-drivers and multiple explosions, no minimum threshold, all should be registered
For sonars, airguns, acoustic deterrents and single explosions, minimum thresholds used:
- Non-impulsive sources 176 dB re 1 μPa m
- Impulsive sources 186 dB re 1 μPa² m² s (SEL) , airguns 209 dB re 1 μPa m (0-p)

14. Options for Impulse Target Setting:
A target on the maximum allowable number of pulse-block days in an assessment area
A no-deterioration (i.e. stable or negative trends) target on the number of pulse-block days in an assessment area
A percentage target on the assessment area that is affected due to noise disturbance -i.e. at any given day less than x% of the assessment area is lost due to noise disturbance

15. Impulse Noise Indicator
Use as baseline where there is negligible pop displacement from noise
Insufficient knowledge when too much disturbance would compromise GES
Realistic target setting only possible once baseline known and more info on noise impacts
TSG Noise will continue to work in 2013 and 2014 to provide advice on thresholds and targets
Setting actual threshold level is up to MS

16. Indicators Criterion 11.2. Continuous low frequency sound
- Trends in the annual average of the squared sound pressure associated with ambient noise in each of two third octave bands, one centred at 63 Hz and the other at 125 Hz, expressed as a level in decibels, in units of dB re 1 μPa, either measured directly at observation stations, or inferred from a model used to interpolate between or extrapolate from measurements at observation stations (11.2.1).

17. Continuous LF Noise
“The ambient noise level measured by a statistical representative set of observation stations in Regional Seas where noise within the 1/3 octave bands 63 and 125 Hz (centre frequency) should not exceed the baseline values of year [2012] or 100 dB (re 1μPa rms; average noise level in these octave bands over a year).” Tasker ML, Amundin M, Andre M, Hawkins A, Lang W, Merck T Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Task Group 11 Report, Underwater noise and other forms of energy. JRC and ICES.

18. Continuous LF Indicator
TSG Noise suggested:
Trends ONLY are NOT sufficient to describe GES:
Trends indicate whether the actual pressure on the environment (e.g., shipping noise) is rising or falling. To describe actual GES levels, a combination of measurements and modelling/ mapping will be needed.

19. Summary First reg. that specifically mentions noise
GES in European seas by 2020
Ecosystem scale of management
No overarching EU targets but this may change
2 indicators: MF and LF impulsive & LF contin.
Impulsive: “considerable” displ., habitat loss
CI of activities, not indiv projects
Set up register of impulsive noise activities
For LF continuous, trends with measurements/ mapping/modelling needed