1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
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larger sediment loads <strong>and</strong> higher levels <strong>of</strong> maturity <strong>in</strong> the more modified systems (Radke et al.,<br />
2006). This was evident <strong>in</strong> larger areas <strong>of</strong> tidal s<strong>and</strong> banks, <strong>in</strong>tertidal flats <strong>and</strong> mangroves <strong>in</strong> tidedom<strong>in</strong>ated<br />
estuaries, <strong>and</strong> larger <strong>in</strong>tertidal flats <strong>in</strong> wave-dom<strong>in</strong>ated systems. Metal concentrations<br />
also have been found to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to <strong>in</strong>crease above background concentrations <strong>in</strong> correspondence<br />
with dim<strong>in</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g condition status <strong>in</strong> the NLWRA framework (Birch <strong>and</strong> Olmos, 2008; Olmos<br />
<strong>and</strong> Birch, 2008).<br />
OzCoasts onl<strong>in</strong>e database provides classified maps to assist <strong>in</strong> deliver<strong>in</strong>g national level<br />
assessments on the broad ecological <strong>in</strong>tegrity <strong>of</strong> estuaries based on the National Monitor<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong><br />
Evaluation Framework (Figure 26). The Report Card Report<strong>in</strong>g tool <strong>of</strong> the national Estuary<br />
Coastal <strong>and</strong> Mar<strong>in</strong>e (ECM) <strong>in</strong>dicator protocols <strong>in</strong>itiative allows users to view aggregated report<br />
scores <strong>and</strong> trends on an annual basis at a range <strong>of</strong> different spatial scales <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g national,<br />
state/territory, regional <strong>and</strong> bioregional. The onl<strong>in</strong>e map <strong>in</strong>terface shows the report<strong>in</strong>g regions<br />
(estuaries) as dots, with a color cod<strong>in</strong>g that matches that <strong>of</strong> the condition assessment <strong>in</strong> an<br />
accompany<strong>in</strong>g pie chart.<br />
<strong>1.10</strong>.9.2 European Community Mar<strong>in</strong>e Strategy Framework Directive<br />
In Europe, the EC Mar<strong>in</strong>e Strategy Framework Directive, adopted <strong>in</strong> 2008, requires EU<br />
Member States to achieve ‘Good Environmental Status’ <strong>in</strong> all their mar<strong>in</strong>e waters out to 200 nm<br />
(<strong>and</strong> on extended Cont<strong>in</strong>ental Shelf areas up to 350 nm, where claimed under UNCLOS), by<br />
2020. To develop biodiversity assessments suitable for such large sea areas, new <strong>in</strong>tegrated<br />
assessment techniques have been trialled for the first time <strong>in</strong> the UK <strong>and</strong> by OSPAR (Connor<br />
2009). For UK waters, the extent <strong>of</strong> impact on habitats from a set <strong>of</strong> 22 pressures was assessed<br />
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