ERSE Ecological Research and Services for the Environment is a Tuscany Company of experts in Environmental Biology and Natural Sciences. ERSE works throughout the national territory.
as part of the marine strategy 2022-2023 for the sardinia region.
LOCATION
Sardinia
TYPE
Faunal Monitoring
CLIENT
ARPAS Sardinia
The Regional Environmental Protection Agency of Sardinia (ARPAS) conducts Marine Strategy monitoring in accordance with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC, transposed into Italian law through Legislative Decree No. 190 of October 13, 2010. The main goal of this regulation is to ensure sustainable use of marine resources.
The Operational Activity Plan (POA) is divided into several modules, including those for monitoring species and habitats listed in Annexes I, II, III, and IV of the Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC, as well as marine bird species listed in Directive 2009/147/EC “Birds.”
For Sardinia, the POA 2022 involved identifying and monitoring 8 areas for the Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), while POA 2023 focused on monitoring 8 areas for the Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii) and Audouin’s Gull (Ichtyaetus audouinii).
The monitoring aimed to assess the status of the populations (breeding and wintering) of marine birds by collecting data on abundance, distribution, and demographic characteristics.
Field activities included identifying potential breeding sites, conducting faunal surveys within the identified areas, and compiling field data sheets in accordance with the agreed Information Standard.
The results will contribute to establishing a marine strategy based on the model set out in the EU Marine Strategy Directive 2008/56/EC, including:
• Initial environmental assessment of marine waters (Art. 8; IA, Initial Assessment)
• Determination of Good Environmental Status (Art. 9, GES, Good Environmental Status)
• Definition of environmental targets (Art. 10; ET, Environmental Targets)
• Development of monitoring programs (Art. 11; MP, Monitoring Programmes)
• Development of programs of measures to achieve and maintain Good Environmental Status (Art. 12; PoM, Programmes of Measures)
The determination of the Good Environmental Status (GES) requirements is based on 11 qualitative descriptors, as outlined in Annex 1 of Legislative Decree 190/2010. These descriptors identify the conditions necessary for the structure and processes of marine ecosystems, as well as human activities, to allow ecosystems to function fully, avoid biodiversity loss, and maintain their resilience to anthropogenic changes. These criteria serve as benchmarks for monitoring and assessing the health of marine ecosystems, ensuring the long-term sustainability and protection of marine environments.
