The State and Pressures of the Marine Environment in Montenegro Impressum Project coordinators: Marina MarkoviÉ, MSc, PAP/RAC. Aleš Mlakar, PhD, PNAM, Ivana StojanoviÉ, Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism Habitats: Milena BatakoviÉ, Mihailo JoviÏeviÉ Fish – pelagic: Milica MandiÉ, PhD, Institute of Marine Biology, Ana PešiÉ, PhD, Institute of Marine Biology Fish – demersal: Mirko ÒuroviÉ, PhD, Institute of Marine Biology Eutrophication and Ana MišuroviÉ, MSc contamination: Marine litter: Milica MandiÉ, PhD, Institute of Marine Biology Landscapes: Aleš Mlakar, PhD, PNAM, Nika Cigoj Sitar, PNAM Data and images: Mihailo JoviÏeviÉ; Nika Cigoj Sitar, PNAM Translator: Assia BariÉ Cover design: swim2birds.co.uk Graphic design: Ljudomat Cover photo: Montenegrin coast © Slaven Vilus The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the UNEP/MAP concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The report was prepared as part of the GEF Adriatic project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). For citation: UNEP/MAP-PAP/RAC i MEPU (2021). The State and Pressures of the Marine Environment in Montenegro. Authors (alphabetically): BatakoviÉ Milena, Cigoj Sitar Nika, ÒuroviÉ Mirko, JoviÏeviÉ Mihailo, MandiÉ Milica, MarkoviÉ Marina, MišuroviÉ Ana, Mlakar Aleš, PešiÉ Ana, StojanoviÉ Ivana. Ur: PAP/RAC – GEF Adriatic project. pp. + attachments Table of contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 7. Assessment of Anthropogenic Impacts on the Trophic Status of Marine Environments .................................... 121 2. Legal and Methodological Background ............................................................................................................ 5 7.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 123 2.1. International Legal Sources ........................................................................................................................................... 7 7.2. Status description ...................................................................................................................................................... 123 2.2. National Strategy for Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Montenegro ................................................................. 8 7.3. Pressure level assessment ......................................................................................................................................... 140 2.3. The Ecosystem Approach ............................................................................................................................................... 9 7.4. Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................................... 144 3. Working Methods ......................................................................................................................................... 15 8. Contaminants in the Marine Environment .................................................................................................... 147 3.1. Recording: indicators, state and pressure description ................................................................................................. 18 8.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 149 3.2. Value assessment ........................................................................................................................................................ 20 8.2. Indicators ................................................................................................................................................................... 149 3.3. Impact assessment ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 8.3. Pressures ................................................................................................................................................................... 151 3.4. Recommendations ...................................................................................................................................................... 22 8.4. Contaminant concentration in sediment, biota and water ......................................................................................... 155 4. Biodiversity: Habitats .................................................................................................................................... 23 8.5. Contaminant pressure level ratings ............................................................................................................................ 164 8.6. Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................................... 170 4.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 25 4.2. Indicators and state description .................................................................................................................................. 25 9. Marine Litter............................................................................................................................................... 173 4.3. Assessment ................................................................................................................................................................. 32 9.1. Intreduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 175 4.4. Impact Assessment ...................................................................................................................................................... 36 9.2. Indicators ................................................................................................................................................................... 175 4.5. Recommendations ...................................................................................................................................................... 46 9.3. Seabed litter .............................................................................................................................................................. 177 5. Biodiversity: Fish........................................................................................................................................... 51 9.4. Annual input of plastic litter from land to sea ............................................................................................................ 193 9.5. Marine Litter Pressure ............................................................................................................................................... 193 5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 53 9.6. Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................................... 196 5.2. National and regional significant commercial fish species status monitoring programme ........................................... 53 5.3. Indicators .................................................................................................................................................................... 54 10. Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................. 197 5.4. Pelagic species status .................................................................................................................................................. 58 10.1. Overall biodiversity impact ......................................................................................................................................... 199 5.5. Pelagic resource status valuation ................................................................................................................................. 67 10.2. Cumulative impact of pollution .................................................................................................................................. 202 5.6. Fishing impact on pelagic resources ............................................................................................................................ 75 10.3. Analysis of the state and pressures of the marine environment as the basis for protection, remedial and 5.7. Pelagic resource endangerment .................................................................................................................................. 77 optimization of planning solutions ............................................................................................................................