Descriptor 7 reads as follows: Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions dos not adversely affect marine ecosystems. There are no primary criteria and secondary criteria are not used because of lack of indicators. Sweden had a definition of GES on criteria level in 2012, but since we still do not have any indicators, and because the criteria is not mandatory in the new GES-decision, we have deleted those criteria from the Agency regulation containing the GES definitions. This does not mean that we have excluded the possibility of defining GES for D7 in the future. A qualitative assessment has been made, which concluded that present large scale offshore structures do not result in significant impact on D7 aspects today (page 92 of the text report, Förändringar i hydrografiska villkor https://www.havochvatten.se/download/18.60662d6719060e439995beef/1723711349019/rapport-2024-12-marin-strategi-nordjon-ostersjon.pdf). However, swedish maritime areas can be affected by structures in marine areas of neighbouring countries, and there is a risk that in the future, the cumulative impact of an increasing number of offshore structres might cause a significant impact on the marine environment. Currently, climate change is considered to be a main risk for causing large-scale changes in hydrographic conditions in Swedish waters through changes in precipitation, water temperature, salinity, water level, and oxygenation. Furthermore, in coastal waters, there is significant impact from coastal structures, such as smaller bridges, road embankments, piers, marinas, fairways, dredging and dumping. An estimated 10% of coastal waters more shallow than 15 metres are estimated to have altered currents (longitudinal connectivity) and 13% altered wave regime as a result of constructions. Sweden plans development work to better assess several aspects of D7, such as the specific impact from certain activities (e.g. hydropower, windpower, maritime transports, sand extraction, coastal activities).

Descriptor 7 reads as follows: Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions dos not adversely affect marine ecosystems. There are no primary criteria and secondary criteria are not used because of lack of indicators. Sweden had a definition of GES on criteria level in 2012, but since we still do not have any indicators, and because the criteria is not mandatory in the new GES-decision, we have deleted those criteria from the Agency regulation containing the GES definitions. This does not mean that we have excluded the possibility of defining GES for D7 in the future. A qualitative assessment has been made, which concluded that present large scale offshore structures do not result in significant impact on D7 aspects today (page 92 of the text report, Förändringar i hydrografiska villkor https://www.havochvatten.se/download/18.60662d6719060e439995beef/1723711349019/rapport-2024-12-marin-strategi-nordjon-ostersjon.pdf). However, swedish maritime areas can be affected by structures in marine areas of neighbouring countries, and there is a risk that in the future, the cumulative impact of an increasing number of offshore structres might cause a significant impact on the marine environment. Currently, climate change is considered to be a main risk for causing large-scale changes in hydrographic conditions in Swedish waters through changes in precipitation, water temperature, salinity, water level, and oxygenation. Furthermore, in coastal waters, there is significant impact from coastal structures, such as smaller bridges, road embankments, piers, marinas, fairways, dredging and dumping. An estimated 10% of coastal waters more shallow than 15 metres are estimated to have altered currents (longitudinal connectivity) and 13% altered wave regime as a result of constructions. Sweden plans development work to better assess several aspects of D7, such as the specific impact from certain activities (e.g. hydropower, windpower, maritime transports, sand extraction, coastal activities).