The project IDEM (Implementation of the MSFD to the DEep Mediterranean Sea) aims to support the next phase of MSFD implementation, in particular to achieve, by the end of the project, a regionally coherent, coordinated and consistent initial environmental assessment and determination of GES, as well as the definition of sets of environmental targets for the Mediterranean deep Sea (below 200 m of depth). Beside this, IDEM aims at understanding, quantifying and mapping drivers, anthropogenic pressures and impacts, current knowledge and spatial coverage of data regarding the MSDF indicators in the Mediterranean deep sea. These represent crucial steps towards developing a comprehensive set of environmental targets and associated indicators/criteria that can be used to extend the concept of Good Environmental Status (GES) to the deep sea.

Objective of IDEM will be to review and update the current determinations of GES, environmental targets and criteria/indicators assessed so far for Mediterranean Sea coastal areas to be adapted to the Mediterranean deep-sea basin. This will be done through literature/existing data review and scientific surveys already scheduled, which will be conducted in ongoing national or international programs during the lifespan of IDEM. Furthermore, an integrative analysis of all indicators will be performed in order to establish key-areas for monitoring.

Overall, IDEM will provide also crucial information for the conservation and management of the deep Mediterranean sea, contributing to the action and initiatives for the identification of Special Areas of Conservation and the design of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) networks.

The following main activities are foreseen within IDEM:

- a review of literature (including “grey” literature) relevant for MSDF implementation in the Mediterranean deep Sea;

- collection of existent and newly acquired databases in order to create GIS maps of the spatial extent of the descriptors/criteria/indicators as well as human pressures/impacts on the Mediterranean deep-sea ecosystems;

- adaptation of the MSFD descriptors/criteria/indicators to the Mediterranean deep Sea;

- identification of threshold/baseline values for GES in the Mediterranean deep sea;

- identification of the gaps in knowledge concerning the 11 descriptors in the Mediterranean deep Sea, for each sub-basin;

- identification of guidelines for monitoring deep-sea environments and for designation of areas to be potentially protected;

- stakeholders engagement and dissemination of IDEM results.