The new Italian index of the ecological state of the fish communities (NISECI)
The EU’s Water Frame Directive (WFD) 2000/60/CE requires all surface water bodies have to be classified according to their ecological status. The assessment of ecological status is based on the analysis of the communities of different biological components: Diatoms, Macrophytes, Benthic Invertebrates and Fishes.
The implementation of the WFD in Italy, through the publication of Legislative Decree 152/2006 and subsequent decrees, ensure an ecological approach oriented to sustainable development and integrated management of water resources.
This Guideline describes the NISECI index, the new Italian method of assessing fish fauna for the classification of the ecological state of the fish communities in the river water bodies.
Publication available only on-line