This Guidance Document is a collective effort of the EU MSFD CIS process and was developed under the mandate of Working Group on Good Environmental Status (WGGES). Inputs to the development of this document are gratefully acknowledged from: the Drafting Group on Good Environmental Status (DGGES); Task Groups on Marine Litter (TG ML), Underwater Noise (TG Noise), and Seabed (TG Seabed); MSFD CIS Expert Networks on Non-indigenous Species, Contaminants, Eutrophication, Biodiversity, Pelagic Habitats; ICES advice services; and Member States. Particular thanks go to the following co-authors of guidance contributions.