European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

The European Union's (2008/56/EC) Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) was adopted on 17 June 2008, and came into force on 15 July 2008. It was due to be transposed into national legislation by 15 July 2010 and is the environmental pillar of the European Union’s Integrated Maritime Policy.

A marine ecosystem (Photo credit: NOAA)

Aims and objectives

The Marine Directive aims to protect more effectively the marine environment across Europe by achieving and maintaining Good Environmental Status (GES) of the EU marine waters by 2020 and by protecting the resource base upon which marine-related economic and social activities depend. To achieve these objectives the Directive establishes European marine regions (the Baltic Sea, the North East Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea) on the basis of geographical and environmental criteria.

MSFD and Good Environmental Status (GES)

The Directive defines Good Environmental Status (GES) as:

"The environmental status of marine waters where these provide ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy and productive"

To help Member States interpret what GES means in practice, the Directive sets eleven qualitative descriptors which describe what the environment will look like when GES has been achieved:

1. Biodiversity is maintained
2. Non-indigenous species do not adversely alter the ecosystem
3. The population of commercial fish species is healthy
4. Elements of food webs ensure long-term abundance and reproduction
5. Eutrophication is minimised
6. The sea floor integrity ensures functioning of the ecosystem
7. Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions does not adversely affect the ecosystem
8. Concentrations of contaminants give no effects
9. Contaminants in seafood are below safe levels
10. Marine litter does not cause harm
11. Introduction of energy (including underwater noise) does not adversely affect the ecosystem

The Marine Strategy

Introduction

Each Member State is required to develop a Marine Strategy for its marine waters and to use the existing Regional Sea Conventions such as HELCOM, BARCOM and OSPAR when appropriate. The Strategy is in coordination with other countries (EU and non EU Countries within a marine region or subregion). Marine Strategies shall apply an ecosystem-based approach to the management of human activities, ensuring that the collective pressure of such activities is kept within levels compatible with the achievement of good environmental status and that the capacity of marine ecosystems to respond to human-induced changes is not compromised, while enabling the sustainable use of marine goods and services by present and future generations.

Aims of the Marine Strategy

• Protection and preservation of the marine environment and if possible restoration of disturbed marine ecosystems.
• Protecting of the marine biodiversity, marine ecosystems, human health or legitimate uses of the sea by prevention and reduction of inputs in the marine environment.

Timeframe

Deadline	Task
15 July 2012	Initial assessment of the current environmental status of national marine waters and the environmental impact and socio-economic analysis of human activities in these waters
15 July 2012	A definition of what GES means for national marine waters
15 July 2012	Establishment of clear environmental targets and associated indicators to achieve GES by 2020
2013	Report on progress in the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs)
15 July 2014	Establishment of a monitoring programme for the ongoing assessment and the regular update of targets
2015	Development of a programme of (cost-effective) measures designed to achieve or maintain GES by 2020
2016	Establishment of a monitoring programme for the ongoing assessment and the regular update of targets
2018-2021	Review and preparation of the second cycle

References

1. Text of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive [1]
2. Criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters[2]

External links

The European Commission, the Marine Directive

The main author of this article is Knockaert, Carolien Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article. Citation: Knockaert, Carolien (2013): European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/European_Marine_Strategy_Framework_Directive [accessed on 31-10-2024] For other articles by this author see Category:Articles by Knockaert, Carolien For an overview of contributions by this author see Special:Contributions/Carolienk