Difference between revisions of "European Marine Strategy Framework Directive"

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[[Image:Mareco.jpg|right|thumb|300px|<small>A marine ecosystem(Photo credit: [http://www.noaa.gov/ NOAA])</small>]]
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<P ALIGN="justify">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. </P>
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==Aims and objectives==
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<P ALIGN="justify">
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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.</P>
  
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== MSFD and Good Environmental Status (GES)==
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The Directive defines Good Environmental Status (GES) as:
  
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The aim of the European Union's ambitious Marine Strategy Framework Directive] (adopted in June 2008) is to protect more effectively the marine environment across Europe. It aims to achieve good environmental status of the EU's marine waters by 2020 and to protect the resource base upon which marine-related economic and social activities depend. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive constitutes the vital environmental component of the Union's future maritime policy, designed to achieve the full economic potential of oceans and seas in harmony with the marine environment.
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"''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:</P>
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#Biodiversity is maintained
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#[[Non-indigenous species]] do not adversely alter the ecosystem
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#The population of commercial fish species is healthy
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#Elements of food webs ensure long-term abundance and reproduction
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#[[Eutrophication]] is minimized
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#The sea floor integrity ensures functioning of the ecosystem
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#Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions does not adversely affect the ecosystem
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#Concentrations of contaminants give no effects
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#Contaminants in seafood are below safe levels
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#Marine litter does not cause harm
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#Introduction of energy (including underwater noise) does not adversely affect the ecosystem
  
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The Marine Strategy Framework Directive establishes European Marine Regions on the basis of geographical and environmental criteria. Each Member State - cooperating with other Member States and non-EU countries within a marine region - are required to develop strategies for their marine waters.
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== The Marine Strategy==
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====Introduction====
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<P ALIGN="justify">
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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 (Helsinki Commission) and Helsinki Convention|HELCOM]], [[Barcelona Convention|BARCOM]] and [[OSPAR Convention (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) and OSPAR Commission|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.
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</P>
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====Aims of the Marine Strategy====
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*Protection and preservation of the marine environment and if possible restoration of disturbed marine ecosystems.
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*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.
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====Timeframe====
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{|border="1" align=center cellspacing="0" cellpadding = "8" width="900px"
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!style="background-color:#398C9D" width="150px"|'''Deadline'''
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!style="background-color:#398C9D" width="750px"| '''Task'''
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|-
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| 15 July 2012
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| 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
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|-
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| 15 July 2012
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| A definition of what GES means for national marine waters
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|-
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| 15 July 2012
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| Establishment of clear environmental targets and associated indicators to achieve GES by 2020
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|-
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| 2013
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| Report on progress in the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs)
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|-
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| 15 July 2014
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| Establishment of a monitoring programme for the ongoing assessment and the regular update of targets
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|-
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| 2015
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| Development of a programme of (cost-effective) measures designed to achieve or maintain GES by 2020
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|-
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| 2016
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| Establishment of a monitoring programme for the ongoing assessment and the regular update of targets
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|-
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| 2018-2021
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| Review and preparation of the second cycle
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|-
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|}
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<br style="clear:both;"/>
  
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The marine strategies to be developed by each Member State must contain a detailed assessment of the state of the environment, a definition of "good environmental status" at regional level and the establishment of clear environmental targets and monitoring programmes.
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==References==
  
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Each Member State must draw up a programme of cost-effective measures. Prior to any new measure an impact assessment which contains a detailed cost-benefit analysis of the proposed measures is required.
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#Text of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:164:0019:0040:EN:PDF]
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#Criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:232:0014:0024:EN:PDF]
  
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Where Member States cannot reach the environmental targets specific measures tailored to the particular context of the area and situation will be drawn up.
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==External links==
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[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/eu-coast-and-marine-policy/marine-strategy-framework-directive/index_en.htm The European Commission, the Marine Directive]
  
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The goal of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is in line with the objectives of the 2000 Water Framework Directive 2000 which requires surface freshwater and ground water bodies - such as lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters - to be ecologically sound by 2015 and that the first review of the River Basin Management Plans should take place in 2020.
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{{author
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|AuthorID=26102
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|AuthorFullName= Knockaert, Carolien
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|AuthorName=Carolienk}}
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[[Category:Legislation and conventions]]

Latest revision as of 08:18, 8 August 2019

A marine ecosystem(Photo credit: NOAA)

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.

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 minimized
  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 (2019): European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/European_Marine_Strategy_Framework_Directive [accessed on 22-11-2024]
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