Marine Strategy Framework Directive: an introduction David Connor European Commission DG Environment Marine Environment and Water Industry Unit MSFD WG GES/ WFD WG ECOSTAT 22 October 2013, Brussels

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive EU’s legal instrument for the protection of our seas Overall objective: achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) of all EU marine waters by 2020. Adoption of an ecosystem-based and integrated approach to the management of all human activities which have an impact on the marine environment. Overarching Goal: Achieve GES of EU Marine Waters by 2020 Protected Ecosystems    Clean, healthy, productive seas Sustainable Use of Europe’s marine resources Common Approaches  Cooperation at the EU and regional level Regional approach to implementation, through establishment of Marine Regions and Sub-regions 2

General structure compared with WFD MSFD (2008) WFD (2000) Marine strategy comprises elements below River Basin Management Plans 6 year cycle Initial assessment, determination of GES, environmental targets – 2012 + 6 yrs Environmental and economic analysis – 2004, 2013 + 6 yrs Monitoring 2014 Monitoring 2006 Measures 2015/16 + 6yrs Measures 2012/15 + 6yrs GEnS by 2020 GEcS by 2015

Implementation Steps GES 2020 Main steps of a Marine Strategy: Initial assessment (IA) of current environmental status of MS waters Determination of GES Establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators Monitoring programme for ongoing assessment and regular updating of targets Programme of measures to achieve or maintain GES Review of the different steps Main steps of a Marine Strategy: Initial Assessment, determine GES, set targets 2012 (+ 6 years) Monitoring Programmes 2014 Programmes of Measures 2015 Implementation of measures 2016 Six-year review 2018 – 2021 GES 2020

What is GES? GES definition (Art. 3.5) Ecologically diverse and dynamic seas which are clean, healthy and productive Use of environment is at a sustainable level Fully functioning and resilient ecosystem Biodiversity decline is prevented, biodiversity is in balance and protected Hydro-morphological, physical and chemical state support above No pollution effects

What is GES? – Annex I Descriptors No. Topic 1 Biological diversity 2 Non-indigenous species 3 Commercial fish & shellfish 4 Food-webs 5 Eutrophication 6 Sea-floor integrity 7 Hydrography 8 Contaminants 9 Contaminants in seafood 10 Litter 11 Energy, incl. underwater noise

Geographic scope MSFD MSFD WFD Marine waters: Inc. EEZs Continental Shelf areas Coastal waters (of WFD) For marine: Transitional Waters Coastal Waters (to 1nm) Habitats & Birds Directives WFD 1nm

Regional approach/coordination MSFD regions and subregions Draft map: October 2012 GES is determined at Region or Subregion level (Art. 3.5) Coherent, coordinated and common approaches (Art. 5.2) Achieved through Regional Sea Conventions (Art. 6) & Common Implementation Strategy (CIS)

Common Implementation Strategy Structure from 2013 onwards

Current state of play

2012 – first major milestone Reporting on: What is Good Environmental Status (Art. 9)? What is current state of (Art. 8)? Ecosystem Pressures and impacts on ecosystem Social and economic uses of marine environment/costs of degradation What are environmental targets to achieve GES (Art. 10)?

MSFD Scoreboard Status at 7 Oct. 2013 Art. 26 Art. 7 Art. 8/ 9/10 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/eu-coast-and-marine-policy/implementation/scoreboard_en.htm Status at 7 Oct. 2013 Art. 26 Art. 7 Art. 8/ 9/10 Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Ireland Italy Art. 26 Art. 7 Art. 8/ 9/10 Latvia Lithuania Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovenia Spain Sweden UK Received Part received Not received

Article 12 progress in 2013 Questionnaire template and criteria for assessment developed Reports/reporting sheets from 20 MS on Art. 8, 9 & 10 received by 30th April 2013 are assessed Consultant assessments: results in consultant report per MS results in consultant report per marine region Now: COM is finalizing its Art. 12 report

GES state-of-play / interim conclusions (Art. 12) Not all MS have “determined” GES in accordance with the Directive Limited coherence within marine regions and no coherence across EU Confusion between Art. 9 (GES) and Art. 10 (targets), limited link to Art. 8 (assessment) GES often not “measurable” – therefore, we do not know current GES levels in the marine waters Monitoring and measures depend on clear and measurable GES

* 100% = 15 Member States

Targets (art. 10) Not always clear distinction between art 9 and 10 Majority of targets are ‘state-based’ = GES Poor focus on impacts and pressures (aspects that can be actively managed) Lack of specificity in targets (not measurable)

Next phases Monitoring programmes In place by 2014 Regional pilot projects – integration across disciplines and countries Measures In place by 2016 Identify new measures Fully implement existing measures

Thank you for your attention http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine Thank you for your attention