Marine Strategy Framework Directive: the initial assessment and its links to the UN Regular Process UN Regular Process Workshop for the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, under the auspices of the United Nations, in support of the Regular Process for global reporting and assessment of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects June 2012 Brussels David Connor DG Environment, Marine Environment Unit

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008) 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 Overarching Goal: Achieve GES of EU’s Marine Waters by 2020 Overarching Goal: Achieve GES of EU’s Marine Waters by 2020 Protected Ecosystems Clean, healthy, productive seas Protected Ecosystems Clean, healthy, productive seas Sustainable Uses of Europe’s marine resources Sustainable Uses of Europe’s marine resources Common Approaches Cooperation at the EU and regional level Common Approaches Cooperation at the EU and regional level  Regional approach to implementation, through establishment of Marine Regions and Sub-regions  Adoption of an ecosystem-based and integrated approach to the management of all human activities which have an impact on the marine environment.

High-level aspiration - MSFD GES overview Definition (Art. 3.5)  Ecologically diverse and dynamic seas which are clean, healthy and productive  Use 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 1Biological diversity 2Non-indigenous species 3Commercial fish & shellfish 4Food-webs 5Eutrophication 6Sea-floor integrity 7Hydrography 8Contaminants 9Contaminants in seafood 10Litter 11Energy, incl. underwater noise

Source: Prescott & Schofield (2005) MSFDWFD Marine waters: Inc. EEZs Continental Shelf areas Coastal waters (of WFD) For marine: Transitional Waters Coastal Waters (to 1nm) Geographic scope of MSFD Modified from MRAG (2012) MSFD 1nm

Draft map 8 June 2012 MSFD regions and subregions Light shading are areas of non-MS waters within a region/sub-region Blue lines are Continental Shelf areas (seabed only) (for IE, PT, UK) White lines are MSFD sub-divisions (for ES) 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) & CIS Regional approach/coordination

Implementation Steps 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: IA, targets & indicators 2012 (+ 6 years) Monitoring Programmes 2014 Programmes of Measures 2015 Implementation 2016 Six-year review 2018 – 2021

Initial assessment Article 8 – initial assessment of MS marine waters, due 2012, updated 2018:  Characteristics and status of MS marine waters, based on Annex III, Table 1  Analysis of pressures and impacts, based on Annex III, Table 2  An economic & social analysis, and cost of degradation

Annex III, Table 1 Characteristics of marine waters (1) FeaturesTopics Physical and chemical features Topography, bathymetry of seabed Temperature regime Ice cover Current velocity Upwelling Wave exposure Mixing characteristics Turbidity Residence time Salinity Nutrients & oxygen pH, pCO 2

Annex III, Table 1 Characteristics of marine waters (2) FeaturesTopics Habitat types Predominant seabed & water column habitats Special habitat types Biological features Biological communities of predominant habitats Fish Mammals and reptiles Seabirds Species protected by Directives & Conventions Non-indigenous & genetically-modified species Other features Chemicals of concern Other features/characteristics

Annex III, Table 2 Pressures and impacts Pressure themesPressures Physical loss Smothering, sealing Physical damageSiltation, abrasion, extraction Other physical disturbance Noise Litter Interference with hydrological processes Thermal regime changes Salinity regime changes Contamination by hazardous substances Synthetic compounds Non-synthetic compounds Radio-nuclides Systematic or intentional release of substances e.g. CO 2 storage, produced water Nutrient & organic enrichment Inputs of N & P-rich substances Inputs of organic matter Biological disturbance Microbial pathogens Non-indigenous species Extraction of species (incl. by-catch)

Art. 8.1c - Marine uses and activities ThemeUse/activity Energy production Renewable energy generation (wind, wave & tidal power) Hydrocarbon extraction (oil & gas) Extraction of living resources Fisheries incl. recreational fishing (fish & shellfish) Seaweed and other sea-based food harvesting Extraction of genetic resources/bioprospecting/maerl Extraction of non-living resources Marine mining (sand, gravel, rock) Dredging Desalination/water abstraction Food productionAquaculture (fin-fish & shellfish) Land-based activities/industries Industry (discharges, emissions) Agriculture & forestry (run-off, emissions) Urban (municipal waste water discharge) Man-made structures (incl. construction phase) Land claim, coastal defence Port operations Placement & operation of offshore structures Submarine cable & pipeline operations Military Defence operations Dumping of unwanted munitions RecreationTourism & recreation incl. yachting Research and surveyMarine research, survey & educational activities TransportShipping Waste disposal Solid waste disposal incl. dredge material Storage of gasses

GES and targets Article 9 – Determination of GES:  11 ‘descriptors’ of GES (Annex I)  Each descriptor has criteria and indicators (2010 COM Decision) Article 10 – Targets to achieve GES:  State, impact, pressure or operational  Associated indicators

Pressure Z Habitat disturbance Pressure Pressure Y Contamination Pressure X Underwater noise Economic & social analysis Art 8.1c Assessment of pressures Art 8.1b Table 2 Assessment of state Art 8.1a Table 1 Activity A Oil & gas Activity B Sand & gravel extraction Activity C Shipping Activity D Fishing Activity Component A Cetaceans Component B Fish Component C Seabirds Component D Pelagic habitat Component E Seabed habitat State IMPACTS GES - Desired state of environment Acceptable levels of impact GES - Acceptable levels of pressure Measures - Focus on pressures – where, how much, how frequent?

Pressures Impacts Goods & services List of pressures: Physical Hydrological Chemical Biological List of human activities: Sea-based Land-based List of ecosystem components: Physical/chemical Species/functional groups Habitats Ecosystem functions Initial Assessment Reports on: Component AComponent BComponent CComponent DComponent E Characteristics reporting sheets Reports on: Pressure C Pressure D Pressure E Pressure A Pressure B Pressures & Impacts reporting sheets Reports on: Activity A Activity B Activity C Activity D Activity E Socio-economic reporting sheets

Pressures and impacts analysis Analysis of the pressure:  What are the characteristics of the pressure?  What are the sources of the pressure (i.e. the human activities)?  What is the level of pressure arising from the human activities (the 'input level') and/or found in the environment (the 'output level')? Analysis of impacts:  What are the impacts of the pressure on the environment? Distinguish impacts on:  water column habitats  seabed habitats  functional groups (of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles) Assessment of the pressure and its impacts:  Is the current level of the pressure acceptable?  Is the current level of the impacts acceptable?

Ecosystem characteristics analysis Characterisation of the component:  What are the characteristics of the component?  What is the current situation (state) for the component, (e.g. for a habitat: its distribution, extent and condition) and how is this changing over time?  What are the key pressures affecting (impacting) the component? Current status of the component:  What is the current status of the component?

Uses and activities analysis An economic and social analysis of the uses of marine waters (a sector by sector report):  What are the characteristics of the activity?  What is the current distribution and intensity of the activity?  What are the economic and social benefits of the activity (e.g. employment, annual productivity)?  What are the key pressures arising from the activity? Or: report on ecosystem services or other approaches used Cost of degradation of the marine environment  Including costs of reducing the pressures and impacts that are needed to achieve GES.

Annex III, Table 1 Physical & Chemical Physical seabed Hydrology Chemistry Species Functional groups Habitats Predominant, Special Particular areas Ecosystems Other Chemicals Features Pressure State Pressure criteria & indicators Annex III, Table 2 PhysicalChemical/PollutionBiological Physical loss & damage Hydrological change Other physical: energy Other physical: litter Hazardous substances Nutrients, organic enrichment Pathogens Non- indigenous spp. Extraction of species; by-catch State criteria & indicators 1.1 Species distribution 1.2 Population size 1.3 Population condition 1.7 Ecosystem structure 4.1 Productivity 4.2 Proportion of species at top of food web 4.3 Abundance of key species/groups 8.1 Conc. of contaminants 8.2 Acute pollution 9.1 Levels, no. of contaminants 7.1 Spatial characteristics of permanent alterations 1.4 Habitat distribution 1.5 Habitat extent 1.6 Habitat condition 6.2 Condition of benthos

Annex III, Table 2 PhysicalChemical/PollutionBiological Physical loss & damage Hydrological change Other physical: energy Other physical: litter Contam- inants Nutrients, organic enrichment Pathogens Non- indigenous spp. Extraction of species; by-catch Annex III, Table 1 Physical & Chemical Physical seabed Hydrology Chemistry Species Functional groups Habitats Predominant, Special Particular areas Ecosystems Other Chemicals Features Pressure State Pressure criteria & indicators State criteria & indicators Impact criteria & indicators Report on state of component, including impacts Report on pressure, including impacts

MSFD and the UN Regular Process Some key areas of convergence  The ecosystem approach is central in the MSFD and in Part III of the UN Regular process outline  Descriptors 3,4,8 under MSFD are relevant to Part IV ( food security and food safety) of the UN Regular process outline  Assessments of impacts of activities under MSFD could feed in Part V of the UN Regular process outline  Broad/predominant habitat types are assessed under MSFD (Annex III, table 1) and the UN Regular process in a similar way  Throughout the MSFD, attention is given to economic and social factors, as in the UN Regular Process  Reflections on the costs of environmantal degradation can help contribute to Chapter 47

Some gaps and differences in approach  Geographical coverage  UN Regular Process – sector by sector (‘individual’ pressures and impacts)  MSFD – pressure by pressure (cumulative pressure across activities) Mutual synergies:  MSFD assessment available in time to feed in the UN Regular Process first report  UN Regular Process will have relevant information for the six year review under MSFD (in 2018) MSFD and the UN Regular Process

Summary MSFD requires a comprehensive assessment of Member State marine waters by July 2012 (report to EC by Oct. 2012)  Ecosystem state  Pressures and impacts  Uses and activities MS reports in ‘paper’ and electronic format Possibility to develop regional and EU level ‘aggregated reports’ on certain topics Coverage of reports equates well to UN RP needs Need to re-use information where possible

Relevance of MSFD Initial Assessment to UN Regular Process chapters Topics similarCan contribute

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