1. 1

2. Approach to reporting for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
MSFD Working Group on Good Environmental Status
27-28 September 2011, Brussels
David Connor DG Environment, Marine Environment Unit 2

3. Outline Reporting requirements and format
Reporting as part of a management cycle
Main uses of the reported information and data
Overall approach
2012 needs
Scales and quality elements
Article 8
Article 9
Article 10
Expectations for 2012 reporting

4. MSFD – key reports to 2016 Main MS reports: Article Main tasks to 2016
Report due
Art. 8
Initial Assessment
Environmental characteristics
Pressures and impacts
Socio-economic analysis and costs of degradation
Oct 2012
Art. 9
Determine characteristics for GES
Art. 10
Establish environmental targets and associated indicators
Art. 11
Establish and implement monitoring programmes
Oct 2014
Art. 13
Develop a programme of measures
Mar 2016 latest
Linked Commission reports:
Article
Main tasks to 2016
Report due
Art. 12
Assessment of MS reports on Articles 8, 9 and 10
+ 6 months
Art. 16
Assessment of MS reports on Article 13

5. Reporting formats Article 19 (3)
Access and use rights to information & data for initial assessment and monitoring programmes (to EC, EEA)
INSPIRE compliant
Article 24 (2b)
Technical formats for transmission & processing of data, including statistical and cartographic data
Preferred approach
Voluntary agreement on Reporting Sheets via WG DIKE and Marine Directors
Potential use of EMODnet for some data

6. Reporting and management cycle
From draft Common Understanding of (Initial) Assessment, Determination of Good Environmental Status (GES) & Establishment of Environmental Targets (Articles 8, 9 & 10 MSFD) (Aug. 2011) – report for WG GES

7. Reporting and DPSIR framework
DPSIR element
Drivers
Pressures
State
Impacts
GES & targets
Responses
Description
Analysis of uses of marine environment (economic and social)
Analysis of pressures on marine environment from human activities
Assessment of impacts from pressures
Assessment of current state of marine environment (ecosystem structure and functioning)
Take account of impacts from pressures
Assessment of costs of degradation, based on impacts on environment and to human welfare (ecosystem goods and services)
Define good environmental status (GES)
Assess gap between current state and GES
Define targets to achieve or maintain GES
Development of programme of measures to deliver targets
Links to MSFD Articles
Art. 8(1c)
Art. 8(1b)
Art. 8(1a)
Art. 9
Art. 10
Art. 13
Links (to be made explicit in the reporting sheets)
Identify the main pressures from each activity
Link pressures to main activities
Identify main ecosystem components being impacted
Identify main pressures and impacts – link to main pressures
Link to Reporting sheets
Economic and social reporting sheets
Pressures and impacts reporting sheets
Characteristics reporting sheets
Costs of degradation reported in Economic and social reporting sheets
GES reported in GES reporting sheets
Targets reported in Targets reporting sheets
Programmes of measures reporting to be developed for 2015 reporting
This cycle is informed by monitoring programmes (Art. 14)

8. Uses for the reported information and data
Level
Application
Member State
To provide an overview of implementation, particularly for national policy and management purposes. Particularly relevant for larger countries where delivery is through regional administrations or via a range of government agencies.
To provide information on neighbouring States to support coordination and implementation.
Regional organisations (e.g. Regional Sea Conventions)
To provide data and information which contribute to the assessment and management at regional scales
European Environment Agency
To provide data and information for periodic assessments of the state of Europe’s marine environment, including a European contribution to global assessments (e.g. UN Regular Process)
European Commission
To enable compliance checking, at national level and in relation to regional delivery requirements.
To provide evidence on the state of the marine environment, on the main pressures affecting it, and on the establishment and implementation of measures and policies for its protection. These will help inform policy, management, and research needs, particularly at European level.
Public
To provide data and information on the state of Europe’s marine environment and on the implementation of policies for its protection.

9. Approach to reporting
Address 2012 needs as priority
Within framework which can accommodate future needs (e.g. Art 11, 13)
Base reporting clearly on requirements of the Directive
Informed by the Decision (criteria/indicators) and the CSWP (links Annex I and Annex III)
Seek most important information for Commission assessment (Art. 12)
High-level summary information on nature, distribution & extent of pressures and impacts
High-level summary information on current state of ecosystem components, main pressures and current status
Supporting information (e.g. metadata on methods) and data (e.g. GIS layers)
Core information on determination of GES (Art. 9) and targets (Art. 10)
Details of regional cooperation (Art. 5, 6)
Demonstrate adequacy of MS assessment and level of consistency across region/subregion
Identify important information needed to inform monitoring and measures

10. Quality elements assessed Scale of assessment Criteria and indicators
Reporting framework
Following elements should form basis of assessments
Quality elements assessed
Scale of assessment
Criteria and indicators
Threshold values
Baseline/reference point used

11. Quality elements/topics for assessment
Follow Annex III structure
For Table 2 Pressures and Impacts:
Based closely on elements in Table
Level of aggregation for nutrient and contaminant reporting
Minor adjustments
For Table 1 Characteristics:
Adjustments (as CSWP)
Non-indigenous species, nutrients, chemicals addressed as pressures
Predominant habitat types and functional groups
Follow TG1 recommendations, with modification from RSC reflections (CSWP)
For economic and social analysis
Follow sector by sector approach
List from CSWP (based on WG-ESA, WFD, RSC, UN lists)

12. predominant habitats
First predictive habitat mapping of EU waters using consistent classification
Direct application for Marine Framework Strategy Directive
Western Mediterranean
Baltic Sea 12

13. Assessment scales Region Subregion Subdivision
Three-tier scale in Directive:
Region
Subregion
Subdivision
Reporting is a MS responsibility
GES is to be assessed at level of region or subregion
Strong Regional/subregional focus for delivery of Directive
Initial Assessment scale is not restricted to MS waters
Essential for 2012 reporting :
Area of MS marine waters
Boundaries for regions, subregions (+subdivisions)
Areas used for each assessment

14. List of GES descriptors
Criteria
Reports on current status of ecosystem components from initial assessment
Reports on current status of pressures & impacts from initial assessment
List of GES descriptors
D1, D2, …… D10, D11
GES
Descriptor ...
Descriptor 10
Descriptor 11
Descriptor1
Descriptor 2
Reports on GES for:
Criterion 1.1
Criterion 1.2
Criterion 2.1
Criterion ...1
Criterion 10.1
Criterion 11.1
Criterion 10.2
Other
Target A
Target B
Target C
Target Y
Target Z
Target ..
Reports on Targets and associated indicators
Targets may be linked to Descriptors, Criteria or ‘Other’
Reporting on the characteristics of GES (Art 9) and the setting of targets and associated indicators (Art 10) can be seen as separate but related tasks, which in turn link to the initial assessment (Art 8). The IA should provide an assessment of the current status of a component or pressure, preferably according to the criteria used to define GES (the desired status) from the Commission Decision; targets should then be defined to bridge the gap between current and desired status and again are likely to be associated to the criteria for assessment of status. 19

15. Key information: GES & targets
Qualitative expression at:
Descriptor level and/or
Criterion level and/or
Indicator level
Quantitative expression, where possible (threshold, proportion of assessment area) – BUT can be reflected in Targets
Specify assessment scale, quality elements, baseline
Targets
Link to GES descriptors, criteria & indicators (one/multiple)
Type of target, timescale, existing or new
General questions (Annex VI) separate

16. Expectations for 2012 reporting
Starting point of longer term process
Will not be fully developed, need to revise future reporting
Balance of structure and flexibility
Structure to address Commission needs
Flexibility to accommodate MS needs
Expect incomplete reporting:
Elements where information is poor (e.g. underwater noise)
Aspects where assessment methods are poorly developed (e.g. status of certain pressures/impacts)
Highest priority aspects
Indicates where Commission expects to focus its assessment (for Art. 12)
Need for consistency of information reported
Not all relevant to every MS; allow for justification if not supplied
Supporting data
Important for EEA and public dissemination
Need to agree which data sets

17. Thank you for your attention !