Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Goals and Challenges

1. Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Goals and Challenges Johanna Karhu EU Marine and Fisheries Policy Officer Birdlife Europe

2. MSFD adopted in July 2008 • Transposed into national law • Aim: Take measures to maintain or achieve good environmental status (GES) by 2020: Protect, preserve, restore and prevent deterioration of the marine environment Prevent and reduce inputs in the marine environment, with a view to phasing out pollution Apply an ecosystem-based approach to managing human activities, and ensure collective pressures don’t compromise GES

3. Good Environmental Status “the environmental status of marine waters where these provide ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy and productive within their intrinsic conditions, and the use of the marine environment is at a level that is sustainable, thus safeguarding the potential for uses and activities by current and future generations” (Art 3[5]) ...by 2020 at the latest

4. First legislative instrument for marine biodiversity policy in EU • Member States have to develop Marine Strategies applying ecosystem approach to the management of human activities • Regional cooperation required at each stage • EC decision on criteria and methodological standards on GES

5. What does this translate to? • 11 EU Descriptors • 29 EU Criteria • Lots of subtargets and indicators 

6. 11 Descriptors • Descriptor 1: Biological diversity • Descriptor 2: Non-indigenous species • Descriptor 3: Population of commercial fish / shell fish • Descriptor 4: Elements of marine food webs • Descriptor 5: Eutrophication • Descriptor 6: Sea floor integrity • Descriptor 7: Alteration of hydrographical conditions • Descriptor 8: Contaminants • Descriptor 9: Contaminants in fish and seafood for human consumption • Descriptor 10: Marine litter • Descriptor 11: Introduction of energy, including underwater noise

7. Regional Seas Coordinating work regionally Working to deliver GES for Marine Regions A role for Regional Seas Conventions, e.g. HELCOM MS have to consider implications beyond their boundaries

8. MSFD Marine (Sub-)Regions

9. Determine GES for each region, targets and indicators Programme of measures designed GES is achieved Directive transposed July 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015 2016 2020 Agree GES descriptor criteria, etc Monitoring programme established; (& MPAs progress report) Programme of measures operational Initial assessment of national marine status

10. Developing Common Implementation Strategy

11. State of our Seas Initial assessment of the current state of the EU’s seas – due 15/10/2012 Monitoring Regular review – every 6 years

12. Spatial Tools MPAs are specifically mentioned MSs are to report on MPA implementation progress Marine planning is inferred, new Maritime Spatial Planning Directive just adopted by EC

13. Integration • Environmental concerns must be integrated into other relevant policies and legislative measures, e.g. the CFP and the Integrated Maritime Policy. • The Commission is required to ensure that fisheries measures (particularly the reform of the CFP) meet the requirements of GES.

14. Costs vs GES Action is not required where the costs would be disproportionate Caveats • taking account of the risks to the marine environment • provided that there is no further deterioration • Must also look at the costs of doing nothing or of allowing environmental degradation • Must justifylack of action to the European Commission

15. Where are we now? • Member States had to submit their Art. 8 Initial assessment, Art. 9 Determination of GES and Art. 10 Environmental targets & indicators by 15/10/2012 • Bulgaria, Ireland, Malta and Poland have not yet submitted their reports and Portugal, Slovenia and UK have only partially submitted http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/eu-coast-and-marine-policy/implementation/scoreboard_en.htm

16. Results of ESEC survey on NGO experiences • 31 NGO responses • Concerns: not enough financial resources, lack of awareness among NGOs and stakeholders, lack of concrete targets, MS relying on existing commitments to reach GES, • Main gaps in reports and knowledge: biodiversity and food web, non-commercial fish, energy/noise impacts, marine litter, contaminants etc..

17. Main concerns with reports: targets too generic, lack of data used for not setting clear targets, insufficient coordiantion between authorities, lack of precautionary approach • Public consultations in MS: 59% indicated that they were involved at the end of reporting process and 26% from the start of the process

18. Remaining challenges • Attaining necessary scientific knowledge for defining the state of marine environment • Financing • Integration of sectoral policies • Dissemination and communication on the marine environment • Enhanced stakeholder participation at all levels

19. What happens next? • The Commission has 6 months to review the MS initial assessments, determination of GES and setting targets and indicators • The work will focus on developing monitoring programmes for assessments by 15/07/2014 • Programme of measures to achieve/maintain GES 15/07/2015 • Entry into operation by 15/07/2016 • Only 4 years to achieve GES

20. Thank you – any questions?