EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY Thematic Strategy for the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment Demetrio de Armas IEO-Spain

EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY This Strategy is one of seven being elaborated in the framework of the Community’s 6 th Environment Action Programme ( ). These Thematic Strategies were conceived as a new way of approaching environment policy, looking at themes in a holistic way and emphasising integration of environment in other policies and programmes as the main route to achieving environmental aims  Recognised need of integrated approaches to promote sustainable use of the seas and conserve the marine ecosystems. (2002) Communication “Towards a Marine Strategy to protect and conserve the marine environment” (2003) Council Conclusions endorsed the approach and requested a proposal of the Marine Strategy by 2005

EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY Adopted by the Commission on 24 October 2005 Three documents :   Communication – COM(2005)504   Marine Strategy Directive COM(2005)505   Impact Assessment - SEC(2005)1290

EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY Why a Marine Strategy?   Importance of Europe’s marine waters. Perform a number of key environmental functions (regulate climate, prevent erosion, accumulate and distribute solar energy, absorb carbon dioxide and maintain biological control).   Increasing pressures on the Marine Environment (oil and gas industries, dredging and extraction of sand and gravel, shipping, commercial fisheries, tourism and land-based activities as agriculture and industry)   Impacts of climate change   Marine ecosystems are under severe threat (biodiversity, habitats, contaminants)   Need for an integrated approach that take into account all pressures and impacts on the marine environment

Common vision Protect our seas and oceans and ensure that human activities are carried out in a sustainable manner Broad consensus: “we and future generations can enjoy and benefit from biologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas that are safe, clean, healthy and productive” EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY

Approach Common principles for problems shared by the different regions A regionalised approach based on Marine Regions to capture specific problems

EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY Objective Translating the vision into a legal objective: Achieve good environmental status of the EU’s marine waters by 2021 No definition at EU level but generic descriptors will be developed Definition will have to emerge from the work at regional level The Commission will approve definitions

EUROPEAN MARINE STRATEGY Marine Regions as implementation units North East Atlantic Baltic Sea Mediterranean Sea (Black Sea post-2007) Subregions also identified

EUROPEAN MARINE DIRECTIVE Scope   Framework needed to achieve sustainable development of marine areas.   No concrete management measures at EU level as the strategy will have to be made operational and implemented at regional level.   Cooperation and coordination – role of regional seas conventions & the need to bring in third countries

MARINE STRATEGY DIRECTIVE Implementation milestones Marine Strategies to be progressively developed and implemented based on the following steps:   Description and assessment of current environmental status including the environmental impact of human activities – 4 years after entry into force   Determination of good environmental status – 4 years after entry into force   Establishment of environmental targets – 5 years after entry into force   Monitoring programme – 6 years after entry into force   Programme of measures towards good environmental status – by 2016   Entry into operation of programmes of measures – by 2018 Strategies to be devised building upon existing programmes and activities developed in the framework of international agreements, e.g. regional seas conventions + Iterative approach – adaptive management – regular reviews

MARINE STRATEGY DIRECTIVE Substance   Vision – « an Europe with a dynamic economy in harmony with the marine environment »   Marine Strategy – will deliver the environmental pillar of the future EU Maritime Policy (Strategic Objective of the Commission for )

MARINE STRATEGY DIRECTIVE   Way forward   Institutional negotiations (Council and Parliament) – –European Social and Economic Committee – –Committee of the Regions   Green Paper – regulation of uses of oceans and seas   Funding mechanisms   Continuation of stakeholder process   Intensification of cooperation with Regional Seas Conventions, International Agencies and Third Countries   Next EU Presidency

MARINE STRATEGY DIRECTIVE OUR CONCERN Physical and chemical features.  bathymetric features;  annual and seasonal temperature regime;  predominant currents and estimated recycling/replacement times;  salinity including trends and gradients across the region. Habitat types  The predominant habitat type(s) with a description of the characteristic physical and chemical features-depth, temperature regime, currents, salinity, structure and substrate of the bed;  Identification and mapping of special habitat types especially those recognised or identified under EU legislation (Habitats and Birds directives) or international conventions as being of special scientific or biodiversity interest;  Other special areas which by virtue of their characteristics, location, or strategic importance merit a particular reference. This may include areas subject to intense or specific pressures or areas which merit a specific protection regime.

MARINE STRATEGY DIRECTIVE Biological Elements - description of the biological communities associated with the predominant habitats.  Typical phytoplankton and zooplankton communities including, seasonal and geographical variability  Estimates of primary and secondary productivity.  Information on the invertebrate bottom fauna including species composition, biomass, productivity and annual/seasonal variability  Information on the structure of fish populations including the abundance, distribution and age/size structure of the populations.  Description of the population dynamics, natural and actual range and status of all species of marine mammal, seabirds and all other species occurring in the region/sub-region. For species covered by EU legislation (habitats directive) or international agreements, a description of the main threats and protection/management measures in place should also be provided;  Inventory of the occurrence, abundance and distribution of non-indigenous, exotic species which are present in the region/sub-region.

MARINE STRATEGY DIRECTIVE Other Features –  Nutrient enrichment-inputs, nutrient cycling (currents and sediment/water interactions), spatial distribution, consequences;  Chemical pollutants(water, sediments and biota, hot spots, health issues (contamination of fish flesh);  Any other features, characteristics typical/peculiar to the region/sub- region ( e.g. dumped munitions)

MARINE STRATEGY DIRECTIVE More information:    