1. A Sea for Life The Marine Strategy Framework Directive
European Commission, DG Environment, Marine Unit
© iStockphoto

2. Evolution of EU law to protect all the seas
EU legislation progressively in force in many relevant areas:
fisheries, nature protection, urban waste water, nitrates, chemicals…
But it contribute to protect the sea from specific pressures - still sectorial and fragmented
Water Framework Directive (2000) – integrated, but not applicable beyond coastal waters
In 2002, the EP and the EU Council request the Commission to prepare a thematic “Marine Strategy” for the comprehensive protection of all the seas and oceans around Europe
Finally, the MSFD is adopted in July 2008.

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

4. The Regional Sea Conventions
The Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean
The Bucharest Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution  
The Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea
The OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

5. Achieve Good Environmental Status (GES)
Good Environmental Status is “the environmental status of marine waters where these provide ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy and productive” (MSFD, art. 3(5)).
In addition, GES means that:
The different uses made of the marine resources are conducted at a sustainable level, ensuring ecosystem services for present and future generations.
Ecosystems are fully functioning and resilient to human-induced environmental change;
The decline of biodiversity caused by human activities is prevented and biodiversity is protected;
Human activities introducing substances and energy into the marine environment do not cause pollution effects.

6. 11 qualitative descriptors
Descriptors for Good Environmental Status
Biodiversity is maintained
Non-indigenous species do not adversely alter the ecosystem
The population of commercial fish species is healthy
Elements of food webs ensure long term abundance and reproduction
Eutrophication is minimised
The sea floor integrity ensures functioning of the ecosystem
Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions does not adversely affect the ecosystem
Concentrations of contaminants give no effects
Contaminants in seafood are below safe levels
Marine litter does not cause harm
Introduction of energy (including underwater noise) does not adversely affect the ecosystem
For each of the descriptor, criteria for assessing progress towards GES,
as well as indicators related to them, are provided

7. Implementation Steps GES 2020 Main elements of a Marine Strategy:
Initial assessment of current environmental status of MS waters by 15 July 2012
Determination of GES by 15 July 2012
Establishment of environmental targets and associated indicators by 15 July 2012
Establishment of a monitoring programme for ongoing assessment and regular updating of targets by 15 July 2014
Development of a programme of measures designed to achieve or maintain GES by 2015
Main elements of a Marine Strategy:
Initial assessment, objectives, targets & indicators
2012
(+ 6 years)
Monitoring Programmes
2014
Programmes of Measures
2015
Implementation of the marine strategy
2016
Six year review of the different elements of the strategy
2018 – 2021
GES
2020

8. MSFD & Research
An improved scientific knowledge needs to be developed for assessing GES in coherent and holistic manner
For a number of indicators, present knowledge is limited and needs further development
To support the Ecosystem based approach to management
To improve the understanding of the cumulative impact of human activities on marine ecosystems
In particular through the EU Marine and Maritime Research Strategy coordinated by DG Research in the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy
MSFD is a long term endeavour based on understanding of both ecosystem and human uses – adapted to extended research policy cycles

9. MSFD as key driver for research
The EU research programme FP7 and the upcoming FP8 provide opportunities to initiate relevant marine research
The “Ocean of Tomorrow 2012” initiative is one of the actions undertaken in order to implement the European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research
Topics are under the umbrella of “Good Environmental Status” (9 topics, 42 € million)
Marine Directive and regional conventions are already central to a number of ERA-Nets (BONUS, SeasERA) and research projects
Marine Directive is one of the priority areas for concerted research in the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) on “Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans”

10. MSFD and the Integrated Maritime Policy
The MSFD is acknowledged as the environmental pillar of the IMP.
The recently agreed regulation establishing a Programme for the IMP includes the MSFD among the six strategic objectives of the IMP
MSFD will be for the long term a key driver for marine knowledge, marine data and marine research
The MSFD establishes an integrated approach to maritime activities needed for the IMP, in a legally binding and predictable framework
It will benefit the development of integrated maritime tools (e.g. maritime spatial planning, marine data)
For sustainable growth: it will define the limits or boundaries of sustainability of maritime activities and be a driver for eco-innovation.

11. MSFD and data: assessment
MSFD requires MS to carry out regular comprehensive assessments.
First is due in 2012, then every six years (2018, 2024).
The assessment include:
Assessment of environmental characteristics
Assessment of pressures and impacts
Economic and social assessment, including cost of degradation

12. MSFD and data: monitoring
MSFD requires MS to adjust monitoring programmes to their upgraded policy needs.
Monitoring programmes to be reviewed by 2014 and every six years thereafter.
Development of coordinated methodological standards.
MSFD applies to all European waters and seabed areas where EU MS exercise jurisdiction: huge scale (comparable to EU continental Europe).
Major reliance on marine research infrastructure, whether for coastal waters or offshore (including deep waters).

13. Contribution to global assessments
MSFD is also aiming to assist the Union and MS in fulfilling its international obligations.
This includes the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).
The regular assessments to be carried out under the Marine Directive will provide input to the regular assessments scheduled in the context of the United Nations regular process of global reporting and assessment of the marine environment.
The first cycle of the Global Integrated assessment of the Marine Environment including socioeconomic aspects, started in 2012 and is scheduled to end in 2014.
The UN regular process will build on the outcome of sets of large-scale regional workshops. One of these large-scale regions includes the North Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Seas, i.e. the 4 marine regions of MSFD.
The UN regular process is a key driver for cooperation with our Atlantic partners, including USA and Canada, including for marine assessment. This was one of the US-EU project on marine governance concluded in April 2011 (Calamar project).

14. Thank you for your attention !