Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation on Good Environmental Status Background and Introduction

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Marine Strategy Framework DirectiveConsultation
on Good Environmental Status Background and
Introduction

• Anna Donald
• Marine Planning and Strategy
• Marine Scotland

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What this presentation will cover

• Introduction to the Marine Strategy Framework
  Directive
• Brief explanation of the links to other policies
• Introduction to the consultation

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Aims of the Directive?

• Put in place measures to achieve Good
  Environmental Status in Europes seas by 2020
• Ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas
  which are clean, healthy and productive within
  their intrinsic conditions.
• Use of the marine environment is sustainable -
  safeguarding the potential for uses and
  activities by current and future generations
• protect and preserve the marine environment,
  prevent its deterioration or, where practicable,
  restore marine ecosystems
• prevent and reduce inputs in the marine
  environment, with a view to phasing out pollution
• apply an ecosystem-based approach
• determined at the level of the marine region or
  subregion.

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Timeline

• 2010 Transposition into UK legislation
  Scottish Ministers as competent authority for
  Scottish waters
• 2012 Initial assessment determination of GES
  targets and indicators
• 2014 Monitoring programme
• 2015 Devise programme of measures
• 2016 Implement programme of measures
• 2018 Review process
• 2020 Measures in place to achieve or maintain GES

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Exceptions

• There are some legitimate reasons why GES might
  not be achieved by 2020
• Modifications of marine waters for reasons of
  overriding public interest
• Action or inaction for which a Member State isnt
  responsible
• Natural conditions dont allow GES to be achieved
  by 2020.
• Not required to take measures to achieve GES if
  the cost of doing so is disproportionate taking
  into account risks to marine environment.

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Where does MSFD apply?
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Descriptors of GES (Annex 1 of MSFD)
No. Descriptor
1 Biological diversity maintained
2 Non-indigenous species
3 Commercial fish shellfish
4 Food-webs
5 Eutrophication
6 Sea-floor integrity
7 Hydrography
8 Contaminants
9 Contaminants in seafood
10 Litter
11 Energy, incl. underwater noise
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Pristine
GES Sustainable Use
Science
Society
Ecosystem State
Destroyed
None
High
Pressures
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Regional co-operation (within OSPAR for UK)
Member States sharing a marine region must
co-operate to ensure a coherent and coordinated
approach to implementation
MARINE REGIONS
The Baltic Sea
The North East Atlantic Ocean
The Mediterranean Sea
The Black Sea
Celtic Seas
Greater North Sea
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Regional co-ordination to date
STRONG COORDINATION POTENTIAL FOR STRONG FUTURE COORDINATION LESS PROGRESS ON COORDINATION
Commercial fish and shellfish (Descriptor 3) Biodiversity (Descriptor 1) Changes to hydrographical conditions (Descriptor 7)
Minimising eutrophication (Descriptor 5) Impacts of non-indigenous species (Descriptor 2) Food webs (Descriptor 4)
Effects of contaminants (Descriptor 8) Sea-floor integrity (Descriptor 4)
Contaminants in seafood (Descriptor 9) Marine litter (Descriptor 10)
Underwater noise (Descriptor 11)
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Fit with other Directives
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Water Framework Directive
HabitatsDirective
Good
----GES----
----FCS----
Not good
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Consultation exercise - coverage

• Initial assessment Charting Progress 2 and
  Scotlands Marine Atlas
• Characteristics of GES high level and
  qualitative
• GES targets and indicators more detailed,
  quantitative. Bound by criteria and indicators
  set by European Commission.
• Potential implications additional to existing
  work
• Impact assessment costs and benefits
• Business as Usual report as baseline
• Cost Benefit Analysis Report options for
  targets and indicators

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Principles for target setting

• Sufficient to achieve or maintain GES
• Quantitative wherever possible, qualitative where
  not
• Include state, pressure, impact or operational
  targets
• Measurable
• Link through to management measures wherever
  possible
• Based as far as possible on existing
  targets/monitoring
• Appropriate scale
• Due consideration to socio-economics
• Timescales
• Regard to the precautionary principle.

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Consultation questions

• Initial assessment
• Overall conclusions an accurate summary?
• Any new evidence?
• GES characteristics
• Consistent with Directive, Commission decision,
  evidence base?
• Consistent with other policies and commitments?
• GES targets
• Sufficient to guide progress towards GES?
• Feasible in terms of management measures?
• Consistent with other policies and commitments?
• Feasible in terms of cost effective monitoring?
• Proposals for filling gaps?

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Consultation questions

• Impact assessment
• Are the illustrative measures a reasonable
  assessment of what is required?
• Any other potential measures?
• Any more information on costs?

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Consultation process

• Ends 18 June
• Further information at http//www.defra.gov/enviro
  nment/marine/msfd
• MSFDTeam_at_defra.gsi.gov.uk
• anna.donald_at_scotland.gsi.gov.uk