Transcript Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation on Good

Marine Strategy Framework Directive
Consultation on Good Environmental Status
Background and Introduction
Anna Donald
Marine Planning and Strategy
Marine Scotland
What this presentation will cover
• Introduction to the Marine Strategy Framework
Directive
• Brief explanation of the links to other policies
• Introduction to the consultation
Aims of the Directive?
• Put in place measures to achieve Good
Environmental Status in Europe’s 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.
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
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 isn’t responsible;
– Natural conditions don’t 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.
Where does MSFD apply?
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
Pristine
Science
Ecosystem
State
GES =
Sustainabl
e Use
Society
Pressures
High
Destroyed
None
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
Celtic Seas
Greater North
Sea
The Black Sea
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)
Fit with other Directives
Marine
Strategy
Framework
Directive
Water
Framework
Directive
Habitats
Directive
Very Good
Good
----GES----
Good
Favourable
----GEcS----
----FCS----
Moderate
Inadequate
[Not good]
Poor
Very poor
Bad
Consultation exercise - coverage
• Initial assessment – Charting Progress 2 and Scotland’s
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
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.
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?
Consultation questions
• Impact assessment
– Are the illustrative measures a reasonable assessment of what is
required?
– Any other potential measures?
– Any more information on costs?
Consultation process
• Ends 18 June
• Further information at
http://www.defra.gov/environment/marine/msfd
• [email protected]
• [email protected]