Transcript - About Regular Process

Marine Strategy Framework Directive:
the initial assessment and its links to
the UN Regular Process
UN Regular Process
Workshop for the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, under
the auspices of the United Nations, in support of the Regular Process for global reporting and
assessment of the marine environment, including socio-economic aspects
27-29 June 2012
Brussels
David Connor
DG Environment, Marine Environment Unit
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008)
EU’s legal instrument for the protection of our seas
 Overall objective: achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) of
all EU marine waters by 2020.
 Adoption of an ecosystem-based and
integrated
approach
to
the
management of all human activities
which have an impact on the marine
environment.
 Regional approach to implementation,
through establishment of Marine
Regions and Sub-regions
Overarching Goal:
Achieve GES of EU’s Marine Waters by 2020
Protected
Ecosystems
Sustainable
Uses
Common
Approaches
Clean,
healthy,
productive
seas
of Europe’s
marine
resources
Cooperation
at the EU and
regional level
High-level aspiration - MSFD GES overview
 Definition (Art. 3.5)

Ecologically diverse and dynamic seas which are clean, healthy and
productive

Use is at a sustainable level

Fully functioning and resilient ecosystem

Biodiversity decline is prevented, biodiversity is in balance and
protected

Hydro-morphological, physical and chemical state support above

No pollution effects
What is GES? – Annex I Descriptors
No.
Topic
1
Biological diversity
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
Geographic scope of MSFD
MSFD
WFD
MSFD
Marine waters:
1nm
Inc. EEZs
Continental Shelf areas
Coastal waters (of WFD)
Modified from MRAG (2012)
For marine:
Transitional Waters
Coastal Waters (to 1nm)
Source: Prescott & Schofield (2005)
Regional approach/coordination
MSFD regions
and
subregions
40°N
Celtic Seas
Macaronesia
Baltic Sea
Greater
North Sea
Bay of Biscay and
the Iberian Coast
Black Sea
30°N
Adriatic Sea
Western Mediterranean Sea
Aegean-Levantine Sea
Ionian Sea and the
Central Mediterranean Sea
Macaronesia
20°N
Draft map
8 June 2012
30°W
20°W
10°W
0°
10°E
20°E
Light shading are areas of non-MS waters within a region/sub-region
Blue lines are Continental Shelf areas (seabed only) (for IE, PT, UK)
White lines are MSFD sub-divisions (for ES)
•
•
•
GES is determined at Region or Subregion level (Art. 3.5)
Coherent, coordinated and common approaches (Art. 5.2)
Achieved through Regional Sea Conventions (Art. 6) & CIS
30°E
Implementation Steps
IA, targets &
indicators
2012
(+ 6 years)
Six-year review
2018 – 2021
Main steps of a
Marine Strategy:
• Initial assessment (IA) of
current environmental status of
MS waters
• Determination of GES
Implementation
Monitoring
Programmes
2016
2014
Programmes of
Measures
2015
• Establishment of environmental
targets and associated
indicators
• Monitoring programme for
ongoing assessment and regular
updating of targets
• Programme of measures to
achieve or maintain GES
• Review of the different steps
Initial assessment
 Article 8 – initial assessment of MS marine waters, due
2012, updated 2018:
 Characteristics and status of MS marine
waters, based on Annex III, Table 1
 Analysis of pressures and impacts, based
on Annex III, Table 2
 An economic & social analysis, and cost of
degradation
Annex III, Table 1
Characteristics of marine waters (1)
Features
Topics
Topography, bathymetry of seabed
Temperature regime
Ice cover
Current velocity
Upwelling
Physical and chemical
features
Wave exposure
Mixing characteristics
Turbidity
Residence time
Salinity
Nutrients & oxygen
pH, pCO2
Annex III, Table 1
Characteristics of marine waters (2)
Features
Habitat types
Topics
Predominant seabed & water column habitats
Special habitat types
Biological communities of predominant habitats
Fish
Mammals and reptiles
Biological features
Seabirds
Species protected by Directives & Conventions
Non-indigenous & genetically-modified species
Other features
Chemicals of concern
Other features/characteristics
Annex III, Table 2
Pressures and impacts
Pressure themes
Physical loss
Physical damage
Other physical disturbance
Pressures
Smothering, sealing
Siltation, abrasion, extraction
Noise
Litter
Interference with hydrological
processes
Thermal regime changes
Salinity regime changes
Contamination by hazardous
substances
Synthetic compounds
Non-synthetic compounds
Radio-nuclides
Systematic or intentional release
of substances
Nutrient & organic enrichment
Biological disturbance
e.g. CO2 storage, produced water
Inputs of N & P-rich substances
Inputs of organic matter
Microbial pathogens
Non-indigenous species
Extraction of species (incl. by-catch)
Art. 8.1c - Marine uses and activities
Theme
Use/activity
Energy production
Renewable energy generation (wind, wave & tidal power)
Hydrocarbon extraction (oil & gas)
Extraction of living resources
Fisheries incl. recreational fishing (fish & shellfish)
Seaweed and other sea-based food harvesting
Extraction of genetic resources/bioprospecting/maerl
Extraction of non-living resources
Marine mining (sand, gravel, rock)
Dredging
Desalination/water abstraction
Food production
Aquaculture (fin-fish & shellfish)
Land-based activities/industries
Industry (discharges, emissions)
Agriculture & forestry (run-off, emissions)
Urban (municipal waste water discharge)
Man-made structures (incl. construction
phase)
Land claim, coastal defence
Port operations
Placement & operation of offshore structures
Submarine cable & pipeline operations
Military
Defence operations
Dumping of unwanted munitions
Recreation
Tourism & recreation incl. yachting
Research and survey
Marine research, survey & educational activities
Transport
Shipping
Waste disposal
Solid waste disposal incl. dredge material
Storage of gasses
GES and targets
 Article 9 – Determination of GES:

11 ‘descriptors’ of GES (Annex I)

Each descriptor has criteria and indicators (2010 COM
Decision)
 Article 10 – Targets to achieve GES:

State, impact, pressure or operational

Associated indicators
Activity
Activity A
Oil & gas
Pressure Y
Contamination
Activity C
Shipping
Activity D
Fishing
Component A
Cetaceans
Pressure X
Underwater noise
Pressure Z
Habitat disturbance
Measures Focus on pressures –
where, how much, how
frequent?
Economic &
Assessment of
social analysis
pressures
Art 8.1c
Art 8.1b Table 2
IMPACTS
Activity B
Sand &
gravel
extraction
State
Pressure
Component B
Fish
Component C
Seabirds
Component D
Pelagic habitat
Component E
Seabed habitat
Assessment of state
Art 8.1a
Table 1
Characteristics reporting sheets
Reports on:
Component A
Component B
Component C
Component D
Component E
List of ecosystem components:
Pressures &
Impacts
reporting sheets
Socio-economic
reporting
sheets
Physical/chemical
Species/functional groups
Habitats
Ecosystem functions
Reports on:
Pressure A
Reports on:
Activity A
Initial
Assessment
Pressure B
Activity B
List of pressures:
Pressure C
Physical
Hydrological
Chemical
Biological
List of human activities:
Pressures
Sea-based
Land-based
Activity C
Pressure D
Activity D
Pressure E
Activity E
Pressures and impacts analysis

Analysis of the pressure:




What are the characteristics of the pressure?
What are the sources of the pressure (i.e. the human activities)?
What is the level of pressure arising from the human activities
(the 'input level') and/or found in the environment (the 'output
level')?
Analysis of impacts:

What are the impacts of the pressure on the environment?
Distinguish impacts on:




water column habitats
seabed habitats
functional groups (of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles)
Assessment of the pressure and its impacts:


Is the current level of the pressure acceptable?
Is the current level of the impacts acceptable?
Ecosystem characteristics analysis
 Characterisation of the component:

What are the characteristics of the component?

What is the current situation (state) for the
component, (e.g. for a habitat: its distribution, extent
and condition) and how is this changing over time?

What are the key pressures affecting (impacting) the
component?
 Current status of the component:

What is the current status of the component?
Uses and activities analysis
 An economic and social analysis of the uses of marine waters (a sector by
sector report):




What are the characteristics of the activity?
What is the current distribution and intensity of the
activity?
What are the economic and social benefits of the
activity (e.g. employment, annual productivity)?
What are the key pressures arising from the activity?
 Or: report on ecosystem services or other approaches used
 Cost of degradation of the marine environment

Including costs of reducing the pressures and impacts
that are needed to achieve GES.
Physical
Annex III,
Table 2
Physical loss Hydrological
& damage
change
Chemical/Pollution
Other
physical:
energy
Other
physical:
litter
Hazardous
substances
Biological
Nutrients,
organic
enrichment
Pathogens
NonExtraction
indigenous of species;
spp.
by-catch
Pressure
Annex III, Table 1
Pressure criteria & indicators
State
Physical
Chemistry
Species
Species
Habitats
Functional
groups
Predominant,
Special
Particular
areas
Ecosystems
Other
Chemicals
Features
State criteria & indicators
Physical seabed
&
Chemical Hydrology
1.1 Species distribution
8.1 Conc. of
contaminants
1.2 Population size
8.2 Acute pollution
1.3 Population condition
9.1 Levels, no. of
contaminants
1.4 Habitat distribution
1.5 Habitat extent
1.6 Habitat condition
6.2 Condition of benthos
7.1 Spatial characteristics of
permanent alterations
1.7 Ecosystem structure
4.1 Productivity
4.2 Proportion of species at top of food web
4.3 Abundance of key species/groups
Physical
Annex III,
Table 2
Physical loss Hydrological
& damage
change
Chemical/Pollution
Other
physical:
energy
Other
physical:
litter
Contaminants
Nutrients,
organic
enrichment
Biological
Pathogens
NonExtraction
indigenous of species;
spp.
by-catch
Pressure
State
Physical
Chemistry
Species
Species
Habitats
Functional
groups
Predominant,
Special
Particular
areas
Ecosystems
Other
Chemicals
Features
State criteria & indicators
Physical seabed
&
Chemical Hydrology
Report on pressure, including impacts
Annex III, Table 1
Pressure criteria & indicators
Report on state of component, including impacts
Impact criteria & indicators
MSFD and the UN Regular Process
 Some key areas of convergence

The ecosystem approach is central in the MSFD and in Part III of the UN
Regular process outline

Descriptors 3,4,8 under MSFD are relevant to Part IV ( food security
and food safety) of the UN Regular process outline

Assessments of impacts of activities under MSFD could feed in Part V of
the UN Regular process outline

Broad/predominant habitat types are assessed under MSFD (Annex III ,
table 1) and the UN Regular process in a similar way

Throughout the MSFD, attention is given to economic and social
factors, as in the UN Regular Process

Reflections on the costs of environmantal degradation can help
contribute to Chapter 47
MSFD and the UN Regular Process
 Some gaps and differences in approach

Geographical coverage

UN Regular Process – sector by sector (‘individual’ pressures
and impacts)

MSFD – pressure by pressure (cumulative pressure across
activities)
 Mutual synergies:

MSFD assessment available in time to feed in the UN Regular
Process first report

UN Regular Process will have relevant information for the six
year review under MSFD (in 2018)
Summary
 MSFD requires a comprehensive assessment of Member
State marine waters by July 2012 (report to EC by Oct.
2012)
 Ecosystem state
 Pressures and impacts
 Uses and activities
 MS reports in ‘paper’ and electronic format
 Possibility to develop regional and EU level ‘aggregated
reports’ on certain topics
 Coverage of reports equates well to UN RP needs
 Need to re-use information where possible
Relevance of MSFD Initial Assessment to UN
Regular Process chapters
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47
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