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MSFD Objectives and Key Requirements

The Objective of the Directive is to enable the sustainable use of marine goods and services and to ensure the marine environment is safeguarded for the use of future generations.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive establishes a comprehensive structure within which Member States are required develop and implement cost effective measures, necessary to achieve or maintain “good environmental status” in the marine environment. Good Environmental Status must be achieved by the year 2020 at the latest.

The Directive establishes European Marine Regions and requires Member States to apply an ecosystem based approach to the management of human activities. It also requires co-operation between Member States and with non-EU countries who share a marine region to develop coordinated strategies.

The Directive sets out a number of key requirements and Member States must:

Deadline Action
By July 2010 Transpose the Directive
By July 2012 Undertake an initial assessment of marine waters;
  Determine a set of characteristics of and comprehensive targets and indicators to guide progress to Good Environmental Status.
By July 2014 Establish and implement a co-ordinated monitoring programme for the on-going assessment of Good Environmental Status.
By December 2015 Develop a programme of cost effective measures to achieve Good Environmental Status.
By December 2016 Implement the programme of measures.

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Further Information
Quicklinks

NIEA Water Management Opens in a new window.

NI Coastal Marine ForumOpens in a new window.

Defra - Marine Environment PagesOpens in a new window.