Marine Strategy Framework Directive
The new EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive will play a significant role in helping to achieve the UK’s vision for the marine environment: the delivery of clean healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.
This is particularly important for Northern Ireland where marine resources make a significant socio-economic contribution to the community and the coastline is a precious heritage. The Directive, which came into force on 15 July 2008, sets the overall goal of achieving Good Environmental Status (GES) for Europe’s seas by 2020.
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 target 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. |
The Directive does not propose what specific measures should be taken to achieve GES, except for a reference to the use of Marine Protected Areas. Instead, development of appropriate programmes of measures will be left to Member States. In the UK, the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 includes new powers and a range of specific measures to better protect and manage UK waters, and these will help achieve the aim of the Directive
A Northern Ireland Marine Bill will dovetail with the UK Act and will help deliver the Directive by encompassing marine planning, further streamlining of marine licensing and marine conservation (with the consent of the Secretary of State). It will establish a new framework for Northern Ireland’s seas which is based on sustainable development and a holistic and integrated approach to the management of activities in the marine area.
We will build on the existing experience gained through implementing the Water Framework, Habitats and other directives to ensure the targets of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive are met. Full implementation will require close working with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute and other departments/agencies with marine responsibilities.
More information, including details on how the Directive was transposed; the transposing Regulations, Regulatory Impact Assessment and responses to comments received during the consultation can be found on the DOE website
