Reviewing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

At the beginning of March, the European Commission published a review of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The evaluation assessed the achievements so far under the MSFD and identified gaps and potential for simplification.

Supporting the implementation of the MSFD has been a key project of our Marine Team at NatureBureau for the past 15 years. The team currently assist in the assessment of Member State reporting for Article 16, the Programme of Measures. Utilising a method developed by both the European Commission and Milieu Consulting, our team undertake the assessment of measures designed and reported by Member States to progress towards Good Environment Status (GES) for Descriptor 1 – Biodiversity, Descriptor 4 – Food webs, and Descriptor 6 – Seabed integrity. The assessment is then fed back to the Member States through the European Commission so that improvements can be made for the next round of reporting. As a result, our marine ecologists play an essential role in in the implementation of this European-wide directive, ensuring that Member States are implementing measures that will allow progress towards targets and GES.

The evaluation drew both positive and negative conclusions about the status of the MSFD and how it is implemented. The most evident downfall is that the MSFD has not achieved its goal of reaching GES in all EU marine waters and for all 11 descriptors by 2020. Failure to reach this goal is contributed to by four main factors, the complexity of the legislation, unclarity around key concepts and definitions, lack of alignment with other legislative frameworks, and weak governance and limited capacity in Member States. Other problems are identified within the report such as a lack of funding, leading to the European Commission concluding that the MSFD is not future proof as it stands. The Commission state that “the shortcomings negatively affect the Directive’s long-term viability and ability to meet targets”.

Despite this, positive conclusions were also made by the evaluation. The cost-benefit of the MSFD is positive, with GES predicted to bring in EUR 15.8 billion per year. Furthermore, the directive has encouraged both European-wide marine monitoring which has been described as a “globally unique achievement”, and an improvement in regional cooperation. The MSFD is described as showing clear added value for Europe and remains relevant. Whilst the over-arching goal of the MSFD has not be achieved in the assigned timeframe, the benefits of the Directive are clear from economic benefits to an improvement in marine monitoring and a decrease in fragmentation between countries.

It is encouraging to see that despite the recognised short fallings, the MSFD continues to provide a tool with which the European Seas can be monitored, protected and improved. The European Commission maintain that the Directive is relevant and useful, and as such we hope that they will be encouraged to undertake the changes necessary to ensure its longevity. NatureBureau are proud to play their part in the implementation of this important legislation, and subsequently their part in the protection of the beautiful European waters.

By Athena Allen, Marine Projects Manager