MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (MSFD)

• STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION

• Summary of MSFD Requirements;• EU project management arrangements;• Descriptors of most relevance to the ports sector;• Summary of proposals contained in consultation documents;• Post consultation timescales.

Susan Cramer Planning and Environmental Policy Group

Department of the Environment

INTRODUCTION TO MSFDINTRODUCTION TO MSFD

•Sets out a common framework, based on co-Sets out a common framework, based on co-operation, between Member States to ensure operation, between Member States to ensure the sustainable use of marine goods and the sustainable use of marine goods and services by current and future generations;services by current and future generations;•Each Member State must achieve or maintain Each Member State must achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status in their marine Good Environmental Status in their marine environment by 2020;environment by 2020;•Strong focus on regional cooperation using Strong focus on regional cooperation using existing regional seas conventions like OSPAR existing regional seas conventions like OSPAR where appropriate; where appropriate; •UK waters are located in the NE Atlantic Ocean UK waters are located in the NE Atlantic Ocean marine region with the sub regions in the marine region with the sub regions in the Directive relevant to UK waters primarily the Directive relevant to UK waters primarily the Greater North Sea and the Celtic Seas.Greater North Sea and the Celtic Seas.

MSFD TimescalesMSFD Timescales

2008 2010 2012 2014 20202015 2016

Directive transposed

Initial assessment of UK seas

GES defined, including

targets and indicators

Monitoring programme established

Programme of Measures

implemented

GES achieved for UK seasCommission to

publish GES criteria &

methodological standards

Develop Programme of

Measures

EU MANAGEMENT APPROACHEU MANAGEMENT APPROACH

Commission will be assisted by a Committee as per Commission will be assisted by a Committee as per Article 25 Article 25

Marine Directors

Marine Strategic Co-ordination CommitteeMember States, Regional Seas Conventions and EU level stakeholders

GES Working GroupData, Information

& Knowledge ExchangeWorking Group

JRC / ICES / GES Task

Groups

Implications of MSFD for NI Implications of MSFD for NI Ports ?Ports ?• 4 descriptors of most relevance; 4 descriptors of most relevance; • Descriptor 2 : Non-indigenous species introduced Descriptor 2 : Non-indigenous species introduced

by human activities are at levels that do not by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystems. adversely alter the ecosystems.

• Descriptor 6 : Sea floor integrity is at a level that Descriptor 6 : Sea floor integrity is at a level that ensures that the structure and functions of the ensures that the structure and functions of the ecosystems are safeguarded and benthic ecosystems are safeguarded and benthic ecosystems, in particular, are not adversely ecosystems, in particular, are not adversely affected.affected.

• Descriptor 10 : Properties and quantities of Descriptor 10 : Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment. and marine environment.

• Descriptor 11 : Introduction of energy, including Descriptor 11 : Introduction of energy, including underwater noise, is at levels that do not underwater noise, is at levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment.adversely affect the marine environment.

TRANSPOSITION TRANSPOSITION Putting in place the legal Putting in place the legal

framework for implementationframework for implementation• Consultation 30Consultation 30thth October 2009-22 January 2010, responses October 2009-22 January 2010, responses

by email to by email to marineteam@doeni.gov.ukmarineteam@doeni.gov.uk;;

• The objective of the draft regulations is to establish a The objective of the draft regulations is to establish a coordinated framework which will deliver a coherent coordinated framework which will deliver a coherent strategy while respecting the UK’s devolution settlements;strategy while respecting the UK’s devolution settlements;

• The regulations contain provisions for collaborative working The regulations contain provisions for collaborative working and requirement for mutual consent between Secretary of and requirement for mutual consent between Secretary of State and Devolved Administrations on devolved and State and Devolved Administrations on devolved and retained matters in implementation;retained matters in implementation;

• Collaborative working and stakeholder involvement will Collaborative working and stakeholder involvement will underpin implementation in NI.underpin implementation in NI.

SUMMARY OF DRAFT SUMMARY OF DRAFT REGULATIONSREGULATIONS

• Sets out authorities competent for implementation-Competent Sets out authorities competent for implementation-Competent Authorities (CA) for NI inshore (DOE) and offshore area (SoS)Authorities (CA) for NI inshore (DOE) and offshore area (SoS)

• 3 levels of implementation3 levels of implementation• InternationalInternational - SoS responsible for leading and coordinating UK - SoS responsible for leading and coordinating UK

implementation, in particular for the initial assessment, implementation, in particular for the initial assessment, determination of GES and establishing environmental targets determination of GES and establishing environmental targets and indicators;and indicators;

• National National – CAs responsible for developing monitoring – CAs responsible for developing monitoring programme and POM;programme and POM;

• Local Local – DOE coordinating implementation in NI inshore area-– DOE coordinating implementation in NI inshore area-responsibility for the marine environment shared with DARD, responsibility for the marine environment shared with DARD, DRD, DETI, DCAL and FCILC-NI Executive approval will be DRD, DETI, DCAL and FCILC-NI Executive approval will be required;required;

• Stakeholder participation - through ongoing discussions and Stakeholder participation - through ongoing discussions and public consultation at initial assessment, determination of GES, public consultation at initial assessment, determination of GES, development of targets and indicators, development of development of targets and indicators, development of monitoring programmes and development of POM. monitoring programmes and development of POM.

TRANSPOSITION TIMESCALESTRANSPOSITION TIMESCALES

• To ensure a consistent and coherent approach is achieved there is To ensure a consistent and coherent approach is achieved there is a UK wide approach to transposition;a UK wide approach to transposition;

• NI is participating in a Defra led transposition projectNI is participating in a Defra led transposition project

22 January 2010

Feb 2009March –

April 2010June 2010 July 2010

Consultation closes

Prepare summary of Consultation

Amend SI and RIA and obtain Committee and

Executive approval

Regulations laid before

Parliament

Regulations made

MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE (MSFD)

CONCLUSION• MSFD should not be seen in isolation, implementation will be

supported by measures like:-

• existing EU directives like the Water Framework Directive, Habitats Directive, and the Common Fisheries Policy;

• UK Legislation – the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;

• Proposed NI Marine Bill;

• The transposition stage of the project will be complete by 15 July 2010 however we plan to work closely with stakeholders to implement the Directive and there will be further engagement and formal consultation at key stages as implementation unfolds……

Thank you for listening, do you have any questions ?