You are here:

Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Kelp forest found mainly along west coast of UK in shallow rocky waters (photo credit is JNCC (Sue Scott))The European Commission’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive aims to achieve Good Environmental Status in Europe’s seas by 2020.  Many of the threats facing Europe’s seas require cooperation between member states to tackle them effectively.

This Directive fits well with the Government’s vision for ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse seas’, and Defra will be working with stakeholders during 2009 and beyond to find the best way of achieving the Directive’s outcomes within the Government’s broader vision as set out in our High Level Marine Objectives.

Public Consultation

Defra and the Devolved Administrations are keen to hear your views in a UK-wide public consultation on the transposition of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

What does the Directive require?

The Directive came into force on 15 July 2008.  Key requirements of the Directive are:

  • An assessment of the current state of UK seas by July 2012
  • A detailed description of what Good Environmental Status means for UK waters, and associated targets and indicators by July 2012
  • Establishment of a monitoring programme to measure progress toward Good Environmental Status by July 2014
  • Establishment of a programme of measures for achieving Good Environmental Status by 2016

Defra initial focus is the transposition of this Directive, ie putting it into national law, and it has also begun exploring how the Directive will be implemented.

What is Good Environmental Status?

The Directive sets out eleven high level descriptors of Good Environmental Status (PDF 12 KB).  These include:

  • Making sure populations of fish and shellfish are within safe biological limits
  • Maintaining the biological diversity of marine habitats and species
  • Limiting contaminants to the marine environment to levels which do not cause pollution.

The UK will establish exactly what Good Environmental Status means for our seas, working closely with the European Commission and other countries in Europe.  We will work with other countries in our marine region to develop targets and indicators to make sure we achieve it. 

How do I find out more about the Directive?

You can read Defra’s Introduction to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (PDF 372 KB) or the Directive (2008/56/EC) itself. For the latest news please read our newsletter (PDF 2.6MB).

See also FAQs about the Directive (PDF 23 KB). 

If you have further questions, please contact Defra at MSFDTeam@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Page last modified: 18 November 2009
Page published: 30 October 2008