Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation

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Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation Marine Strategy Framework Directive consultation UK Initial Assessment and Proposals for Good Environmental Status March 2012 © Crown copyright 2012 You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or e-mail: [email protected] This consultation document has been published by Defra for HM Government and is also available on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/03/27/marine-strategy-framework-1203/ Contents Joint Ministerial Foreword ............................................................................................................ 4 Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... 9 Part 1: Explanation of the consultation ....................................................................................... 12 Part 1: Section 1 – Introduction ........................................................................................... 12 Part 1: Section 2 - Background to the MSFD ....................................................................... 14 Part 1: Section 3 - The European and Regional context ...................................................... 17 Part 1: Section 4 - What the consultation proposals cover and how they were developed .. 20 Part 1: Section 5 - Summary of the implications of the proposals ........................................ 28 Part 2: Section 1- Consultation Questions ................................................................................. 42 Part 2: Section 2 - UK Initial Assessment Cover Paper.............................................................. 44 2.1 Introduction and approach ............................................................................................. 44 2.2 Analysis of the economic and social of the use of UK seas and the predominant pressures .................................................................................................................. 48 2.3 Current and predicted status of UK seas ....................................................................... 62 2.4 Analysis of pressure descriptors and impacts ................................................................ 82 2.5 Analysis of the costs of degradation ............................................................................ 101 Part 2: Section 3 - Proposals for GES characteristics and targets and indicators .................... 113 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 113 3.2 Biodiversity - Descriptor 1 (biodiversity), Descriptor 4 (food webs), Descriptor 6 (sea- floor integrity) .......................................................................................................... 113 3.3 Descriptor 2 – Non-indigenous species ....................................................................... 124 3.4 Descriptor 3 – Commercially exploited fish and shellfish ............................................. 128 3.5 Descriptor 5 –Eutrophication ....................................................................................... 130 3.6 Descriptor 7 – Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions ............................... 133 3.7 Descriptor 8 – Concentrations of contaminants ........................................................... 135 3.8 Descriptor 9 – Contaminants in fish and other seafood ............................................... 137 3.9 Descriptor 10 – Marine litter ......................................................................................... 139 3.10 Descriptor 11 – Introduction of energy, including underwater noise .......................... 143 3 Joint Ministerial Foreword Our seas are an intrinsic part of our history, our way of life, and our economy, and people across the UK value them very highly. For our seas to continue to play this important role in our lives and livelihoods, a healthy marine environment is vital. The UK has one of the richest marine environments across Europe, home to a wide variety of marine species and habitats. We are only just beginning to understand the full extent of some of the services which our seas provide us with, such as their critical role in regulating our climate. Although we cannot see what goes on beneath their surface, our marine waters play a major role in all our lives. Over the last 100 years human activities in our waters have increased dramatically, both in their intensity and in the range of activities taking place. This has placed increasing pressures on the marine environment, including the impacts of fishing and pollution. We have long recognised the need to manage the impacts of the pressures caused by our activities and we have achieved some significant successes, particularly in controlling point sources of pollution and inputs of nutrients. However, we need to take more action particularly to reduce pressures on seafloor habitats and fish populations, which continue to be adversely affected by our activities. These issues were highlighted in recent reports on the state of the UK’s marine environment: Charting Progress (2005), Charting Progress 2 (2010), Scotland’s Marine Atlas (2011) and Northern Ireland State of the Seas Report (2011). The UK Government and Devolved Administrations have already accepted the findings of these assessments and we are committed to realising our vision of achieving clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas, which underpins the 2011 UK Marine Policy Statement. They are also recognised in Wales’ Sustainable Development for Welsh Seas (2011) and A Living Wales – a new framework for our environment, countryside and seas (2012) consultation documents. To realise our vision, we are already taking many measures to improve the state of our marine environment, as part of ensuring sustainable development. We are delivering the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009), the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and developing the proposed Northern Ireland Marine Bill, as well as seeking radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. We are also implementing EU legislation, such as the Water Framework Directive and the Birds and Habitats Directives, which are contributing to improving the state of the UK’s marine and coastal environment. However, we cannot achieve our goals for our marine environment in isolation. Our marine environment does not recognise national boundaries. Many of the most significant activities that impact on our seas, such as fisheries, are managed at a European or international level. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which requires all EU Member States to take measures to achieve Good Environmental Status in their seas by 2020, puts in place a framework to allow co-ordinated action across Europe to improve the marine environment. It gives us the wider tools we need to achieve clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas for the UK. This consultation is a major step in the implementation of the Directive. The targets and indicators proposed in the consultation reflect the ambitious agenda that the UK Government and Devolved Administrations are together already pursuing on the marine environment. The proposals have 4 been developed with help from stakeholders across the UK. We would like to thank everyone for their help so far and we welcome views from the wide range of people, businesses and other organisations with an interest in securing Good Environmental Status for our seas, both now and for the future. Richard Benyon Richard Lochhead Minister for Natural Environment Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Fisheries and the Environment HM Government Scotland John Griffiths Alex Attwood Minister for Environment and Minister of the Environment Sustainable Development Northern Ireland Wales 5 Summary Topic of this This consultation sets out proposals for the UK’s implementation of the consultation: EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The MSFD requires Member States to put in place measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020 through the development of national Marine Strategies. Scope of this This consultation covers the following three elements of the UK’s Marine consultation: Strategy: • A cover paper for the initial assessment of the state of the UK’s seas. • Proposals for characteristics of GES for the UK’s seas. • Proposals for more detailed targets and indicators of GES, through which we will measure progress towards achieving GES. This consultation does not cover the UK monitoring programmes for GES or the UK programmes of measures for achieving GES. Geographical The proposals apply to the marine waters over which the UK claims scope: jurisdiction, including territorial waters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Impact An impact assessment which looks at the costs and benefits associated Assessment: with the proposals had been prepared and accompanies this consultation. To: This consultation has particular relevance to: • Groups or individuals who use the sea for whatever purpose, or have an interest in it. •
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