Embargoed: 12 noon, 27 November, 2015
Press Release
Kelly Announces Marine Measures Public Consultation Process
Mr Alan Kelly T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, today (27
November, 2015) welcomed the publication of a public consultation document entitled ‘Marine Strategy
Framework Directive Ireland Programme of Measures Public Consultation Document’. This
document presents the elements being considered by Ireland for inclusion in a finalised Marine Strategy
Framework Directive (MSFD) National Programme of Measures, the objective of which is to achieve
good environmental status (GES) in Irish marine waters.
The overall aim of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is to achieve or maintain GES of the
European Union's marine environment by 2020. It represents the environmental pillar of the European
Union’s Integrated Maritime Policy and it provides the benchmark by which sustainable use of the seas
can be measured. Its implementation requires a multi-disciplinary approach.
The finalised Programme of Measures proposal is due to be submitted to the European Commission by
31 March 2016.
The Minister said that the purpose of the public consultation process is to foster community engagement
with, and to heighten awareness of, the aims of MSFD and its on-going implementation in Ireland.
‘It provides an opportunity for members of the public to make submissions and comments which will
inform the finalised version of the National Programme of Measures as well as influencing future cycles
of the MSFD project’, the Minister said.
A Public consultation process has already been completed in relation to the ‘Initial Assessment’ and
‘Monitoring Programme’ phases of the Directive and input from interested parties is now welcome in
relation to the actions needed to achieve compliance with provisions of the Directive.
Submissions and comments are invited on the draft Programme of Measures, on or before Friday, 29
January 2016. A dedicated email address, msfd@environ.ie has been set up to facilitate feedback
from stakeholders including eNGOs, industry, the general public and other interested parties.
‘The proposed programme, across relevant state entities, represents an ambitious commitment of
resources in the light of the prevailing economic circumstances and underlines Ireland’s commitment to
the marine environment’ the Minister added.
‘The MSFD requires Member States to publish the programme of measures that they intend to use to
help achieve GES. The purpose of this public consultation is not only to fulfil a public participation
obligation but to enrich the process and secure economic and environmental benefits of the marine
resource for the current generation and generations yet unborn. I would encourage anyone interested in
the integrity of the marine resource to engage with the process begun today’ the Minister concluded
Further information on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is available at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterQuality/Marine/
ENDS
Notes for the Editor
The MSFD was adopted in 2008 (Directive 2008/56/EC) and it establishes a framework within which
Member States are obliged to develop marine strategies, the aim of which is to achieve or maintain good
environmental status (GES) in the marine environment by the year 2020.
Good environmental status (GES) is defined as ‘the environmental status of marine waters where these
provide ecologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy and productive
within their intrinsic condition, and the use of the marine environment is at a level that is sustainable,
thus safeguarding the potential for users and activities by current and future generations’.
The Directive requires an assessment to be made of our marine waters against an agreed set of
standards across a number of important environmental areas (e.g. biodiversity, fish stocks, and
contaminants). Once the assessment is made, appropriate environmental targets and indicators must
be established and programmes of measures put in place to achieve or maintain GES.
Responsibility for the Directive
The Directive is similar to the Water Framework Directive but relates to the marine environment.
Because of the cross-cutting nature of marine issues, four other Departments are intrinsically linked to
the process – Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Department of Transport, Tourism and
Sport, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Communications, Energy
and Natural Resources. In addition, the Marine Institute and the Environmental Protection Agency play
a major role in the delivery of the Directive’s objectives.
Impact of the Directive
While the primary purpose of the Directive is to protect and preserve the marine environment, proper
implementation will underpin the sustainable development of the areas identified for the development of
Ireland’s ocean economy including:
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Shipping
Maritime transport
Water based tourism
Sea fisheries
Aquaculture
Oil /Gas
Renewable energy (including, wind and wave)
The main objectives of the Directive are:
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to protect and preserve the marine environment;
prevent its deterioration; and
restore marine ecosystems where practicable.
Marine area under Ireland’s Control
The MSFD applies to the area of marine waters over which a Member State exercises jurisdictional
rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Marine
waters, as defined by the MSFD, also include the seabed and subsoil under the water column.
Ireland’s MSFD Assessment Area is approximately 490,000 square kilometres. This is equivalent to
approximately ten times the land mass area
Map of the marine waters over which Ireland holds MSFD responsibilities).
Next Steps in the Process:
Overarching Objectives and Target Dates for the 1st Cycle of implementation of the Directive
Complete Initial Assessment of Irish marine waters;
establish environmental targets and indicators.
Completed 2013
Finalise a Monitoring Programme
Completed 2015
Establishment a Programme of Measures (POMs) to March 2016
achieve GES
Implementation of POMs
2016
Achieve Good Environmental Status
2020