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About MSFD

Marine Strategy Framework Directive

About MCC

Marine Strategy Framework Directive - Competence Centre

  • Partners

  • Structure

  • Contact

MCC activities

Brief statement of the activities of the MSFD Competence Centre partnership

  • MSFD implementation

  • Science & technical Documents

  • Research & knowledge

  • Support assessment tools

D1 Biological diversity

Biological diversity is maintained. The quality and occurrence of habitats and the distribution and abundance of species are in line with prevailing physiographic, geographic and climatic conditions.

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & methodological standards

  • Monitoring & assessment

  • Science for MSFD

D2 Non-indigenous species

Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystems.

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & Methodological standards

  • Monitoring & assessment

  • Science for MSFD

D3 Fisheries

Populations of all commercially exploited fish and shellfish are within safe biological limits, exhibiting a population age and size distribution that is indicative of a healthy stock.

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & methodological standards

  • Monitoring & assessment

D4 Food webs

All elements of the marine food webs, to the extent that they are known, occur at normal abundance and diversity and levels capable of ensuring the long-term abundance of the species and the retention of their full reproductive capacity.

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & methodological standards

D5 Eutrophication

Human-induced eutrophication is minimised, especially adverse effects thereof, such as losses in biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, harmful algae blooms and oxygen deficiency in bottom waters.

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & Methodological Standards

  • Monitoring & Assessment

  • Science for MSFD

D6 Sea-floor integrity

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

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & methodological standards

  • Monitoring & assessment

  • Science for MSFD

D7 Hydrographical conditions

Permanent alteration of hydrographical conditions does not adversely affect marine ecosystems.

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & methodological standards

  • Monitoring & assessment

D8 Contaminants

Concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to pollution effects

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & methodological standards

  • - Marine relevant contaminants

  • - Chemical contaminants from sea-based sources

  • - List of potential marine contaminants

  • - Contaminants considered for 2018 MSFD D8 reporting

  • - Support to the harmonization of MSFD D8 methodological standards

  • Monitoring & assessment

  • Science for MSFD

D9 Contaminants in seafood

Contaminants in fish and other seafood for human consumption do not exceed levels established by Community legislation or other relevant standards.

  • Implementation

  • Criteria & methodological standards

  • Monitoring & assessment

  • Science for MSFD

D10 Marine litter

Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment

  • Implementation

  • Methodological standards

  • Science for MSFD

D11 Energy and Noise

Introduction of energy, including underwater noise, is at levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment

  • Implementation

  • Methodological standards

  • Science for MSFD

TG Litter

TG Litter is a technical group under the MSFD Common Implementation Strategy

  • Online Photo Catalogue of the Joint List of Litter Categories

  • TG Litter Annual Meetings

  • Review of the ComDec 2010/477/EU

  • Identifying Sources of Marine Litter

  • Harm caused by Marine Litter

  • Marine Litter - Technical Recommendations

  • Guidance for the Monitoring of Marine Litter

  • Monitoring of Riverine Litter

  • Top Marine Beach Litter Items

  • EU Marine Beach Litter Baselines

  • Marine Litter Threshold Values

  • EU Threshold Value for Macro Litter on Coastlines

  • Joint List of Litter Categories Manual

  • List of Marine Litter Research Projects

  • Monitoring of Floating Marine Macro Litter

Calendar: Events & Meetings

The MCC calendrier aims to provide an overview of meetings, conferences and events related to the MSFD, related policies and the marine sciences.

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MCC Documents Repository

 
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE (EU) 2017/845 of 17 May 2017
Author(s):
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Description:
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE (EU) 2017/845 of 17 May 2017 amending Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the indicative lists of elements to be taken into account for the preparation of marine strategies
Keywords:
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Type:
Legislation
Published:
2017
Inventory nb:
201712062331


 
COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2017/848 of 17 May 2017
Author(s):
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Description:
COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2017/848 of 17 May 2017 laying down criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment, and repealing Decision 2010/477/EU
Keywords:
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Type:
Legislation
Published:
2017
Inventory nb:
201712062121


 
Report of the JRC's Descriptor 2 workshop in support to the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good Environmental Status for NIS
Author(s):
Andreas Palialexis, Konstantinos Tsiamis & Ana Cristina Cardoso
Description:
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) workshop on non-indigenous species (NIS, MSFD D2), held in Ispra JRC (10th-11th of September 2015) aimed to provide clear proposals and conclusions on some of the outstanding issues identified in the D2 review process and included in the related manual (D2 review manual, May 2015: https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/cd4bbd6a-454a-40db-b805-52fb195d4e56/COMDEC_Review_D2_V6.pdf) in support to the review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. This report is complementing the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU review manual (JRC96884) and presents the final result of the scientific and technical review concluding phase 1 of the review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 2. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy (agreed on at the 11th CIS MSCG meeting).
Keywords:
MSFD, review, Commission decision, GES, descriptor 2, non-indigenous species, environmental quality standards, D2
Type:
Report
Published:
09/2015
Inventory nb:
201607124951


 
Review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good environmental Status: Descriptor 2
Author(s):
EC JRC: Ana Cristina Cardoso, Andreas Palialexis, Stelios Katsanevakis, Konstantinos Tsiamis, Francesca Somma. MSFD D2 Expert group: J. Canning Clode, H. Ojaveer, M. Lehtiniemi, L. Guérin, I. Bubak, S. Kabuta, S. Brockmark, K. Hoppe, F. Alemany, P. Stebbing, A. Zenetos, I. Karakassis, M. Gue
Description:
This report is the result of a scientific and technical review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 2. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy.
Keywords:
MSFD, review, Commission decision, GES, descriptor 2, non-indigenous species, environmental quality standards, D2
Type:
Report
Published:
31/08/2015
Inventory nb:
201607124827


 
REGULATION (EU) No 1143/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species
Author(s):
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Description:
This Regulation sets out rules to prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse impact on biodiversity of the introduction and spread within the Union, both intentional and unintentional, of invasive alien species.
Keywords:
D2, Descriptor 2, invasive alien species, prevention, monitoring, surveillance, early detection, eradication, population control, containment, management
Type:
Legislation
Published:
04/11/2014
Inventory nb:
201607124638


 
State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean
Author(s):
UNEP/MAP-Plan Bleu
Description:
This new report on the environment and sustainable development in the Mediterranean is the result of collective efforts by Mediterranean Action Plan components, led by Plan Bleu during the 2008-2009 biennium. In five main chapters, it shows the major impacts that climate change will have in the Mediterranean, describes the region's resources and natural environment together with the challenges posed by their conservation, explains the dynamics of the various areas, calls into question the sustainability of the main economic activities and, lastly, evaluates the effects of the measures taken by Mediterranean countries to protect the environment
Keywords:
Unep/Map, plan bleu, Mediterranean, state, environmental state, development
Type:
Report
Published:
2009
Inventory nb:
201607121602


 
State of the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment
Author(s):
UNEP/MAP
Description:
The report is a collaborative effort comprising UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention components, parties and partners.
Keywords:
UNEP/MAP, environmental state, state, marine environment, mediterranean
Type:
Report
Published:
2012
Inventory nb:
201607120734


 
The use of ecosystem models to assess indicators in support of the EU Marine strategy framework directive
Author(s):
Chiara Piroddi. University of Barcelona, SPAIN.
Description:
The European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) seeks to achieve, for all European seas 'Good Environmental Status' (GEnS, Borjia et al., 2011) by 2020; on the other hand ecological models are currently one of the strongest approaches used to predicting and understanding the consequences of anthropogenic and climate-driven changes in the natural environment. This presentation will highlight the results of a review conducted under an FP7 project called DEVOTES showing 1. current capabilities of the modelling community to inform on indicators outlined in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), with a special focus on the following three descriptors: biodiversity (D1), food webs (D4), non-indigenous species (D2) and seafloor integrity (D6); 2. which models are able to demonstrate the linkages between indicators and ecosystem structure/function and the impact of pressures on state and thus indicators; 3. gaps in model capability and needs for development. In addition, in order to facilitate the implementation of management policies like the MSFD and explore future plausible scenarios, some preliminary results will be presented on spatial and temporal evolution of the Mediterranean marine ecosystem from 1950 to 2010 and structural and functional changes of the basin using specific model derived indicators.
Keywords:
modelling, Good environmental status, GES, FP7, DEVOTES, MSFD, biodiversity, food webs, non-indigenous species, seafloor integrity, D1, D2, D4, D6, models,
Type:
-
Published:
20/01/2016
Inventory nb:
201604262200