This project aims to evaluate ecosystem indicators from the OSPAR marine management framework to assess their potential application toIreland’s implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
What is OSPAR?
The OSPAR (Oslo-Paris) Convention is an agreement signed by fifteen governments along the western coast and catchments of Europe, together with the European Commission. Following the Bergen North Sea Intermediate Ministerial Meeting in 1997, OSPAR has been tasked with developing an Ecosystem Approach (EA) to management of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. OSPAR has responded with a pilot project in the North Sea, identifying nine specific Ecological Quality Issues (EcoQIs) that refer to broad functional components of the system (e.g., fish and seabird communities) or to key impact descriptors (e.g., species and habitats under threat). For each EcoQI, one or more Ecological Quality Objectives (EcoQOs) have been established. EcoQOs comprise management objectives (targets and limits) for the associated EcoQI, which are analogous to precautionary and limit reference points (e.g., Bpa and Blim) used in fish stock assessment and management. Where EcoQOs are not met, it indicates the need for appropriate measures to regulate a specific human activity, or triggers further investigations into possible reasons for the EcoQO not being met. Monitoring changes in the ‘state’ of a given EcoQI, in relation to its defined EcoQO, requires the use of ecosystem indicators.
What is the MSFD?
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) 2008/56/EC aims to ensure that Europe’s seas achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020, and “has established itself as the cornerstone of all future EU regulatory measures that are applicable to the marine environment” (Long, 2011. Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law, 29:1-44). EU Member States are required to “assess the status of their marine waters, determine what constitutes ‘Good Environmental Status’ (GES) in their region and establish appropriate environmental targets, monitoring programmes and measures”. In the MSFD framework, GES is considered in reference to 11 ‘Descriptors’, which have much in common with the nine OSPAR EcoQIs. Each descriptor has associated ‘Criteria’. Criteria describe qualities and characteristics of the descriptor and will be related to ecosystem indicators which can track changes in state in relation to GES. For instance, Descriptor 1 Biodiversity includes the criterion ‘Community Condition’ which is similar to the OSPAR ‘Fish Community’ EcoQO and may be monitored using the OSPAR-derived Large Fish Indicator (LFI).
Member States were obliged to transpose the MSFD into national law by the 15th July 2010. Importantly, States that failed to transpose the Directive into national law prior to this deadline are susceptible to a recent infringement policy. Under this policy, the EC can ask for financial sanctions to be imposed.
What does this mean for Ireland?
Since Ireland is a signatory to the MSFD, there is an imperative to develop a national management framework quite quickly. The next deadline is 2012, when the MSFD requires eachMemberStateto develop strategies for sea areas under their sovereignty and jurisdiction. Such strategies must contain a detailed assessment of the state of the environment, a definition of GES at a regional level, as well as the establishment of clear environmental targets and monitoring programmes. EachMemberStatemust then draw up a programme of cost-effective measures by 2015 in coordination with other Member States in their marine region. These complex tasks will require concerted effort by groups of experts from several government bodies and academic institutions.
The current project
Part of the development process will involve establishing how components of existing legislative and marine management structures can be interpreted to service the MSFD. In this respect, it is widely recognised that “when fully developed, the suite of OSPAR EcoQOs can facilitate the determination of GES and monitoring and reporting within the regional implementation of the proposed MSFD” (OSPAR Commission 2007). In other words, elements of the existing OSPAR framework can be used by member states starting to formulate their MSFD strategy. Our project will identify and evaluate OSPAR indicators and EcoQOs to support implementation of the MSFD in Irish waters. This will contribute towardsIreland meeting its legislative commitments and establishing a functioning ecosystem approach.
The project is funded by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and conducted by the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in association with the Marine Institute (MI).
OSPAR and the MSFD 