The aim of the European Union’s ambitious Marine Strategy Framework Directive is to protect more effectively the marine environment across Europe. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive was adopted on 17 June 2008.
The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) was put in place to protect the marine ecosystem and biodiversity upon which our health and marinerelated economic and social activities depend. To help EU countries achieve a good environmental status (GES), the directive sets out 11 illustrative qualitative descriptors.
The Directive enshrines in a legislative framework the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities having an impact on the marine environment, integrating the concepts of environmental protection and sustainable use.