The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is European legislation, which aims to protect the marine environment. It requires the application of an ecosystem …
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 MSFD aims to protect the marine environment across Europe while allowing the continuation of sustainable uses of the sea. It requires EU Member States (MS) to establish national marine strategies to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in their marine waters by 2020.