Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
Common Implementation Strategy
7th meeting of the
Marine Strategy Coordination Group
14 May 2012
European Environment Agency, Copenhagen
Agenda Item: / 6b
Document: / MSCG 7/2012/10
Title: / Developing a common understanding on geographic scales
Prepared by: / Germany as WG GES co-lead
Date prepared: / 04/05/2012
Background: / Marine Directors in December 2011 agreed Terms of Reference for a drafting group, lead by Germany as WG GES co-lead, to undertake further work on developing the “Common Understanding” document on Art. 8, 9 and 10 MSFD. The drafting group was tasked among others to develop guidance on geographic scales.
Germany as WG-GES co-lead presented an initial starting point for developing guidance on geographic scales at OSPAR ICG MSFD, HELCOM JAB and WG-GES meetings and collected information from EU Member States’ on their needs and priorities concerning questions of scale. This has resulted in a number of submission to Germany which have been analysed and a proposal for further work has been shared with OSPAR, HELCOM and WG-GES.

MSCG is invited to:

  1. “MSCG is invited to note and endorse this work plan, including the proposal to dedicate one of the foreseen WG GES Workshops to geographic scales.”

Developing a common understanding on geographic scales

Based on the comments received from EU Member States, we propose for the development of a common understanding on geographic assessment scales the following priorities:

  • to update the starting point for guidance to address as far as possible the comments received and to expand it with case studies/examples;
  • to focus further work on a common understanding on

- aggregation rules with respect to geographical scales

- taking up assessment results from other EU Directives (e.g. WFD, Habitat Directive) (cf. Workshop initiative on MSFD/WFD synergies)

- determining GES in light of local impacts

  • to use the opportunity of the forthcoming WG GES workshops to exchange national approaches and further develop a common understanding on scale issues, in particular aggregation questions. National case studies presented at such occasion could be used for the guidance document
  • To use information from the national public consultation processes to analyse the different options used.

In terms of timing, it is envisaged that

  • the drafting group advances the draft guidance by early autumn, taking up information from relevant activities emerging on the road
  • to use the advanced draft for preparing a WG GES workshop on geographic scales later in winter 2012/2013 which addresses open issues in a target way
  • to present a draft guidance in spring 2013

MSCG is invited to note this work plan, including the proposal to dedicate one of the foreseen WG GES Workshops to geographic scales.