EU Policy context

Marine and coastal zone management

Littoral 2010, London

Adapting to global change at the coast

Birgit Snoeren
European Commission
DG Environment
DGENVD2 Marine unit
 Content
 Policy update
 Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008)
 Commission Decision on criteria for good
environmental status  NEW!
 EU Recommendation on Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (2002)
 ICZM Protocol (Barcelona Convention)
 NEW! EU ratification
 Commission’s White Paper on Adaptation to
Climate Change (2009): EU guidance for
adaptation in coastal and marine areas
Marine Strategy Framework Directive

 An eco-system based approach to the management of human

activities in the marine area
 ensuring that the collective pressure of such activities is kept within
levels compatible with the achievement of good environmental status
 and that the capacity of marine ecosystems to respond to human-
induced changes is not compromised,
 while enabling the sustainable use of marine goods and services by
present and future generations.
 Integration of environmental concerns into the different policies
which have an impact on the marine environment
 Good Environmental Status amongst others deals with
biodiversity, non-indigenous species, sea floor integrity,
hydrographical conditions, litter, underwater noise
 Steps for National Marine Strategies development

√ Common criteria for Good Environmental states : NEW ! Commission Decision 1.9.2010
Initial assessment:
analysis of essential features/characteristics, (Annex III, tab.I)
pressures and impacts, (Annex III, tab.II), on marine waters
economic and social analysis of their use and cost of degradation

Determine Good Environmental Status (indicative list of elements: Annex I, and Annex III) 2012

Establishment of Environmental Targets and indicators

Monitoring programmes: compatible with existing provisions,

2014
methods consistent across the Marine Region (comparability)

Programmes of Measures to be taken 2015

Entry into operation of programmes 2016

Building upon existing activities developed within EU Directives and Regional Sea
Conventions
2020
To achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status in the marine environment
Adaptive management , with regular review (every 6 years)
 Annex I
Descriptors for GES determination

Eutrophication
Biodiversity
Hydrographic conditions
Non-indigenous species
Contaminants
Fish populations
Contaminants in seafood
Food webs

Seafloor integrity

Litter

Energy introduction (noise)

 COM Decision on GES
Criteria for biodiversity descriptors

BIODIVERSITY
NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES
Species distribution
•Population size • Abundance of non-indigenous species
•Population condition • Impact of invasive species

•Habitat distribution
•Habitat extent
FISH POPULATIONS
•Habitat condition

•Ecosystem structure • Level of pressure of fishing

• Reproductive capacity of the stock
• Population age and size distribution

FOOD WEBS
SEAFLOOR INTEGRITY
• Productivity of key species / groups
• Proportion of selected species at the top of •Physical damage and substrate characteristics
food webs
•Condition of benthic community
• Abundance/distribution of key groups/species
 COM Decision on GES
Criteria for descriptors more related to water quality

EUTROPHICATION HYDROGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS

• Nutrients levels • Spatial characterization of alterations

• Direct and indirect effects of nutrients

• Impacts of hydrographical changes
enrichment

CONTAMINANTS CONTAMINANTS in seafood

(human consumption)
• Concentrations
• Level, number and frequency of
contaminants
• Effects
 COM Decision on GES
Criteria for descriptors requiring further development

LITTER ENERGY INTRODUCTION (noise)

• Characteristics: amounts trends (ashore,
water column, seafloor) and composition • Distribution (temporal/spatial) of loud, low and
of microparticles mid frequency impulsive sound

• Impacts on marine life • Continuous low frequency sound

 (3) One major finding of such
scientific and technical work is
that there is a substantial need to
develop additional scientific
understanding for assessing good
environmental status in a coherent
and holistic manner to support the
ecosystem-based approach to
management. An improved
scientific knowledge needs to be
developed, in particular through
the Communication ‘A European
Strategy for Marine and Maritime
Research. ……
 Themes requiring further development in relation to GES

Common issues across all descriptors

- how to integrate the different criteria within each descriptors

- development of methodological standards where not yet available
- research needs for some indicators

How to aggregate the findings on all descriptors to obtain an overall

assessment of the status

Gaps and Research needs for specific descriptors

Different levels of scientific background, knowledge and development between

descriptors and also within the different marine Regions

PS: Workshop on litter - 8 November

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/marine/pollution.htm
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
European Parliament and Council recommendation 2002

 An eco-system based approach to the management of human activities in the coastal area
 Preserving its integrity and functioning, and sustainable management of the natural resources of both the
marine and terrestrial components of the coastal zone
 Appropriate and ecologically responsible coastal protection measures
 Sustainable economic opportunities and employment options
 recognition of the threat to coastal zones posed by climate change and of the dangers
entailed by the rise in sea level and the increasing frequency and violence of storms;
 Improved coordination of the actions taken by all the authorities concerned both at sea
and on land, in managing the sea-land interaction
 Working with natural processes and respecting the carrying capacity of ecosystems,
which will make human activities more environmentally friendly, socially responsible and
economically sound in the long run
 Priority themes for EU ICZM (COM(2007)306
 Adaptation to coastal risks and the impacts of climate change
 Cooperation in the context of regional seas, including Marine Spatial
Planning
 Focus on implementation:
 OURCOAST

 Funding opportunities (RTD) but also transnational programmes

“Interreg” (nb LIFE 2009 call 10% selected projects on coasts)
 Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management
(Barcelona Convention)
Significant step in developing legal framework for ICZM and for
cooperation in the Mediterranean
• EU Ratification : 13.9.2010 New !
• Entry into force : after 6 ratifications, expected by end of 2010
• Protocol contents:
- Common framework for ICZM in the Mediterranean
- Principles and objectives for ICZM
Requires comprehensive strategies, series of tools to be used in coherent ‘mix’
Specific stipulations for certain coastal uses and/or values to be protected
Special attention for natural hazards, including effects of climate change
- Geographic extent in principle out to territorial sea limit and on land limit of
competent coastal units as defined by Member States
EU co-funded research project : PEGASO support to early implementation of the Protocol, and
collaboration with Black Sea
 Follow-up to the EU ICZM Recommendation
“Working at different scales and across administrative
and sectoral boundaries remains a formidable challenge,
but is central to achieving integration”
An Evaluation of ICZM in Europe (COM(2007)308

Issues:
- Principles still valid, but formal reporting deadlines ended
2006. New Member States reports requested December 2010
- Quickly evolving policy and legal context (increasing activity
at sea - Marine Strategy Framework Directive, maritime spatial
planning; Protocol in Mediterranean)
Timeline follow-up to the EU ICZM Recommendation:
- Early reflection group (Working group of EU ICZM Expert group)
- Start of ‘impact assessment’ process 2010,
including definition of policy and substance “options”
& wider public consultation
- Possible Commission proposal 2011
Sustainable development:
- minimisation of impacts, rational use of resources
integration of environmental concerns into coastal activities and
uses;
- territorial approach, coordination and coherence of policies,
legislation and actions
- “Governance”: better law-making, consultations, impact
assessment
Coast:
- geographic extent? land and sea part, varying width depending
on issue;
- issues are dealt with by different competent authorities, actors,
at different overlapping scales
- specificities European regional seas, versus common issues
Data/information, Assessment framework:
- availability and use of information at different scales
Deliverables: more specific, but need for flexibility
 EU Adaptation White Paper (2009)

PILLAR I PILLAR II PILLAR III PILLAR IV

Strengthen Mainstream Employ Advance

the climate a combination work
Knowledge/ Adaptation of internationally
Evidence Base into key policy on
policy areas instruments Adaptation

General message:
Need for increased resilience to adapt to climate change effects
Some actions:
• Develop a European Clearing House Mechanism
• Develop methods, models, data sets and prediction tools
• EU guidance for adaptation in marine and coastal areas
Action plan 2009-2012: towards an EU adaption Framework by 2012
EU Guidance on river basin management in a
changing climate (2009)
•Climate change adds to pressures on aquatic
ecosystems. Also indirect pressures may arise
from human responses (adaptation and
mitigation)
• Many “no-regret” / “win-win” measures available
• Application in 2nd&3rd cycle River Basin
Management Plans (assessment pressures /
impacts, monitoring programmes, measures)
• 11 principles: i.e. broad risk assessment, climate
check of measures, maximisation cross-sector
benefits; Flood risk & Drought/water scarcity
 Research (7th FP) + ERFD
 Several programmes on climate change / ecology /coasts
 EUrosion/ConScience: long term strategy to risk management
 Safecoast: Risk chain (prevention – preparedness – response - reconstruction) (ERDF)
 COASTANCE: regional action strategies for coastal zone adaptation to climate change
(ERDF); BALTCICA, ANCORIM, IMCORE ...
 PEGASO: science-policy interface, sustainability assessment, shared information
system (RTD)
 ESPON-Climate: Climate change and territorial effects on regions and local
economies (general, coast/non-coast)
 New projects: ClimateCost, ClimSave, Mediation, Responses, CapHAZ-Net,
ENSURE, etc (RTD)
 mitigation and adaptation to climate change .
 Adaptation in marine areas
 Towards EU Guidance on adaptation
in coastal and areas
• Timing: 2012 ?
•Taking stock of outputs White Paper
• Lessons from research and implementation
• Key source:
Budget 1M€, Dec.2008-Feb.2012
Database, analysis: at least 350 cases
Key themes include: Adaptation to
coastal risks and climate change
 Keys for integration of adaptation in coastal and marine
areas

• Area based, cross-sectoral risk reduction

strategies; coherent “mix” of measures
• Adaptation and mitigation need to be considered
• Focus on prevention of hazard, where possible
• Enhancing resilience of coastal systems –
working with nature
• Knowledge based approach; communication and
public information
• Multi-level governance: determining relevant
scales for policies & actions
 More information

 MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/marine/index_en.htm

 INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/iczm/home.htm

 ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/adaptation/index_en.htm

Thank you for your attention