Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation: UK Initial Assessment and proposals for Good Environmental Status

This is a joint consultation between:

• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
• the Northern Ireland Executive
• the Scottish Government
• the Welsh Government.

The Directive requires Member States to take measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) for their seas by 2020. GES involves:

• protecting the marine environment
• preventing its deterioration
• restoring it where practical
• using marine resources sustainably.  

We want your views on:

• the first stages of implementation
• a draft assessment of the state of the UK’s seas
• proposals for UK characteristics of GES
• proposals for UK targets and indicators of GES
• an impact assessment setting out potential implications of the proposed GES targets and indicators.  

We will consult later on proposals for the UK monitoring programmes and measures for achieving GES.