Many policies concerning Protected Areas cover both the terrestrial and marine environments, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Nature Directives and the Nature Restoration Regulation. However, there are also policies that are focusing on the marine environment and have to do with Marine Protected Areas.
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the environmental pillar of EU maritime policies. Its aim is to achieve a good environmental status of the EU’s marine waters and protect the resource base upon which marine-related economic and social activities depend. The measures for this should include area-based protection measures, such as a coherent and representative network of Marine Protected Areas. All these actions should be done in coordination with neighbouring countries at the level of regional seas.
Framework Directive for Maritime Spatial Planning
One of the tools to implement the MSFD is maritime spatial planning (MSP) and concretely the Framework Directive for Maritime Spatial Planning. The objective is to achieve effective management of marine activities and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources, including the spatial planning of activities, e.g. location of marine protected areas. MSP is used as an integrative process to make sure all stakeholders are taken aboard.
Water Framework Directive
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is the main water protection policy in the European Union and calls for protection and restoration of water bodies. The planning is done through River Basin Management Plans that include spatial planning of protected areas.
Global Level
Apart from the Directives, some separate policies focus on specific topics. All aspects of fisheries are covered in the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to which is linked to the EU Action Plan “Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries”. This Action Plan highlights the importance of Marine Protected Areas in maintenance of sustainable fisheries.
Another relevant policy is the Offshore Renewable Energy policy as this is relevant for Marine Protected Areas since offshore energy production influences biodiversity in multiple ways. The aim is to minimise construction impacts and find synergies between different uses and nature protection where possible.