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; and 
• 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; and 
• 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; and 
• 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.