title: Is existing legislation fit-for-purpose to achieve Good Environmental Status in European seas?
abstract: Recent additions to marine environmental legislation are usually designed to fill gaps in protection and management, build on existing practices or correct deficiencies in previous instruments. Article 13 of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires Member States to develop a Programme of Measures (PoM) by 2015, to meet the objective of Good Environmental Status (GES) for their waters by 2020. This review explores key maritime-related policies with the aim to identify the opportunities and threats that they pose for the achievement of GES. It specifically examines how Member States have relied on and will integrate existing legislation and policies to implement their PoM and the potential opportunities and difficulties associated with this. Using case studies of three Member States, other external impediments to achieving GES are discussed including uses and users of the marine environment who are not governed by the MSFD, and gives recommendations for overcoming barriers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS), University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK. Electronic address: s.j.boyes@hull.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Suzanne J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Boyes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies (IECS), University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: AZTI Marine Research Division, Txatxarramendi ugartea z/g Sukarrieta, Bizkaia 48395, Spain.
authors.forename: Arantza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murillas-Maza
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, PO Box 2214, Heraklion, Crete 71003, Greece.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
authors.affiliation: AZTI Marine Research Division, Txatxarramendi ugartea z/g Sukarrieta, Bizkaia 48395, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Uyarra
mesh_terms: D002947:Cities; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D058735:Environmental Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D005398:Fisheries / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007391:International Cooperation; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
keywords: Barriers; Blue growth; GES; Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD); Programme of measures; Recommendations