STAGES: connecting science to policy to support MSFD

implementation

Blue Growth in the Mediterranean: Perspectives of Spain

Palma de Mallorca 2-3 May 2013

Marisa Fernández- CETMAR

The MSFDThe MSFD

Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)IMP environmental pillar

Delivery of Good Environmental Status (GES) in EU marine waters by 2020 applying

the Ecosystem Approach

MSFD phases and actions Timing

Assessment of GES in EU waters   2012

Determination of GES   2012

Establish appropriate environmental targets   2012

Establish monitoring programmes.   2014

Development of programmes of measures   2015

MSFD Implementation   2016-2020

Achievement of GES   2020

MSFD Descriptors of Good Environmental Status1. Biological diversity

2. Non-indigenous species

3. Population of commercial fish / shellfish

4. Elements of marine food webs5. Eutrophication

6. Sea floor integrity

7. Alteration of hydrographical conditions8. Contaminants

9. Contaminants in fish and seafood

10. Marine litter

11. Introduction of energy, including underwater noise

The Challenge

What constitutes GES?

Lack of knowledge that may hinder full implementation of the

MSFD and the achievement of GES in EU waters.

Need to develop additional scientific understanding for

assessing GES in a coherent and holistic manner

Relevant MSFD research results should be synthesized and passed

to policy makers

STAGES (7FP ENV 2012)Science and Technology Advancing

Governance and GES

Improve the currentscientific knowledge base and

connect science to policy to help achieve GES in marine waters and

support MSFD implementation

The Project

• Identify, extract and synthesize the knowledge generated through EU and national research-funded activities relating to the MSFD, and make this information widely accessible to policy-makers and MSFD stakeholders.

• Establish where further research needs to be conducted to improve the scientific knowledge underpinning implementation of the MSFD.

• Provide pragmatic and ready-to-use recommendations to establish an effective European science-policy platform to support GES achievement and implementation of the MSFD

Partnership

CETMAR EurOcean IFREMER

EU Marine BoardAQUATT

ICESJRCIMR

Objectives and partnershipObjectives and partnership

September 2012 August 2014Budget: 999.692 Euros

Working PlanWorking Plan

WP1: Inventory of MSFD stakeholders

• Organized by categories

• Facilitate approach to relevant MSFD stakeholders

• Draw a first picture of a potential membership for a science/policy MSFD Platform.

• 27 coastal countries

>400 organizations> 540 experts

WP2: Identify, extract, analyze and synthesize the knowledge generated in EU and national research funded activities and make it available for policy makers and MSFD stakeholders

Comprehensive knowledge collection from EU and national public research projects

• More than 1500 EU projects and 1200 national projects surveyed

Analysis and classification of the information per MSFD major themes

Expected Results Lead User(s) Dissemination

Inventory of relevant EU and national research projects

State of the Art Synthesis Reports on MSFD Themes

EU Commission and Member States

EU researchers and MSFD stakeholders

Information will be uploaded on the On-line “Knowledge Gate Portal”.

WP3: Knowledge gap assessment and foresightIdentify the needs for further research to improve the scientific underpinning for the implementation of the MSFD

Synthesis of incoming recommendations: JRC & ICES, RSC, EU and MS reports

Foresight and consultation exercise (3 Workshops)•Implementation of Monitoring Programmes (13-15 May 2013, Brussels)•Pressures and their Impacts on Marine Ecosystems (September 2013)•Socio-economic Analysis (October 2013)

Expected Results Lead User(s) Dissemination

MSFD Knowledge Gaps

Reports and Science-Policy

EC DG RTD & Horizon 2020JPI OceansNational and regional research programmes

Delivery of STAGES reports on Research Gaps and Science Policy Briefings

WP4: Science-policy Interface planning Provide Concrete, Pragmatic and Ready-to-Use Recommendations on the Development of a a European Science-Policy Platform to Support Implementation of the MSFD

Stakeholders Analysis • Stakeholder identification / Survey implementation / Consultation Workshop

Elaboration of a proposal for a SPI Platform• Outputs of Stakeholder Analysis, WP2 and WP3• Analysis of Existing SPI Structures, Processes and Best Practices

Expected Results Lead User(s) Dissemination

Proposal for a European science-policy Interface platform

European Commission

DG ENV

Position paper targeted at European Commission Services

WP5: Knowledge transfer and communication

• Outputs will be transfered to primary lead users who have the capacity to uptake the knowledge and utilize it.

• Very targeted and taylor-made transfer of relevant outputs and materials to specific end users

• Inclusion of research project results in the Eurocean Knowledge Gate (September 2013)

• Final Conference (July 2014)

Impact and conclusions

• Effective science-based implementation of MSFD Science policy interface platform designed to meet the needs of MSFD Full access to, and best use of existing scientific knowledge

• Optimum use of public research funding in support of MSFD Targeting science and technology funding investments towards addressing

critical knowledge gaps• Stakeholder involvement and support to MSFD measures

Smoother implementation of MSFD through better stakeholder consultation and buy-in to measures needed to implement MSFD.

• A huge work has been developed to achieve the first MSFD targets in Spain MAGRAMA with the scientific and technical support of IEO and CEDEX

• Coordination, optimization and integration of public and private research and technological resources will be crucial for the MSFD implementation• Support from the Spanish Technological Platform for the protection of the

coast and marine environment; PROTECMA (www,ptprotecma.es)Developing sustainable mechanisms to connect science to policy

will be crucial to promote Blue Growth and implement IMP

Thanks for you attention !

For more information:Project Coordinator: Marisa FernandezCentro Tecnológico del Mar- CETMAR mfernandez@cetmar.orgTel. +34 986 247 047