Natura 2000 in the Marine Environment
Guidelines
Guidelines
for the establishment of the Natura 2000 network in the marine
environment. Application of the Habitats and Birds Directives
(1,7MB)
The need to fully apply the Habitats and
Birds Directives to the offshore marine environment of the
European Union, especially with regards to the establishment
of the Natura 2000 network, represents a key challenge for
EU biodiversity policy in the coming years. The establishment of a marine network of
conservation areas under Natura 2000 will significantly contribute,
not only to the target of halting the loss of biodiversity
in the EU, but also to broader marine conservation and sustainable
use objectives.
Introducing fisheries measures for marine Natura 2000 sites
The document above aims at facilitating the tasks of the Member State authorities and stakeholders when preparing and requesting fisheries management measures under the Common Fisheries Policy. The document has been drawn up by the Commission services (DG MARE and DG ENV); as such it is not legally binding and is intended to be regularly updated.
The context of EU marine biodiversity and protected areas
policy EU policy for marine biodiversity, including
protected areas, is developing in the context of commitments
at global, EU and regional levels. At the EU level, EU Heads of State and government
have made a commitment ‘to halt the loss of biodiversity
[in the EU] by 2010’. And at the global level, they
have joined some 130 world leaders in making a commitment
‘to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity
loss [worldwide] by 2010.’ Faced with evidence of the
continuing and even accelerating loss of biodiversity and
of critical ecosystem goods and services – as recently
highlighted in the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment - the European
Council has repeatedly called for accelerated efforts to meet
these commitments. The 6th Environmental Action Programme of
the European Community identifies ‘nature and biodiversity’
as one of the priority themes for action. Objectives and priority
areas for action on nature and biodiversity laid down by the
European Parliament and the Council in the 6th Community Action
Programme include:
- Establishing the Natura network and implementing the
necessary technical and financial instruments and measures
required for its full implementation and for the protection,
outside the Natura 2000 areas, of species protected under
the Habitats and Birds Directives (Art 6.2.a. 7th indent)
- Further promote the protection of marine areas, in
particular with the Natura 2000 network as well as by
other feasible Community means (Art. 6.2.g. 4th indent)
As a contracting party to the Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD) the European Community has prepared
an EU Biodiversity Strategy and Biodiversity Action Plans
which aim, inter alia, to integrate biodiversity considerations
into other Community policies. Marine biodiversity issues
are addressed by both the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for
Natural Resources, and the BAP-Fisheries. Marine issues have
also been raised in relation to the impact of European fishing
fleets in international waters. Acting on many of the priorities identified
in the Message from Malahide, the Commission adopted in May
2006 a Communication on Halting the Loss of Biodiversity By
2010 — And Beyond [COM(2006) 216 final], which sets
out an ambitious policy approach to halting the loss of biodiversity
by 2010. In particular, it provides an EU Action Plan with
clear prioritised objectives and actions to achieve the 2010
target and outlines the respective responsibilities of EU
institutions and Member States. In coherence with the above
process, the first action identified in this EU Biodiversity
Action Plan is to accelerate efforts to finalise the Natura
2000 network. This states: "complete marine network of
Special Protection Areas (SPA) by 2008; adopt lists of Sites
of Community Importance (SCI) by 2008 for marine; designate
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and establish management
priorities and necessary conservation measures for SACs [by
2012 for marine]; establish similar management and conservation
measures for SPAs [by 2012 for marine]". This Action
Plan also specifies indicators to monitor progress, and a
timetable for evaluations. This Biodiversity Communication has been
broadly welcomed by other Community Institutions, including
December 2006 Environment Council, which invited the Commission
and Member States to proceed urgently with implementation
of the Biodiversity Action Plan. The Communication and Action Plan take account
of various existing international commitments relating to
marine protected areas.
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