1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Joseph Bech building
5, Rue Alphonse Weicker
L-2721 Luxembourg
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
3 May 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
30 April 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
30 April 2025
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 14 on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine recources for sustainable development which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under 'Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature'.
SDG 14 aims to protect and ensure the sustainable use of oceans. This includes the reduction of marine pollution and the impacts of ocean acidification, the ending of overfishing and the conservation of marine and coastal areas and ecosystems. SDG 14 has strong interdependencies with a broad range of other SDGs, as oceans sustain coastal economies and livelihoods, contribute to food production and function as a carbon sink.
The indicator can be considered as similar to the global SDG indicator 14.5.1 "Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas".
The EU Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive aim to maintain or restore a favourable conservation status of protected habitats and species, and safeguard their sustainable use and management. The Habitats Directive aims to contribute towards ensuring biodiversity of the EU, including in the marine environment and lists nine marine habitat types and 16 species for which marine site designation is required, whilst the Birds Directive lists a further 60 bird species whose conservation requires marine site protection.
The EU biodiversity strategy aims to protect at least 30% of land and sea in Europe including both nationally designated sites and Natura 2000 sites.
Marine protected areas can serve various objectives including species and habitats protection, biodiversity conservation and restoration, but also resource use within defined ecological boundaries. For all MPAs, specific management objectives are set, often consisting of different zones with permitted and non-permitted uses.
The EU is also engaged in discussions at the United Nations General Assembly towards an international legally binding agreement on the conservation of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).
4.1. Data description
This indicator measures the extent of marine protected areas (MPAs) in EU marine waters. MPAs are biodiversity ‘hotspots’ and can serve various objectives including species and habitats protection, biodiversity conservation and restoration, but also resource use within defined ecological boundaries. MPAs may also positively impact neighbouring areas.
The indicator comprises nationally designated protected areas and Natura 2000 sites.A nationally designated area is an area protected by national legislation. The Natura 2000 network comprises both marine and terrestrial protected areas designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives with the goal to maintain or restore a favourable conservation status for habitat types and species of EU interest.
4.2. Unit of measure
km2 and marine protected area (%)
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year
4.4. Accuracy - overall
Data provided by the Member States to the Commission are consolidated by the European Environment Agency / European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity (EEA ETC/BD).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ETC/BD
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: European Environment Agency (EEA), European Commission - Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) (ENV_BIO4)
Data provider: European Environment Agency (EEA)
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every 3+ years5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated aperiodically.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States, however do not apply to Czechia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia (landlocked countries). The area of marine waters is as reported by Member State under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC).
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States (as far as applicable).
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
5 to 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2012.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
3 to 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
see table sdg_14_10
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
