Other relevant legislation

While the proposed Marine Directive will provide a dedicated instrument for marine protection, it adds to a number of existing EU laws that contribute to or help regulate aspects of marine protection.

These include most notably:

• the EU Habitats and Birds Directives (EC Reg 92/43 and 79/409), which protect certain species and habitats and require the protection of areas of sea as part of the EU's Natura 2000 network of protected areas;

• the Water Framework Directive (EC Reg 2000/60)which is aimed at achieving a good ecological status of among others coastal waters by addressing the pollution of surface waters in rivers and lakes;

• provisions under the Common Fisheries Policy limiting the impact of certain fishing practices on the marine environment;

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)(EC Reg 85/337) rules that require prior assessment and authorisation of certain plans and projects with a potential impact on the environment;

• laws addressing land-based pollution, waste water treatment, ship-safety rules;

• and the Directive on environmental liability (EC Reg 2004/35), which aims to prevent and remedy environmental damage.

Common Fisheries Policy

The EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was reformed in 2002, with a view to reducing the negative impacts of fishing on fish stocks and the wider marine environment.  Acknowledging that the CFP had failed to preserve fish stocks, the viability of the fisheries sector and the marine environment, the reform measures included the introduction of longer-term management and recovery plans for certain fish stocks, limits on fishing effort (incl. days spent fishing) and fleet capacity, explicit reference to conservation objectives and the use of emergency measures to regulate destructive fishing practices.