In their meeting on 4-5 December 2013 the EU Marine Directors have approved the Marine Strategy Framework Directive document “Monitoring Guidance for Underwater Noise in European Seas” (Part I, II and III).
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires European Member States (MS) to develop strategies for their marine waters that should lead to programmes of measures that achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in European Seas.
MSFD provides a list of eleven qualitative ‘Descriptors’ that determine GES. Descriptor 11 is Noise / Energy.
As an essential step in reaching GES MS should establish monitoring programmes for assessment of the state of the marine waters on a regular basis.
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Press Release, December 20, 2013