Member State report: Ireland / Art3-4

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Ireland
Reported by MI, Ireland
Report date 2016-03-29
Report access ACSIE_MSFD4Geo_20140324.xml
Member state marine waters
The ‘outmost reaches of where a Member State has and / or exercises jurisdictional rights, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)’ for the purposes of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) are the outer limits of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is because, under Article 56(1) of the UNCLOS, within its EEZ a coastal state exercises jurisdiction with respect to, inter alia, the protection and preservation of the marine environment. For Ireland these outmost reaches have been established by the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (No. 8 of 2006). This provides that the outer limit of the EEZ is the line every point of which lies at a distance of 200 nautical miles (nm) from the nearest point of the baseline except where, ‘because of the proximity of a similar maritime zone of another state’ a 200 nm outer limit cannot be applied, the boundary of the EEZ is the ‘equitable equidistant line’ between the State and that other state. The Government prescribes the co-ordinates of such a line by statutory order and this is presently done by the Maritime Jurisdiction (Exclusive Fishery Limits) Order, 1976. In addition to the marine area enclosed by these outmost reaches, Ireland exercises a more limited form of jurisdiction for the protection of the marine environment in an area of continental shelf that extends beyond 200 nm from the State’s baselines in the area abutting the Porcupine Abyssal Plain. In this area Ireland exercises sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting the natural resources located in, on or under the seabed and its jurisdiction to protect the marine environment here therefore extends only to activities directed at exploiting these natural resources and that may harm it. Such activity can only proceed by licence and there are no such activities currently licensed. Moreover this limited jurisdiction does not extend to the water column above the seabed beyond 200 nm from baselines, which is part of the high seas. The more limited form of jurisdiction referred to above cannot effectively be exercised at present in two other areas of continental shelf that extend beyond 200 nm from baselines and that are also claimed by Ireland because of disputed or unresolved maritime boundary issues. The effective exercise of such jurisdiction must await the outcome of maritime delimitation negotiations. The areas concerned are the southern part of the Hatton-Rockall area, which is subject to overlapping claims by both Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and part of the seabed in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, where there are unresolved boundaries between Ireland, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Ireland does not propose to apply the requirements of the MSFD in these unresolved or disputed areas at present. Irish marine waters include coastal waters identified for the purposes of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). The landward boundary of marine waters is identified by the high water mark (HWM) shown on the Ordnance Survey Maps of Ireland except in the case of transitional waters (Directive 2000/60/EC) which are excluded from the scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). There is at present no agreement on territorial sea boundaries between Ireland and the United Kingdom in the vicinity of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough. Negotiations are also currently underway between Ireland and the UK on the delimitation of the EEZ. The area of Ireland’s marine waters covers an area of approximately 488,762 km2. Submission of Spatial Data Spatial data identifying Ireland’s marine waters described above and reported into DB Table MSFD4_GeographicalAreasDescription will be provided as a GIS polygon dataset. The format of the GIS polygon dataset is ESRI shapefile. Shapefile record contents consist of a shape type followed by the geometric data for the shape. Marine Waters Boundary Data Ireland will provide a GIS polygon file which includes all geographic boundaries relevant to the Ireland’s marine waters. This dataset will include geometry for the two component areas of Ireland’s marine waters where jurisdiction and limited jurisdiction, as described applies. The polygon dataset will include an attribute table containing the information shown in Table 5.5 - Attribute data for polygons in MS marine waters dataset as stated within European Commission, 2012, Guidance for 2012 reporting under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, using the MSFD database tool, Version 1.0, DG Environment, Brussels, pp164 (http://icm.eionet.europa.eu/schemas/dir200856ec/resources/MSFD%202012%20reporting%20guidance_incl_database_v1.0.pdf). Assessment Area Boundary Data Ireland will provide a GIS polygon file for the Irish assessment area boundary used for reporting on Articles 8, 9 and 10. This polygon will be attributed with its unique MarineUnitID code (i.e. only one) in the attribute table. Guidance on the reporting of spatial data and metadata, detailed in Document No 3 of the EIONET help documents, http://icm.eionet.europa.eu/schemas/dir200856ec/resources is under development. With regard to Irelands GIS polygon data, files and associated metadata standards will follow, where possible, standards developed under the INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC16). The Irish Spatial Data Exchange is a Discovery Service guided by the INSPIRE Directive. A discovery service makes it possible to search for spatial datasets, services and applications on the basis of the content of the corresponding metadata (ie. description) and to display the content of the metadata. The INSPIRE Directive aims to establish an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community, to allow public access to environmental information and re-use of public sector information. INSPIRE compliant metadata for Ireland’s geographic boundary areas will be available through Irish Spatial Data Exchange. Metadata Record Name: MSFD Marine Waters Boundary Data Metadata Catalog URL: http://catalog.marine.ie/geonetwork/srv/en/main.home Metadata Record Name: MSFD Assessment Area Boundary Data Metadata Catalog URL: http://catalog.marine.ie/geonetwork/srv/en/main.home Whilst there is no specific method for deriving area measurements for MSFD reporting, the general guidance for derivation of area where true area representation is required is the use of of EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA for area calculation of MSFD marine waters. Ireland understands that both the EEA and ICES use EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA. This geographic projection system is widely recognised as being the single coordinate reference system for all Europe and is used for statistical mapping at all scales and other purposes where true area representation is required. ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA Europe is suitable for use in Europe - onshore and offshore. For this reason the MSFD assessment area calculations for Ireland have been derived using the EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA coordinate reference system.
Region / subregion description
See Member State Description. All of Ireland’s marine waters fall within the North-east Atlantic Ocean marine region and within the marine subregion known the Celtic Seas. No formal subdivisions of this marine subregion have been made.
Subdivisions
Not applicable.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Ireland’s assessment area has been defined under description above. No division of this area into smaller assessment areas has been undertaken for the initial assessment .
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
ACS IE AA_AssessmentArea ACS-IE-AA-001
Irish Assesment Area
Region/ subregion
ACS
Art. 8 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 8 nature of coordination
National experts are working within the framework of OSPAR, the European Commission’s Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) for the MSFD and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to advance knowledge and coordinate implementation of the Directive.. Ireland has been actively involved with these organisations for many years. This cooperation provides Ireland with access to a valuable network of expertise much larger than is available within Ireland alone. In particular, the OSPAR Quality Status Report provided an important starting point for the initial Assessment. Ireland is participating in various OSPAR working groups and committees and is represented through expert involvement from across the relevant Government Departments and State Agencies. In addition, Ireland draws on the work of the ICES scientific and advisory services, particularly in respect of the work done on Descriptor 3. Ireland is employing the assessment methodology developed through the EU funded ODEMM Project. Countries involved United Kingdom, France, and other OSPAR and EU countries. (Coordination at a national level was with UK and France only. Through OSPAR and the CIS we have coordinated with all OSPAR and EU countries)
Art. 8 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
Based on coordination within OSPAR and the CIS, Ireland is currently not aware of any significant differences, problems or inconsistencies with the initial assessments being carried out in the UK and France. Our understanding of the implications and implementation of the MSFD is continuously evolving. This, coupled with the demands on limited resources to complete the initial assessment and first set of reporting sheets, means that regional coordination will probably improve as we progress this and subsequent reporting cycles.
Art. 9 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 9 nature of coordination
Ireland has utilised the information sharing facilitated by OSPAR on existing methodologies and future developments for determining GES, environmental targets and indicators. The non-binding OSPAR ‘Advice Documents’ use the benefit of OSPAR expertise to set out common approaches for expressing GES and potential methodologies for developing targets and indicators. The OSPAR countries implementing the MSFD have collectively analysed and shared their emerging GES determinations and associated targets and indicators through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1, 2, 4 and 6) OSPAR countries are sharing expertise on common approaches. An intensive programme of work is still continuing to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the ongoing development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. Ireland has also participated in EU coordination through the EU CIS process and, in particular, through work carried out by the EU Technical Sub-Group on litter and the EU Technical Sub-Group on underwater noise.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
As set out in Finding Common Ground – 2012, OSPAR countries have identified a number of areas where regional coordination can be improved. Key priorities for OSPAR-level work between 2012 and 2018, include work on common indicators as a basis for an update of the OSPAR monitoring and assessment programme, as well as work on common approaches to measures (Executive Summary, OSPAR Commission, 2012). Issues with each of the 11 Descriptors were also identified by OSPAR and over the coming years Ireland will engage fully with OSPAR to progress this work and improve coordination. Biodiversity monitoring and assessment has been identified by OSPAR as an area which could particularly benefit from increased regional coordination, similar to the coordination achieved by OSPAR in areas such as contaminants and eutrophication. The challenge remains at regional level to achieve a common understanding, approach and methodology for implementing an ecosystem-based assessment to evaluate GES as required by the MSFD.
Art. 10 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 10 nature of coordination
Ireland has utilised the information sharing facilitated by OSPAR on existing methodologies and future developments for determining GES, environmental targets and indicators. The non-binding OSPAR ‘Advice Documents’ use the benefit of OSPAR expertise to set out common approaches for expressing GES and potential methodologies for developing targets and indicators. The OSPAR countries implementing the MSFD have collectively analysed and shared their emerging GES determinations and associated targets and indicators through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1, 2, 4 and 6) OSPAR countries are sharing expertise on common approaches. An intensive programme of work is still continuing to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the ongoing development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. Ireland has also participated in EU coordination through the EU CIS process and, in particular, through work carried out by the EU Technical Sub-Group on litter and the EU Technical Sub-Group on underwater noise.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
As set out in Finding Common Ground – 2012, OSPAR countries have identified a number of areas where regional coordination can be improved. Key priorities for OSPAR-level work between 2012 and 2018, include work on common indicators as a basis for an update of the OSPAR monitoring and assessment programme, as well as work on common approaches to measures (Executive Summary, OSPAR Commission, 2012). Issues with each of the 11 Descriptors were also identified by OSPAR and over the coming years Ireland will engage fully with OSPAR to progress this work and improve coordination. Biodiversity monitoring and assessment has been identified by OSPAR as an area which could particularly benefit from increased regional coordination, similar to the coordination achieved by OSPAR in areas such as contaminants and eutrophication. The challenge remains at regional level to achieve a common understanding, approach and methodology for implementing an ecosystem-based assessment to evaluate GES as required by the MSFD.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Ireland
Reported by MI, Ireland
Report date 2014-03-24
Report access ACSIE_MSFD4Geo_20140324.xml
Member state marine waters
The ‘outmost reaches of where a Member State has and / or exercises jurisdictional rights, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)’ for the purposes of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) are the outer limits of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is because, under Article 56(1) of the UNCLOS, within its EEZ a coastal state exercises jurisdiction with respect to, inter alia, the protection and preservation of the marine environment. For Ireland these outmost reaches have been established by the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (No. 8 of 2006). This provides that the outer limit of the EEZ is the line every point of which lies at a distance of 200 nautical miles (nm) from the nearest point of the baseline except where, ‘because of the proximity of a similar maritime zone of another state’ a 200 nm outer limit cannot be applied, the boundary of the EEZ is the ‘equitable equidistant line’ between the State and that other state. The Government prescribes the co-ordinates of such a line by statutory order and this is presently done by the Maritime Jurisdiction (Exclusive Fishery Limits) Order, 1976. In addition to the marine area enclosed by these outmost reaches, Ireland exercises a more limited form of jurisdiction for the protection of the marine environment in an area of continental shelf that extends beyond 200 nm from the State’s baselines in the area abutting the Porcupine Abyssal Plain. In this area Ireland exercises sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting the natural resources located in, on or under the seabed and its jurisdiction to protect the marine environment here therefore extends only to activities directed at exploiting these natural resources and that may harm it. Such activity can only proceed by licence and there are no such activities currently licensed. Moreover this limited jurisdiction does not extend to the water column above the seabed beyond 200 nm from baselines, which is part of the high seas. The more limited form of jurisdiction referred to above cannot effectively be exercised at present in two other areas of continental shelf that extend beyond 200 nm from baselines and that are also claimed by Ireland because of disputed or unresolved maritime boundary issues. The effective exercise of such jurisdiction must await the outcome of maritime delimitation negotiations. The areas concerned are the southern part of the Hatton-Rockall area, which is subject to overlapping claims by both Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and part of the seabed in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, where there are unresolved boundaries between Ireland, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Ireland does not propose to apply the requirements of the MSFD in these unresolved or disputed areas at present. Irish marine waters include coastal waters identified for the purposes of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). The landward boundary of marine waters is identified by the high water mark (HWM) shown on the Ordnance Survey Maps of Ireland except in the case of transitional waters (Directive 2000/60/EC) which are excluded from the scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). There is at present no agreement on territorial sea boundaries between Ireland and the United Kingdom in the vicinity of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough. Negotiations are also currently underway between Ireland and the UK on the delimitation of the EEZ. The area of Ireland’s marine waters covers an area of approximately 488,762 km2. Submission of Spatial Data Spatial data identifying Ireland’s marine waters described above and reported into DB Table MSFD4_GeographicalAreasDescription will be provided as a GIS polygon dataset. The format of the GIS polygon dataset is ESRI shapefile. Shapefile record contents consist of a shape type followed by the geometric data for the shape. Marine Waters Boundary Data Ireland will provide a GIS polygon file which includes all geographic boundaries relevant to the Ireland’s marine waters. This dataset will include geometry for the two component areas of Ireland’s marine waters where jurisdiction and limited jurisdiction, as described applies. The polygon dataset will include an attribute table containing the information shown in Table 5.5 - Attribute data for polygons in MS marine waters dataset as stated within European Commission, 2012, Guidance for 2012 reporting under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, using the MSFD database tool, Version 1.0, DG Environment, Brussels, pp164 (http://icm.eionet.europa.eu/schemas/dir200856ec/resources/MSFD%202012%20reporting%20guidance_incl_database_v1.0.pdf). Assessment Area Boundary Data Ireland will provide a GIS polygon file for the Irish assessment area boundary used for reporting on Articles 8, 9 and 10. This polygon will be attributed with its unique MarineUnitID code (i.e. only one) in the attribute table. Guidance on the reporting of spatial data and metadata, detailed in Document No 3 of the EIONET help documents, http://icm.eionet.europa.eu/schemas/dir200856ec/resources is under development. With regard to Irelands GIS polygon data, files and associated metadata standards will follow, where possible, standards developed under the INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC16). The Irish Spatial Data Exchange is a Discovery Service guided by the INSPIRE Directive. A discovery service makes it possible to search for spatial datasets, services and applications on the basis of the content of the corresponding metadata (ie. description) and to display the content of the metadata. The INSPIRE Directive aims to establish an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community, to allow public access to environmental information and re-use of public sector information. INSPIRE compliant metadata for Ireland’s geographic boundary areas will be available through Irish Spatial Data Exchange. Metadata Record Name: MSFD Marine Waters Boundary Data Metadata Catalog URL: http://catalog.marine.ie/geonetwork/srv/en/main.home Metadata Record Name: MSFD Assessment Area Boundary Data Metadata Catalog URL: http://catalog.marine.ie/geonetwork/srv/en/main.home Whilst there is no specific method for deriving area measurements for MSFD reporting, the general guidance for derivation of area where true area representation is required is the use of of EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA for area calculation of MSFD marine waters. Ireland understands that both the EEA and ICES use EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA. This geographic projection system is widely recognised as being the single coordinate reference system for all Europe and is used for statistical mapping at all scales and other purposes where true area representation is required. ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA Europe is suitable for use in Europe - onshore and offshore. For this reason the MSFD assessment area calculations for Ireland have been derived using the EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA coordinate reference system.
Region / subregion description
See Member State Description. All of Ireland’s marine waters fall within the North-east Atlantic Ocean marine region and within the marine subregion known the Celtic Seas. No formal subdivisions of this marine subregion have been made.
Subdivisions
Not applicable.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Ireland’s assessment area has been defined under description above. No division of this area into smaller assessment areas has been undertaken for the initial assessment .
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
ACS IE AA_AssessmentArea ACS-IE-AA-001
Irish Assesment Area
Region/ subregion
ACS
Art. 8 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 8 nature of coordination
National experts are working within the framework of OSPAR, the European Commission’s Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) for the MSFD and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to advance knowledge and coordinate implementation of the Directive.. Ireland has been actively involved with these organisations for many years. This cooperation provides Ireland with access to a valuable network of expertise much larger than is available within Ireland alone. In particular, the OSPAR Quality Status Report provided an important starting point for the initial Assessment. Ireland is participating in various OSPAR working groups and committees and is represented through expert involvement from across the relevant Government Departments and State Agencies. In addition, Ireland draws on the work of the ICES scientific and advisory services, particularly in respect of the work done on Descriptor 3. Ireland is employing the assessment methodology developed through the EU funded ODEMM Project. Countries involved United Kingdom, France, and other OSPAR and EU countries. (Coordination at a national level was with UK and France only. Through OSPAR and the CIS we have coordinated with all OSPAR and EU countries)
Art. 8 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
Based on coordination within OSPAR and the CIS, Ireland is currently not aware of any significant differences, problems or inconsistencies with the initial assessments being carried out in the UK and France. Our understanding of the implications and implementation of the MSFD is continuously evolving. This, coupled with the demands on limited resources to complete the initial assessment and first set of reporting sheets, means that regional coordination will probably improve as we progress this and subsequent reporting cycles.
Art. 9 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 9 nature of coordination
Ireland has utilised the information sharing facilitated by OSPAR on existing methodologies and future developments for determining GES, environmental targets and indicators. The non-binding OSPAR ‘Advice Documents’ use the benefit of OSPAR expertise to set out common approaches for expressing GES and potential methodologies for developing targets and indicators. The OSPAR countries implementing the MSFD have collectively analysed and shared their emerging GES determinations and associated targets and indicators through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1, 2, 4 and 6) OSPAR countries are sharing expertise on common approaches. An intensive programme of work is still continuing to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the ongoing development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. Ireland has also participated in EU coordination through the EU CIS process and, in particular, through work carried out by the EU Technical Sub-Group on litter and the EU Technical Sub-Group on underwater noise.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
As set out in Finding Common Ground – 2012, OSPAR countries have identified a number of areas where regional coordination can be improved. Key priorities for OSPAR-level work between 2012 and 2018, include work on common indicators as a basis for an update of the OSPAR monitoring and assessment programme, as well as work on common approaches to measures (Executive Summary, OSPAR Commission, 2012). Issues with each of the 11 Descriptors were also identified by OSPAR and over the coming years Ireland will engage fully with OSPAR to progress this work and improve coordination. Biodiversity monitoring and assessment has been identified by OSPAR as an area which could particularly benefit from increased regional coordination, similar to the coordination achieved by OSPAR in areas such as contaminants and eutrophication. The challenge remains at regional level to achieve a common understanding, approach and methodology for implementing an ecosystem-based assessment to evaluate GES as required by the MSFD.
Art. 10 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 10 nature of coordination
Ireland has utilised the information sharing facilitated by OSPAR on existing methodologies and future developments for determining GES, environmental targets and indicators. The non-binding OSPAR ‘Advice Documents’ use the benefit of OSPAR expertise to set out common approaches for expressing GES and potential methodologies for developing targets and indicators. The OSPAR countries implementing the MSFD have collectively analysed and shared their emerging GES determinations and associated targets and indicators through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1, 2, 4 and 6) OSPAR countries are sharing expertise on common approaches. An intensive programme of work is still continuing to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the ongoing development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. Ireland has also participated in EU coordination through the EU CIS process and, in particular, through work carried out by the EU Technical Sub-Group on litter and the EU Technical Sub-Group on underwater noise.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
As set out in Finding Common Ground – 2012, OSPAR countries have identified a number of areas where regional coordination can be improved. Key priorities for OSPAR-level work between 2012 and 2018, include work on common indicators as a basis for an update of the OSPAR monitoring and assessment programme, as well as work on common approaches to measures (Executive Summary, OSPAR Commission, 2012). Issues with each of the 11 Descriptors were also identified by OSPAR and over the coming years Ireland will engage fully with OSPAR to progress this work and improve coordination. Biodiversity monitoring and assessment has been identified by OSPAR as an area which could particularly benefit from increased regional coordination, similar to the coordination achieved by OSPAR in areas such as contaminants and eutrophication. The challenge remains at regional level to achieve a common understanding, approach and methodology for implementing an ecosystem-based assessment to evaluate GES as required by the MSFD.

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 3(1) Marine waters & Art. 4/2017 Decision: Marine regions, subregions, and subdivisions & Art. 5(2) & Art. 6 Regional cooperation
Member State Ireland
Reported by MI, Ireland
Report date 2013-04-26
Report access ACSIE_MSFD4Geo_20130415.xml
Member state marine waters
The ‘outmost reaches of where a Member State has and / or exercises jurisdictional rights, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)’ for the purposes of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) are the outer limits of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is because, under Article 56(1) of the UNCLOS, within its EEZ a coastal state exercises jurisdiction with respect to, inter alia, the protection and preservation of the marine environment. For Ireland these outmost reaches have been established by the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (No. 8 of 2006). This provides that the outer limit of the EEZ is the line every point of which lies at a distance of 200 nautical miles (nm) from the nearest point of the baseline except where, ‘because of the proximity of a similar maritime zone of another state’ a 200 nm outer limit cannot be applied, the boundary of the EEZ is the ‘equitable equidistant line’ between the State and that other state. The Government prescribes the co-ordinates of such a line by statutory order and this is presently done by the Maritime Jurisdiction (Exclusive Fishery Limits) Order, 1976. In addition to the marine area enclosed by these outmost reaches, Ireland exercises a more limited form of jurisdiction for the protection of the marine environment in an area of continental shelf that extends beyond 200 nm from the State’s baselines in the area abutting the Porcupine Abyssal Plain. In this area Ireland exercises sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting the natural resources located in, on or under the seabed and its jurisdiction to protect the marine environment here therefore extends only to activities directed at exploiting these natural resources and that may harm it. Such activity can only proceed by licence and there are no such activities currently licensed. Moreover this limited jurisdiction does not extend to the water column above the seabed beyond 200 nm from baselines, which is part of the high seas. The more limited form of jurisdiction referred to above cannot effectively be exercised at present in two other areas of continental shelf that extend beyond 200 nm from baselines and that are also claimed by Ireland because of disputed or unresolved maritime boundary issues. The effective exercise of such jurisdiction must await the outcome of maritime delimitation negotiations. The areas concerned are the southern part of the Hatton-Rockall area, which is subject to overlapping claims by both Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and part of the seabed in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay, where there are unresolved boundaries between Ireland, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Ireland does not propose to apply the requirements of the MSFD in these unresolved or disputed areas at present. Irish marine waters include coastal waters identified for the purposes of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC). The landward boundary of marine waters is identified by the high water mark (HWM) shown on the Ordnance Survey Maps of Ireland except in the case of transitional waters (Directive 2000/60/EC) which are excluded from the scope of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). There is at present no agreement on territorial sea boundaries between Ireland and the United Kingdom in the vicinity of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough. Negotiations are also currently underway between Ireland and the UK on the delimitation of the EEZ. The area of Ireland’s marine waters covers an area of approximately 488,762 km2. Submission of Spatial Data Spatial data identifying Ireland’s marine waters described above and reported into DB Table MSFD4_GeographicalAreasDescription will be provided as a GIS polygon dataset. The format of the GIS polygon dataset is ESRI shapefile. Shapefile record contents consist of a shape type followed by the geometric data for the shape. Marine Waters Boundary Data Ireland will provide a GIS polygon file which includes all geographic boundaries relevant to the Ireland’s marine waters. This dataset will include geometry for the two component areas of Ireland’s marine waters where jurisdiction and limited jurisdiction, as described applies. The polygon dataset will include an attribute table containing the information shown in Table 5.5 - Attribute data for polygons in MS marine waters dataset as stated within European Commission, 2012, Guidance for 2012 reporting under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, using the MSFD database tool, Version 1.0, DG Environment, Brussels, pp164 (http://icm.eionet.europa.eu/schemas/dir200856ec/resources/MSFD%202012%20reporting%20guidance_incl_database_v1.0.pdf). Assessment Area Boundary Data Ireland will provide a GIS polygon file for the Irish assessment area boundary used for reporting on Articles 8, 9 and 10. This polygon will be attributed with its unique MarineUnitID code (i.e. only one) in the attribute table. Guidance on the reporting of spatial data and metadata, detailed in Document No 3 of the EIONET help documents, http://icm.eionet.europa.eu/schemas/dir200856ec/resources is under development. With regard to Irelands GIS polygon data, files and associated metadata standards will follow, where possible, standards developed under the INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC16). The Irish Spatial Data Exchange is a Discovery Service guided by the INSPIRE Directive. A discovery service makes it possible to search for spatial datasets, services and applications on the basis of the content of the corresponding metadata (ie. description) and to display the content of the metadata. The INSPIRE Directive aims to establish an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community, to allow public access to environmental information and re-use of public sector information. INSPIRE compliant metadata for Ireland’s geographic boundary areas will be available through Irish Spatial Data Exchange. Metadata Record Name: MSFD Marine Waters Boundary Data Metadata Catalog URL: http://catalog.marine.ie/geonetwork/srv/en/main.home Metadata Record Name: MSFD Assessment Area Boundary Data Metadata Catalog URL: http://catalog.marine.ie/geonetwork/srv/en/main.home Whilst there is no specific method for deriving area measurements for MSFD reporting, the general guidance for derivation of area where true area representation is required is the use of of EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA for area calculation of MSFD marine waters. Ireland understands that both the EEA and ICES use EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA. This geographic projection system is widely recognised as being the single coordinate reference system for all Europe and is used for statistical mapping at all scales and other purposes where true area representation is required. ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA Europe is suitable for use in Europe - onshore and offshore. For this reason the MSFD assessment area calculations for Ireland have been derived using the EPSG: 3035 - ETRS89 / ETRS-LAEA coordinate reference system.
Region / subregion description
See Member State Description. All of Ireland’s marine waters fall within the North-east Atlantic Ocean marine region and within the marine subregion known the Celtic Seas. No formal subdivisions of this marine subregion have been made.
Subdivisions
Not applicable.
MRUs description (AreaType)
Ireland’s assessment area has been defined under description above. No division of this area into smaller assessment areas has been undertaken for the initial assessment .
MRUs
Region or subregion Member state Area type Marine Reporting Unit MRU Name
ACS IE AA_AssessmentArea ACS-IE-AA-001
Irish Assesment Area
Region/ subregion
ACS
Art. 8 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 8 nature of coordination
National experts are working within the framework of OSPAR, the European Commission’s Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) for the MSFD and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to advance knowledge and coordinate implementation of the Directive.. Ireland has been actively involved with these organisations for many years. This cooperation provides Ireland with access to a valuable network of expertise much larger than is available within Ireland alone. In particular, the OSPAR Quality Status Report provided an important starting point for the initial Assessment. Ireland is participating in various OSPAR working groups and committees and is represented through expert involvement from across the relevant Government Departments and State Agencies. In addition, Ireland draws on the work of the ICES scientific and advisory services, particularly in respect of the work done on Descriptor 3. Ireland is employing the assessment methodology developed through the EU funded ODEMM Project. Countries involved United Kingdom, France, and other OSPAR and EU countries. (Coordination at a national level was with UK and France only. Through OSPAR and the CIS we have coordinated with all OSPAR and EU countries)
Art. 8 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 8 regional coherence problems
Based on coordination within OSPAR and the CIS, Ireland is currently not aware of any significant differences, problems or inconsistencies with the initial assessments being carried out in the UK and France. Our understanding of the implications and implementation of the MSFD is continuously evolving. This, coupled with the demands on limited resources to complete the initial assessment and first set of reporting sheets, means that regional coordination will probably improve as we progress this and subsequent reporting cycles.
Art. 9 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 9 nature of coordination
Ireland has utilised the information sharing facilitated by OSPAR on existing methodologies and future developments for determining GES, environmental targets and indicators. The non-binding OSPAR ‘Advice Documents’ use the benefit of OSPAR expertise to set out common approaches for expressing GES and potential methodologies for developing targets and indicators. The OSPAR countries implementing the MSFD have collectively analysed and shared their emerging GES determinations and associated targets and indicators through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1, 2, 4 and 6) OSPAR countries are sharing expertise on common approaches. An intensive programme of work is still continuing to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the ongoing development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. Ireland has also participated in EU coordination through the EU CIS process and, in particular, through work carried out by the EU Technical Sub-Group on litter and the EU Technical Sub-Group on underwater noise.
Art. 9 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 9 regional coherence problems
As set out in Finding Common Ground – 2012, OSPAR countries have identified a number of areas where regional coordination can be improved. Key priorities for OSPAR-level work between 2012 and 2018, include work on common indicators as a basis for an update of the OSPAR monitoring and assessment programme, as well as work on common approaches to measures (Executive Summary, OSPAR Commission, 2012). Issues with each of the 11 Descriptors were also identified by OSPAR and over the coming years Ireland will engage fully with OSPAR to progress this work and improve coordination. Biodiversity monitoring and assessment has been identified by OSPAR as an area which could particularly benefit from increased regional coordination, similar to the coordination achieved by OSPAR in areas such as contaminants and eutrophication. The challenge remains at regional level to achieve a common understanding, approach and methodology for implementing an ecosystem-based assessment to evaluate GES as required by the MSFD.
Art. 10 countries involved
NL, DE, BE, IS, SE, FR, LU, NO, , , PT, ES, CH, DK, UK, FI
Art. 10 nature of coordination
Ireland has utilised the information sharing facilitated by OSPAR on existing methodologies and future developments for determining GES, environmental targets and indicators. The non-binding OSPAR ‘Advice Documents’ use the benefit of OSPAR expertise to set out common approaches for expressing GES and potential methodologies for developing targets and indicators. The OSPAR countries implementing the MSFD have collectively analysed and shared their emerging GES determinations and associated targets and indicators through the creation of an inventory of emerging national proposals for Descriptors 3,5,7,8,9,10 and 11. For the biodiversity Descriptors (1, 2, 4 and 6) OSPAR countries are sharing expertise on common approaches. An intensive programme of work is still continuing to coordinate national approaches to biodiversity targets and indicators, including the ongoing development of a proposed set of common OSPAR biodiversity indicators for MSFD. Ireland has also participated in EU coordination through the EU CIS process and, in particular, through work carried out by the EU Technical Sub-Group on litter and the EU Technical Sub-Group on underwater noise.
Art. 10 regional coherence
Partial
Art. 10 regional coherence problems
As set out in Finding Common Ground – 2012, OSPAR countries have identified a number of areas where regional coordination can be improved. Key priorities for OSPAR-level work between 2012 and 2018, include work on common indicators as a basis for an update of the OSPAR monitoring and assessment programme, as well as work on common approaches to measures (Executive Summary, OSPAR Commission, 2012). Issues with each of the 11 Descriptors were also identified by OSPAR and over the coming years Ireland will engage fully with OSPAR to progress this work and improve coordination. Biodiversity monitoring and assessment has been identified by OSPAR as an area which could particularly benefit from increased regional coordination, similar to the coordination achieved by OSPAR in areas such as contaminants and eutrophication. The challenge remains at regional level to achieve a common understanding, approach and methodology for implementing an ecosystem-based assessment to evaluate GES as required by the MSFD.