There is ongoing liaison between the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) and the Continental Shelf Directorate (CSD) as the regulator of exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons on the Continental Shelf. Discussions were initiated specifically on the setting of the required mechanism for consideration of MSFD requirements in offshore licensing and permitting regimes, which discussions focused on the development of a guidance document at EU level outlining best available techniques on hydrocarbon exploration and production. This guidance document was published early 2019 (https://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/energy/pdf/hydrocarbons_guidance_doc.pdf) and exploration and production licences awarded under a Production Sharing Contract, as from 2019, include an obligation that contractors carry out operations in accordance with the aforementioned EU guidance document. The objectives of the measure are thus considered to be achieved in 2019. The need for the guidance document at a National scale or otherwise will be subject to further discussions. In parallel, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ERA and CSD for the transmittal of environmental data from CSD licensed activities to ERA for the scope of MSFD implementation.

Work in relation to this measure is ongoing through discussions across relevant entities and ongoing implementation of Water Framework Directive measures, particularly vis-a-vis the environmental permitting processes and the compilation of the inventory on discharges, emissions and losses in line with Article 5 of Directive 2008/105/EC. A number of initiatives are also ongoing which would contribute to this measure including actions as part of the LIFE 16 IPE MT008 project such as the mapping of industrial polluting activities and studies on wastewater quality characterisation. Gaps in data and procedures have delayed the progress towards achieving the results of this measure, however implementation of this measure will continue in the coming years.