MSFD spatial reference datasets

According to Article 4, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive is applicable to the four marine regions of Europe, namely the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the North-east Atlantic Ocean, where the last two are divided in four subregions each. Member States may implement the Directive in subdivisions of their marine waters at the appropriate level, provided that such subdivisions are delimited in a manner compatible with the marine regions and subregions. In this regards, all articles to be reported are linked to a specific Marine Reporting Unit (MRU), thereby linking the reported information to a specified part of the countries' marine waters. The present section makes available the spatial datasets where the MSFD is implemented: the marine regions and subregions (including other surrounding seas of Europe), the countries' marine waters, and the Marine Reporting Units used within the first and the second reporting cycles.