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National implementation of Marine Strategy Part 1 - Environmental Status

Marine Strategy Part 1 includes the initial assessment, the definition of Good Environmental Status (GES) and the corresponding environmental targets and indicators. These indicators are organised according to eleven qualitative descriptors, as set out in Annex I of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

Marine Strategy Part 1 also identifies key policy challenges and sets priorities for the knowledge programming. The updated version of the document was adopted by the Dutch Cabinet in June 2018.

Decision-making
The Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) is responsible for preparing the Marine Strategy for the Dutch section of the North Sea and for ensuring its timely and correct incorporation into Dutch legislation and regulations.

As stipulated in the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet), this responsibility is shared with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), due to that department’s mandate in the areas of biodiversity, nature conservation and fisheries.

The Council of Ministers formally adopts the Marine Strategy.

The Marine Strategy touches on a wide range of topics, the development of and decision-making for which require close cooperation between various ministries, including:

  • The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), responsible for the implementation of Natura 2000 at sea, biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries;
  • The Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth (KGG), responsible for ambitions relating to sustainable energy production and the efficient use of natural gas and oil reserves;
  • The Ministry of Defence, due to military zones and operational activities at sea; and
  • The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), which shares responsibility for issues such as land-based pollution and shipping. IenW is also responsible for sand extraction and nourishment, supporting coastal protection, land elevation and the mitigation of flood risks. In this context, Rijkswaterstaat Zee en Delta acts as the functional manager of the Dutch North Sea.

Within the Interdepartmental Directors’ Consultation on the North Sea (IDON), the ministries coordinate both at the strategic policy level and on the main lines of implementation of the MSFD-related outputs. This coordination takes place within the broader framework of integrated North Sea policy and, where necessary, also involves alignment with related policy domains.

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