Marine Strategy for the Dutch part of the North Sea 2022-2027 (part 3). MSFD programme of measures.

The Marine Strategy Part 3 comprises the programme of measures that contributes towards the achievement of the protection and restoration of the North Sea, the promotion of its sustainable use, and the maintenance of good environmental status and the environmental goals. This Part of the Marine Strategy is based on the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive and has been elaborated as an appendix of North Sea Region Programme 2022-2027, and the Dutch National Water Programme 2022-2027. Concerning the programme of measures, this Marine Strategy aims at achieving a healthy and resilient sea in the near future, with a sustainable use of its ecosystem. Particularly, the Strategy focuses on: implementation and compliance with International agreements and European Legislation on the matter, and strengthening of International cooperation among countries; addressing changes in the sea environment and effects of climate change, including: rising sea level, increasing seawater temperature, increasing ocean acidification; improvement of good environmental status for selected indicators
This Strategy also specifies additional measures approaching: biodiversity, seafloor integrity, litter and plastic pollution, underwater noise. Particularly, the Strategy focuses on the following instruments, to maintain and restore the ecosystem in the North Sea: development of an ecological network of protected marine areas; increasing the percentage of ecologically valuable area completely closed to all forms of fisheries, to protect the seabed; creation of new soil protection areas; designation of an area for oyster recovery; enlargement of areas for protecting seabirds; targeted actions to protect wildlife species; development of protection plans for vulnerable species, including marine mammals, fish, certain types of sharks and rays; implementation of clean beaches programme, with collaboration between municipalities and entrepreneurs; expansion of the partnerships within river basin districts and sub-basin districts, in order to provide for a regular management and maintenance of main water system; increasing awareness of the litter problem among site and water managers along rivers; implementation of the duty to deliver persistent floating cargo residues, and to wash the discharged tanks, in compliance with the provisions of the MARPOL Convention; implementation of measures for increasing recycling and sustainable use of fishing gears, through incentives and definition of production standards; measures to prevent the harmful effects of underwater noises resulting from human activities.