The 2008 Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to achieve good environmental status (GES) in all EU marine waters, meaning that seas and the ocean are clean, healthy and productive, by applying an ecosystem-based approach. According to the Directive, EU countries must develop marine strategies to ensure their seas are used sustainably.  It is the EU’s main regulatory instrument for marine environmental protection. In practice, it requires EU Member States to:

• Assess the state of their marine waters
• Define environmental targets based on common EU criteria
• Monitor progress using agreed indicators
• Implement measures to reduce pressures and impacts

The MSFD is structured around 11 descriptors of Good Environmental Status, covering boating-relevant issues such as biodiversity, non-indigenous species, pollution, underwater noise, marine litter, and seafloor integrity. The MSFD matters for boating as it sets the environmental framework that will define where, how, and under what conditions boating, nautical tourism and related infrastructure can be put in place and what potential measures are included in national plans taken that could affect boating.

An evaluation of the MSFD by the EU Commission concluded that it had not achieved its main objective of GES in all EU marine waters by 2020. The evaluation identified several shortcomings in the Directive’s regulatory framework that should now be analysed.

In its consultation response, EBI highlighted the economic and social importance of the recreational boating sector, while stressing its dependence on a clean marine environment. EBI supports strong environmental protection but calls for a balanced, practical, and economically viable approach that reduces regulatory burden and involves stakeholders early. It emphasises maintaining access to waters, ensuring coherent maritime spatial planning, and applying evidence-based, proportionate measures. EBI also advocates for stronger cross-border coordination and tailored, sector-specific solutions - such as eco-moorings instead of blanket restrictions - to effectively address environmental challenges without undermining the sector’s viability.

The full position paper can be found on the EBI website.