MSFD regions and subregions - version 2, Oct. 2022

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is implemented through an ecosystem-based approach, requiring cooperation amongst Member States and non-EU states sharing a marine region or subregion. For this purpose, MSFD Article 4 lists the following four marine regions: the Baltic Sea, the North-east Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Two of these regions are further divided into four subregions each: North-east Atlantic Ocean: • The Greater North Sea, including the Kattegat, and the English Channel; • The Celtic Seas; • The Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast; • Macaronesia. Mediterranean Sea: • The Western Mediterranean Sea; • The Adriatic Sea; • The Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea; • The Aegean-Levantine Sea. The present map provides the spatial extent of MSFD regions and subregions, as agreed by the MSFD Committee in November 2016. It is provided in ESRI Geodatabase and ESRI shape format, and OGC Geopackage formats.