| The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), adopted in June 2008, commits Member States to adopt an ecosystemic approach to manage the marine environment. By this directive, France aims to achieve good environmental status of its marine waters by 2020. Descriptor 3 stipulates that populations of all commercially exploited fish and shellfish are within safe biological limits, exhibiting a population age and size distribution that is indicative of a healthy stock. The Marine Directive builds on existing European Union (EU) legislation as the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and criteria describing stocks status are derived from international authorities works as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the General Fisheries... |
