European sea basins

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) applies to marine waters under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Member States of the European Union. The MSFD distinguishes four marine regions:

• the Mediterranean Sea;
• the Baltic Sea;
• the Black Sea;
• the North-east Atlantic Ocean, including the waters surrounding the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.

These four marine regions are subdivided in in marine sub-regions, shown in the figure below (taken from the website of the EC LIFE+ project PISCES).