Water Framework Directive 

The EU Water Framework Directive may have implications for the recreational boating sector. The Directive (WFD) applies to all water bodies - including rivers, lakes, coasts and estuaries and is monitoring the status of the ecology, morphology and quality of each water body.

Under the terms of the WFD, the Environment Agency (England and Wales), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Department of Environemnt (Northern Ireland) are the competent authorities for implementing the Directive.

Activities that have the potential to affect water status - including pollution (diffuse as well as point source), dredging, impoundments, and the introduction of alien species will be examined and potentially regulated if they are considered to pose a risk to the water body achieving what is termed under the Directive as 'good status'.

Whilst it is unclear at this stage as to how exactly the Directive will be implemented, it does have the potential to affect all aspects of recreational boating including:

• maintenance dredging;
• bank protection and weed control;
• navigation and vessel movements;
• discharges and diffuse pollution (this could include sewage from boats, antifouling residues from scrub down, etc);
• new developments, moorings and pontoons

The RYA is represented on the WFD National Liaison Panel as well as on DEFRA's National Stakeholder forum and are monitoring the implementation of the Directive closely. Regionally it will result in the production of River Basin Management Plans by the end of 2009 where there is limited representation of recreational interests. If you are interested in being more involved regionally then please contact your regional committee or if you have further questions please email the Environment Team.