Status of benthic habitats in relation to trawling was assessed in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast region. Offshore circalittoral mud were the most affected habitats (80% highly or moderate disturbed) and upper bathyal sediment the least (46% highly or moderate disturbed). The South Iberian Atlantic assessment is not reliable because of a lack of Portuguese data.

Coastal water bodies were assessed for only 72% (invertebrates), and 59% (vegetation) of the total area of three OSPAR Regions. From those, the Water Framework Directive quality status was good or high for 79% (invertebrates) and for 86% (vegetation). However, local eutrophic impacted areas were highlighted for 2010 and 2016 reporting cycles.

There was low species diversity in infralittoral sand, - mud and circalittoral sandy habitats in the Greater North Sea. It was moderate/high in offshore areas till 2015, but expected impacts of fisheries might lead to (near) future decreases. Other pressures (e.g., eutrophication, diffuse pollution), are likely to prevent recovery of impacted habitats.

A risk assessment showed seafloor disturbance caused by fishing occurred in all broad habitat types, 48% of the assessed area in 2016 to 2020, and 53% during 2009 to 2020. ‘High’ disturbance was greatest in Offshore circalittoral mud, alongside Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities, whilst disturbance was predominantly ‘Low’ on Offshore circalittoral coarse sediment.