Evaluating the impact of marine resource extraction and sea floor disturbance on seafloor ecosystem function of UK shelf areas is vital to sustainably meet increasing needs for UK marine resource extraction, whilst meeting ambitions for reaching net-zero. Pressures from bottom fishing and aggregate extraction activities that cause physical disturbance to the seabed can have adverse effects on benthic organisms and habitats. This report delivers an assessment for the effect of mobile bottom contacting gear (MBCG) and marine aggregate extraction on soft sediment and OSPAR threatened and/or declining habitats across the UK Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) using the Relative Benthic Status (RBS) and the Extent of Physical Disturbance to Benthic Habitats (BH3) indicators currently being used by ICES and OSPAR, respectively, for habitat condition assessments
