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The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires that biodiversity, structure and function of benthic ecosystems are safeguarded against adverse effects from various human activities. Bottom-trawl fisheries have been identified as a major cause of sea-floor abrasion and it is legally required to evaluate the pressure and its impact. The present study provides a pilot assessment of the physical disturbance on the seabed by mobile bottom-contacting gears and links the pressure intensity to benthic habitats st...

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires that biodiversity, structure and function of the marine ecosystems are safeguarded and benthic habitats, in particular, are not adversely affected by anthropogenic pressures. Evaluating the spatial and temporal variation of the benthic broad habitat types’ status in a six-year management cycle is mandatory under MSFD. The present study aims at assessing the benthic habitats status in the Bulgarian Black Sea shelf area in 2019. Benthic macrofauna diversity and...