EU request for a technical service for data collection and preparation to support seafloor quality threshold analysis

<p dir="ltr">On 14 July 2025, ICES issued a targeted data call to Member States and ICES network at the request of the Technical Group on seabed habitats and sea-floor integrity (TG Seabed). The deadline for data submission was 15 October 2025. ICES collected relevant datasets and methods for defining thresholds, ensuring adherence to minimum standards, e.g. spatial scales, indicator types, documentation, operational readiness. This included the collection of data covering key pressures, e.g. bottom trawling, eutrophication, hypoxia.</p><p dir="ltr">The data call requested time-series of benthic community data from reference sites, e.g. undisturbed areas or marine protected areas (MPAs), as well as from pressure–state gradient studies. For the latter, two types of studies were requested: studies specifically designed to isolate the effects of a given pressure, and broader studies that can be stratified by habitat type and corresponding pressure gradients. A “frequently asked” document was also created to support both national data submitters and TG Seabed members.</p><p dir="ltr">ICES will perform quality control, compilation, and preparation of data and supporting code. This will be done to ensure that submissions are documented and ready for analysis and method testing. Final data will be documented in the final advice (Deliverable 3 of the request). This Technical Service (Deliverable 1 of the request) reports on progress towards this effort.</p><p dir="ltr">The data call and the list of “frequently asked questions” are available at the ICES library: <a href="https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.29559482" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.29559482</a>.</p>