OSPAR request to support the development of common and candidate OSPAR biodiversity indicators for benthic habitats: selection of habitats in support of the development of the Typical Species Composition indicator

ICES provides selection criteria for generating a reduced list of habitats in support of the development of the Typical Species Composition indicator. ICES  has  not  selected  specific  habitats  at  this  point  due  to  the  absence  of  collated  information to support the use of the selection criteria.
ICES  ability  to  answer  this  request  was  hampered  by  a  lack  of  clarity  concerning  the  concepts  underlying  a  Typical  Species  Composition indicator.  There  is  a  need  to  develop  a  roadmap  that  translates  conceptual  ideas  surrounding  the  Typical  Species  Composition  indicator  into  sequential  stages  of  analysis  that  address  specific  issues  in  turn.  Once  this  roadmap  has  been  developed,  OSPAR  will  need  to  commission  a  targeted  data  collection  programme.  ICES  suggests  that  the  short-listing process is expanded to cover all MSFD special and predominant habitats.