Testing and comparing biological seabed indicators in response to bottom trawling in the Jammer Bay

A range of biological indicators have been developed and applied to evaluate the condition of the seabed in Danish coastal waters. However, some of these indicators were primarily designed to measure their response to eutrophication, a stressor that is not always the most prevalent factor in areas where bottom trawling occurs. Recently, new indicators have been developed specifically to assess the impact of trawling on the benthic community. In this study, we aim to test and compare a variety of biological seabed indicators along a trawling gradient, while also taking into account natural conditions, seabed habitat types, and other stressors, such as nutrient and oxygen concentrations. The study is situated in Jammer Bay and uses high-resolution spatial fisheries data and benthic fauna sampled collected during three recent field campaigns in the area. The results are expected to enhance the national assessments of the seabed in Danish coastal waters.