Positive trend in sea floor surface area permanently devoid of bottom-contacting fishing gear disturbance within each of the benthic habitat types (= pressure indicator), as to allow a natural development of the benthic fauna and flora and as to minimise artificial fragmentation of the seafloor (= desired state).

Increase of Pomatoceros triqueter clusters and Sabellaria spinulosa reefs.

The spatial extent and distribution of the EUNIS level 3 habitats (sandy mud to mud, muddy sands to sands and coarse grained sediments), as well as that of gravel beds fluctuate - relative to the reference state as described in Initial Assessment - within a margin limited to the accuracy of the current distribution maps

Within the test zones in the gravel beds, the ratio of the hard substrate surface area (i.e. surfaces that are colonized by hard substrate epifauna) over soft sediment surface area (i.e. surfaces overtopping hard substrates and preventing hard substrate fauna development) does not show a negative trend.

The Ecological Quality Ratio as determined by BEQI (see Annex), indicative for benthic ecosystem structure and quality, has a minimum value of 0,60 in each of the habitat types (Commission Decision 2008/915/EC).

Positive trend in median adult density (or frequency of occurrence) of at least one species within the long-lived and/or slowly reproducing and key engineering benthic species groups in both mud to muddy sands and pure fine to coarse sands.

The bioturbation potential (BPc), an indicator for the functioning of the benthic ecosystem, has a minimum value of 0.60 for the Abra alba habitat type in the autumn (as determined by BEQI procedure).

Positive trend in median body size of the larger benthic species Buccinum undatum and Majidae spp.

Positive trend in frequency of occurrence and median adult density of at least half of the key and long-lived species Ostrea edulis, Mytilus edulis, Buccinum undatum, Alcyonium digitatum, erected sponges (eg Haliclona oculata) and erected Bryozoans (eg Alcyonidium spp. en Flustra foliacea).

No loss or positive trend in species richness within all key hard substrate taxa.

Spring median benthic bioturbation potential (BPc) in the Abra alba habitat type is higher than 100.

Positive trend in median colony/body size of the sessile, long-lived and/or larger benthic species Buccinum undatum, Mytilus edulis, Flustra foliacea, Haliclona oculata and Alcyonium digitatum.

Positive trend in frequency of occurrence and median adult density of at least half of the key and long-lived species Ostrea edulis, Sabellaria spinulosa, Mytilus edulis, Buccinum undatum, Haliclona oculata, Alcyonium digitatum and Alcyonidiumspp.

No loss or positive trend in species richness within all key hard substrate taxa, i.e. Porifera, Cnidaria, Bryozoa, Polychaeta, Malacostraca, Maxillopoda, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Echinodermata and Ascidiacea.

Decreasing relative frequency of occurrence of damaged Asterias rubens (2+ cm arm length) and tube clusters of Pomatoceros triqueter, indicative for physical disturbance of the bottom (= pressure indicator), as to enhance natural development of the gravel bed ecosystem (= desired state).

Positive trend in sea floor surface area disturbed only by alternative, environment-friendly fishing gear which pursues a substantial reduction of bottom disturbance within each of the benthic habitat types (= pressure indicator), as to allow for an improved benthic habitat quality and as to minimise artificial fragmentation of the seafloor (= desired state).