Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Due to the relatively poor score of the Belgian habitats due to fishing pressure (by means of the Margalef diversity index) in the OSPAR context, and to a very limited extent by the dumping of dredged material and aggregate extraction (by means of BEQI EQR scores with threshold 0.6), the soft substrate becomes as assessed unfavorably. With regard to changes in the occurrence of species in these specific macrobentic habitats, the period under investigation is too short to draw any conclusions. Many important benthic species are observed only very sporadically, due to their rarity or to the non-optimal sampling technique. The condition of gravel beds (hard substrates) is assessed as highly disturbed. Many of the target species included in the different environmental goals are missing or have only been observed as juveniles or in depleted condition.

Physical disruption is more difficult to estimate and is currently limited to the effective locations of human activities, plus a theoretical buffer. Fishing is omnipresent. OSPAR data for the period 2011-2015 showed important spatial differences in fishing intensity for the entire FDNZ, albeit with the greatest intensities in the near-coastal zone where infralittoral and circalittoral sludge deposits and sand dominate. In these areas, dredging and unloading of dredged material contribute to the physical disruption. Marine aggregate extraction mainly disrupts sea-facing sands and coarse-grained sediments. There are no major increases or decreases over the 2011-2016 period.

The spatial range of physical loss in the Belgian part of the North Sea is limited. The largest loss of the original habitat type is mainly related to protective rock deposits over the gas pipelines (8.08 km2). The share of wind turbines, energy and telecommunication cables (0.05 km2), wrecks (0.17 km2), measuring poles and radar stations (0.002 km2) in the BPNS is limited in the use of space. Only an increase in physical loss can be seen by the installation of wind turbines, from 0.04 km2 in 2011 to 0.09 km2 in 2016, and the installation of associated energy cables, from 0.04 km2 in 2011 to 0.08 km2 in 2016. Given the port infrastructure located inland from the 2012 baseline, it does not affect the figures.