This criterion is to be addressed later, through the analysis of the surface affected by physical alterations and its overlap with different types of habitats. For the time being, and until specific monitoring programs are put in place, work is being done to collect existing information on the presence of benthic habitats. The main collection has been done as a result of the reporting obligations to the European Commission under the Council Directive 1992/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). In this context the existing information related to 1170 habitats has been organized. Reefs, 1180. Underwater structures caused by gas emissions and 8330. Submerged or semi-submerged marine caves, present in the 3 bio-geographic regions (Atlantic, Mediterranean and Macaronesia). One of the main sources of information has been the IEO. Of all the data requested, we have only received cartographic information. The projects that have been developed in recent years have been focused on the identification and mapping of benthic habitats, therefore there is no information related to the structure and functions of benthic habitats, as well as future prospects or conservation status. - Cartography of the Initial Evaluation of Marine Strategies - Cartography of the EuSeaMap2 project - Cartography of the INDEMARES areas - Cartography of El Cachucho - Cartography of the Gaviera Canyon - Cartography of the submerged or semisubmerged marine caves in the marine ZECs of the Canary Islands - Cartography made within the framework of diverse oceanographic campaigns made by the IEO (DEMERSALS, ARSA, ECOCÁDIZ, ISUNEPCA, MEDITS, MEDWAVES) Also it has been had of useful information through the information sent by the Independent Communities to the DGSCM through the system of "Flow of data. Different Autonomous Communities have sent information related to marine habitats 1170, 1180 and 8330: cartography in the two projections (UTM and LAM) and information or data on the coverage of the habitats as well as the pressures, threats and conservation measures adopted.

For the time being, and until specific monitoring programs are put in place, work is being done to collect existing information on the presence of benthic habitats. The main collection has been done as a consequence of the reporting obligations to the European Commission regarding the Council Directive 1992/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). In this context the existing information related to 1170 habitats has been organized. Reefs, 1180. Underwater structures caused by gas emissions and 8330. Submerged or semi-submerged marine caves, present in the 3 bio-geographic regions (Atlantic, Mediterranean and Macaronesia). One of the main sources of information has been the IEO. Of all the data requested, we have only received cartographic information. The projects that have been developed in recent years have been focused on the identification and mapping of benthic habitats, therefore there is no information related to the structure and functions of benthic habitats, as well as future prospects or conservation status. - Cartography of the Initial Evaluation of Marine Strategies - Cartography of the EuSeaMap2 project - Cartography of the INDEMARES areas - Cartography of El Cachucho - Cartography of the Gaviera Canyon - Cartography of the submerged or semisubmerged marine caves in the marine SACs of the Canary Islands - Cartography made within the framework of diverse oceanographic campaigns made by the IEO (DEMERSALS, ARSA, ECOCÁDIZ, ISUNEPCA, MEDITS, MEDWAVES) The cartographic results appear in the text documents

For the time being, and until specific monitoring programs are put in place, work is being done to collect existing information on the presence of benthic habitats. The main collection has been done as a consequence of the reporting obligations to the European Commission regarding the Council Directive 1992/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). In this context the existing information related to 1170 habitats has been organized. Reefs, 1180. Underwater structures caused by gas emissions and 8330. Submerged or semi-submerged marine caves, present in the 3 bio-geographic regions (Atlantic, Mediterranean and Macaronesia). One of the main sources of information has been the IEO. Of all the data requested, we have only received cartographic information. The projects that have been developed in recent years have been focused on the identification and mapping of benthic habitats, therefore there is no information related to the structure and functions of benthic habitats, as well as future prospects or conservation status. - Cartography of the Initial Evaluation of Marine Strategies - Cartography of the EuSeaMap2 project - Cartography of the INDEMARES areas - Cartography of El Cachucho - Cartography of the Gaviera Canyon - Cartography of the submerged or semisubmerged marine caves in the marine SACs of the Canary Islands - Cartography made within the framework of diverse oceanographic campaigns made by the IEO (DEMERSALS, ARSA, ECOCÁDIZ, ISUNEPCA, MEDITS, MEDWAVES) The cartographic results appear in the text documents

The minimum surface of the sea bed of the Canary Islands Demarcation that has suffered some kind of disturbance during the present evaluation period is 98 km2, which represents 0.02% of the surface of the demarcation. The anchoring of commercial vessels is the activity evaluated (the disturbance associated with trawling has not been assessed) which may have caused more disturbance of the sea bed with a surface area of about 95 km2, although the highest value of disturbed surface corresponds to a low probability of disturbance. The areas with a very high probability of seabed disturbance in the demarcation are located in the vicinity of the Port of Las Palmas. The areas with a high probability of disturbance are located in the vicinity of Puerto del Rosario. The ports of Santa Cruz de La Palma, San Sebastian de La Gomera and Arrecife have a moderate probability of disturbance. This criterion has been analyzed through the analysis of pressures by physical disturbances of the sea bed (temporary or reversible), which can be consulted in document II of the Canary Islands Marine Strategy. These results are not considered complete, since trawling, a very relevant factor for this criterion, has not been analysed.

Physical loss of marine substrate is considered to be the sealing of the seabed and the loss of substrate. The surface of the seabed of the Canary Islands Region sealed during the present evaluation period is a maximum of 347,000 m2. The expansion of the ports, mainly the Port of Granadilla, is the activity that has produced the most sealing of the seabed. The surface of the sea bed of the demarcation affected by the extraction and deposition of sediments during the present evaluation period is 1,237,205 m2. The extraction of sediments from underwater deposits is the activity that has affected the most marine surface, followed by dredging works in ports of general interest. Thus, the physical losses of marine substrate in the Canary Islands Region during the period 2011-2016 were 1,583,816 m2. 0.0003 % of the surface of the Canary Islands' DM is affected by permanent physical alterations. This criterion has been analyzed through the analysis of pressures due to physical losses (due to a permanent change of the substrate or the morphology of the sea bed and the extraction of substrate from the sea bed), which can be consulted in document II of the Canary Islands Strategy. For this criterion, the threshold value must be established through cooperation at the level of the European Union. This issue will be worked on through the recently constituted COM working group D6, but no agreements have been reached so far. Therefore, there is no reference value to compare with, so no conclusion can be reached on the criterion, even though the value seems to be quite low. On the other hand, by referring only to the 2011-2016 assessment period, it does not address the total permanent physical disturbances that existed previously