In 2008, the European Union drew up the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) with the aim of achieving Good Environmental Status of marine waters. By linking the changes observed to the pressures experienced, this directive is defined as a tool designed to better control environmental degradation factors and to assess their implications. Several descriptors are defined within the framework of MSFD, in particular descriptors 1 relating to the biological diversity of the seabed and 6 relating to the integrity of the seabed (i.e. the quality of its structures and functions). As dragging (trawling and dredging) is the main source of disturbance of continental shelf seabed, it is essential to study its impact. However, its effects depend on several... |