OCE-B.11.A - Marine and Coastal Habitat Impact Assessment
Does the company determine impacts on marine and coastal sensitive habitats from its direct operations or most material value chain?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Coastal and marine habitats are a vital component of ecosystems, yet they are easily
disrupted by human activities and are often challenging to restore. Coastal development, shipping,
ports and other anthropogenic activities modify these habitats, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem
structure. Activities such as aquaculture, bottom-trawl fishing, construction, deforestation and
anchoring or dredging in ports and coastal areas can significantly affect benthic marine habitats.
The seafloor, considered a sensitive area, is particularly important as it forms the foundation of a
healthy marine environment and is home to millions of marine species and habitats. It generates food
and oxygen in our seas and oceans and contributes to regulating the climate. As stated in the
European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2017), it is essential to preserve the integrity of
the seafloor at a level that ensures that the structure and functions of benthic ecosystems are
safeguarded. Companies are expected to avoid or minimise the negative impacts of their operations
on marine and coastal ecosystems, paying special attention to seafloor integrity, and protect sensitive
areas (SDG 14.2, 14.5).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Demonstrates it has identified impactson marine and coastal sensitive habitats from its direct operations or the most material parts of its value chain.
OR
Has certification that covers this topic
Guidance
Sensitive habitats include;
coral reef
mangrove
seagrasses
kelp forest
salt marshes
estuaries
coastal wetlands
lagoons
marine protected areas
Seabed
Structural habitats
other identified aquatic sensitive habitats.
For this element to be met, the company must:
Demonstrates it has identified impactson marine and coastal sensitive habitats from its direct operations or the most material parts of its value chain.
OR
Has certification that covers this topic
Guidance
Sensitive habitats include;
coral reef
mangrove
seagrasses
kelp forest
salt marshes
estuaries
coastal wetlands
lagoons
marine protected areas
Seabed
Structural habitats
other identified aquatic sensitive habitats
SBTN 3.3.1.2 Farmed Seafood Data
For each farmed seafood source, companies will also need to identify one of the following for the element to be met:
‚óè The zoning and permitting for aquaculture farms in the region
‚óè Impact Assessments from establishing the site and any further assessments
‚óè The presence of highly damaging practices at the farm site
‚óè The marine habitats within 5km of the farm site
‚óè The operational outputs of the farm: antibiotic usage, feed ingredient practices, , nutrient release, mortality, etc.
‚óè Habitat or output monitoring data, if available
‚óèInfrastructure development and maintenance impacts: e.g. vessel traffic
‚óè Where possible, if the farm operates to standards of best practice for habitat protection (see Section 3.2.1.2)
‚óè Available historic (before 2020) extent of marine habitat within 5km of the farm area.
If the company reports on the impact on species in those habitats, this element is also met.
Sensitive habitats include;
coral reef
mangrove
seagrasses
kelp forest
salt marshes
estuaries
coastal wetlands
lagoons
marine protected areas
Seabed
Structural habitats
other identified aquatic sensitive habitats[3]
TNFD considers as sensitive locations areas that:
Contain habitats unable to recover to at least 80% of their unimpacted structure and function within 20 years (e.g. coral reefs, mangroves);
Blue carbon-rich sediments;
Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs).
In addition to the guidance provided in the LEAP approach, organisations can use the following recommended metrics and datasets for identifying and measuring sensitive locations:
Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) dataset;
The IMMA e-Atlas Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force;
Ocean+ Habitat Datasets;
The FAO Database for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs);
The Mapping Ocean Wealth Explorer – in particular, the mangroves dataset;
The OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Habitats;
IMO's Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas;
Birdlife International's List of Important Bird Areas;
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – in particular, those with a no-take policy in place;
Coastal Risk Index; and
Convex Seascape Survey
CBD Ecologically or biologically significant marine areas.
FAO Vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Local knowledge about biodiversity is important to consider and may, in some cases, be the only way of getting information about the presence of rarely observed species that would otherwise require surveys to assess.
disrupted by human activities and are often challenging to restore. Coastal development, shipping,
ports and other anthropogenic activities modify these habitats, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem
structure. Activities such as aquaculture, bottom-trawl fishing, construction, deforestation and
anchoring or dredging in ports and coastal areas can significantly affect benthic marine habitats.
The seafloor, considered a sensitive area, is particularly important as it forms the foundation of a
healthy marine environment and is home to millions of marine species and habitats. It generates food
and oxygen in our seas and oceans and contributes to regulating the climate. As stated in the
European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2017), it is essential to preserve the integrity of
the seafloor at a level that ensures that the structure and functions of benthic ecosystems are
safeguarded. Companies are expected to avoid or minimise the negative impacts of their operations
on marine and coastal ecosystems, paying special attention to seafloor integrity, and protect sensitive
areas (SDG 14.2, 14.5).
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Demonstrates it has identified impactson marine and coastal sensitive habitats from its direct operations or the most material parts of its value chain.
OR
Has certification that covers this topic
Guidance
Sensitive habitats include;
coral reef
mangrove
seagrasses
kelp forest
salt marshes
estuaries
coastal wetlands
lagoons
marine protected areas
Seabed
Structural habitats
other identified aquatic sensitive habitats.
For this element to be met, the company must:
Demonstrates it has identified impactson marine and coastal sensitive habitats from its direct operations or the most material parts of its value chain.
OR
Has certification that covers this topic
Guidance
Sensitive habitats include;
coral reef
mangrove
seagrasses
kelp forest
salt marshes
estuaries
coastal wetlands
lagoons
marine protected areas
Seabed
Structural habitats
other identified aquatic sensitive habitats
SBTN 3.3.1.2 Farmed Seafood Data
For each farmed seafood source, companies will also need to identify one of the following for the element to be met:
‚óè The zoning and permitting for aquaculture farms in the region
‚óè Impact Assessments from establishing the site and any further assessments
‚óè The presence of highly damaging practices at the farm site
‚óè The marine habitats within 5km of the farm site
‚óè The operational outputs of the farm: antibiotic usage, feed ingredient practices, , nutrient release, mortality, etc.
‚óè Habitat or output monitoring data, if available
‚óèInfrastructure development and maintenance impacts: e.g. vessel traffic
‚óè Where possible, if the farm operates to standards of best practice for habitat protection (see Section 3.2.1.2)
‚óè Available historic (before 2020) extent of marine habitat within 5km of the farm area.
If the company reports on the impact on species in those habitats, this element is also met.
Sensitive habitats include;
coral reef
mangrove
seagrasses
kelp forest
salt marshes
estuaries
coastal wetlands
lagoons
marine protected areas
Seabed
Structural habitats
other identified aquatic sensitive habitats[3]
TNFD considers as sensitive locations areas that:
Contain habitats unable to recover to at least 80% of their unimpacted structure and function within 20 years (e.g. coral reefs, mangroves);
Blue carbon-rich sediments;
Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs).
In addition to the guidance provided in the LEAP approach, organisations can use the following recommended metrics and datasets for identifying and measuring sensitive locations:
Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) dataset;
The IMMA e-Atlas Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force;
Ocean+ Habitat Datasets;
The FAO Database for Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs);
The Mapping Ocean Wealth Explorer – in particular, the mangroves dataset;
The OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Habitats;
IMO's Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas;
Birdlife International's List of Important Bird Areas;
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) – in particular, those with a no-take policy in place;
Coastal Risk Index; and
Convex Seascape Survey
CBD Ecologically or biologically significant marine areas.
FAO Vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Local knowledge about biodiversity is important to consider and may, in some cases, be the only way of getting information about the presence of rarely observed species that would otherwise require surveys to assess.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report