OCE-B.11.B - Marine Habitat Impact Minimisation Approaches
Does the company disclose the approaches it has implemented to avoid or minimise impacts on marine and coastal sensitive habitats?
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:
Disclose approaches it has implemented to avoid or minimise impacts on marine and coastal sensitive habitats.
OR
Has certification that covers this topic
SBTN recommendations:
For example, the company participates in improvement initiatives, which are place-based projects that a company can engage in, finance, or develop that result in improvements for nature and people in the jurisdictions where that company has operations that fall within the target boundary. Jurisdictional Initiatives and Seascape Approaches are both examples of improvement initiatives that companies can support, for example, through funding or participation. Habitat restoration initiatives are also appropriate projects for engagement pathway targets.
For example: participate in the implementation of Marine Protected Areas, Conserved Areas, and Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs).
Activities that fishing and shipping companies can do to reduce impact on habitats (SSI indicator B5):
Reduce the use of fishing techniques which impacts sensitive habitats
Setting of no-entry / operation prohibited area
MSC certification
FIPs, collaboration with NGOs such as GGGI, ISSF CMs.
Promote research and utilization of more biodegradable materials in the fishing gears (with special focus on Floating Aggregating Devices (FADs).
Promote and implement initiatives to minimize the impact of lost fishing gears.
Study of viable recovery actions.
Promote initiatives to control fishing effort.
Limitations on fishing capacity
establishment of closures and marine protected areas supported by science-based information.
Avoid discharging wastewater near sensitive areas
Avoid anchoring in sensitive areas.
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:
Disclose approaches it has implemented to avoid or minimise impacts on marine and coastal sensitive habitats.
OR
Has certification that covers this topic
SBTN recommendations:
For example, the company participates in improvement initiatives, which are place-based projects that a company can engage in, finance, or develop that result in improvements for nature and people in the jurisdictions where that company has operations that fall within the target boundary. Jurisdictional Initiatives and Seascape Approaches are both examples of improvement initiatives that companies can support, for example, through funding or participation. Habitat restoration initiatives are also appropriate projects for engagement pathway targets.
For example: participate in the implementation of Marine Protected Areas, Conserved Areas, and Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs).
Activities that fishing and shipping companies can do to reduce impact on habitats (SSI indicator B5):
Reduce the use of fishing techniques which impacts sensitive habitats
Setting of no-entry / operation prohibited area
MSC certification
FIPs, collaboration with NGOs such as GGGI, ISSF CMs.
Promote research and utilization of more biodegradable materials in the fishing gears (with special focus on Floating Aggregating Devices (FADs).
Promote and implement initiatives to minimize the impact of lost fishing gears.
Study of viable recovery actions.
Promote initiatives to control fishing effort.
Limitations on fishing capacity
establishment of closures and marine protected areas supported by science-based information.
Avoid discharging wastewater near sensitive areas
Avoid anchoring in sensitive areas.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report