The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management is responsible for the implementation of the Marine Environment Ordinance (SFS 2010:1341). The regulation is based on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC) and aims to achieve good environmental status in Swedish marine areas. Objectives and related assessments and measures are defined for eleven different thematic areas according to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, so-called descriptors. Benthic habitat types are included as descriptor 6 in Annex 1 to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Currently, a robust and regionally coordinated assessment of benthic habitat types is lacking. Improved data availability in recent years, both regarding the occurrence and distribution of species and habitats (e.g. through the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management's project, National Marine Mapping) and the occurrence of relevant pressures (Törnqvist et al. 2018). The assignment now being procured will define appropriate indicators for assessment and further develop the assessment of benthic habitat types in the long term, as well as support the development of an assessment of benthic habitat types with the best available knowledge in the short term.

The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management is responsible for the implementation of the Marine Environment Ordinance (SFS 2010:1341). The regulation is based on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC) and aims to achieve good environmental status in Swedish marine areas. Objectives and related assessments and measures are defined for eleven different thematic areas according to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, so-called descriptors. Benthic habitat types are included as descriptor 6 in Annex 1 to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Currently, a robust and regionally coordinated assessment of benthic habitat types is lacking. Improved data availability in recent years, both regarding the occurrence and distribution of species and habitats (e.g. through the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management's project, National Marine Mapping) and the occurrence of relevant pressures (Törnqvist et al. 2018). The assignment now being procured will define appropriate indicators for assessment and further develop the assessment of benthic habitat types in the long term, as well as support the development of an assessment of benthic habitat types with the best available knowledge in the short term.