Abstract
The OneBenthic Risk Tool currently allows users to explore ecological risk in sedimentary seabed habitats by combining key layers on biodiversity, sensitivity, and rarity. It highlights areas where the seabed may be most vulnerable, thereby supporting sustainable offshore planning and conservation.
Outputs are based on modelled data from the OneBenthic databases. While informative, the tool simplifies complex ecological systems — results should be used alongside other evidence rather than as definitive assessments.
In future, additional layers — including trawl, imagery, and environmental DNA (eDNA) data — will be added to expand coverage, extend the assessment to other seabed habitats, and improve confidence in the outputs.
This risk layer, together with the three core elements, will be incorporated into the project wide POSEIDON tool being developed by the Crown Estate. This tool is designed to identify areas of opportunity and constraint for offshore wind and other developments, integrating not just benthic information, but also data on highly mobile species, mammals and birds, collected through the wider POSEIDON project.