Bottom trawling and eutrophication are large stressors that are critically coupled. Here we show, using a before‐after control‐effect design, the significant reduction in denitrification as a result of experimental bottom trawling in a shallow coastal system. Trawl disturbance destroys the complex three‐dimensional redox structures in surface sediments that maximize denitrification potential, resulting in up to a 50% reduction in net denitrification. The decrease in net denitrification also increased after each trawling event suggesting a declining resilience to trawling and eutrophication. Bottom trawling occurs at such a large scale that it could result in significant amounts of nitrogen being retained on the continental shelf. As such, impacts on the global ocean nitrogen cycle and associated eutrophication should be counted among the many negative consequences of extensive seafloor trawling.

中文翻译：

---

底拖网减少了底栖反硝化作用，并有可能影响全球氮循环

底部拖网渔船和富营养化是严重耦合的压力源。在这里，我们显示了使用前后控制效果设计，由于在浅海沿岸系统进行的实验性底拖网作业，反硝化作用显着降低。拖网扰动破坏了表面沉积物中复杂的三维氧化还原结构，使反硝化潜力最大化，净反硝化作用降低了50％。每次拖网事件发生后，净反硝化作用的下降也有所增加，表明对拖网和富营养化的抵御力下降。底拖网捕捞的规模如此之大，以至于可能导致大量的氮保留在大陆架上。因此，