Recommendation to Recognize New Quantitative Scientific Evidence for SAIs from Visual Surveys of Koko Seamount in the NPFC Convention Area
Please find below a science based recommendation for the use of a methodology for defining and assessing for significant adverse impacts on VMEs and a published, peer reviewed paper attached which describes the methodology in detail:
Biede, V.C., N.B. Morgan, E.B. Roark, A.R. Baco. 2025. On a Trawled North Pacific Seamount, Reductions of Benthic Megafauna Abundance, Diversity, and Ecosystem Function are Correlated with Increased Evidence of Fishing. Marine Environmental Research: 107587, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107587
Document Number
NPFC-2025-SSC BFME06-OP04
Document Version
1
Agenda Item
Other research activities on VMEs