Updated identification of potential VMEs on the Cobb-Eickelberg seamount chain based on predictive modelling that includes pennatulaceans as VME indicator taxa

Areas likely to be vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) (i.e. potential VMEs) can be identified using model predictions when no data from visual surveys exist, as outlined in the North Pacific Fisheries Commission’s (NPFC’s) framework for identifying data to identify VMEs (See Annex 2.3 in NPFC 2025a and NPFC 2025b). In this paper, we identify potential VMEs in the Cobb-Eickelberg seamount chain using predictive models of VME indicator taxa density, as in Warawa et al. (2023). To achieve this, we recalculated the regional VME indicator taxa density threshold in the Northeast Pacific Ocean to include pennatulaceans, which were recently added to the list of NPFC’s VME indicator taxa (NPFC 2024). The updated VME indicator taxa density threshold was 0.58 VME indicators per m² (compared to 0.6 VME indicators per m² in the original analysis). Our methods predict that potential VMEs are present on all seamounts in the Cobb-Eickelberg seamount chain. We invite feedback on our updated proposed method for identifying potential VMEs.