Download AEBR 149 Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems of the Louisville Seamount Chain: voyage report of a survey to evaluate the efficacy of preliminary habitat suitability models

Vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are ecosystems that are vulnerable to damage from bottom-contact fishing. Preliminary habitat suitability models have been developed to predict the occurrence of VME indicator taxa in the area managed by the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation. A survey of seamounts along the Louisville Seamount Chain in the area was carried out to validate the preliminary large-scale models and collect data to develop new seamount-specific models for VMEs.