ICES Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

This document focuses on the flow of data into the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME) database and data portal. The data hosted at ICES are primarily collected by research institutions within ICES member countries, and data are collected across the North Atlantic. ICES issues an annual data call. Data submitted to the VME database and data portal can refer to VME habitats or VME indicators. VME habitat data are of higher quality and are generally collected via high-quality images. VME indicator data are of lower quality and can be collected via imagery or as bycatch from fisheries. VME data as fisheries bycatch can be collected both in scientific surveys and commercial fisheries. It is highly recommended that a skilled observer be present when VME data are collected as fisheries bycatch; when VME data originate from commercial fisheries, having a skilled observer present is a requirement.