SEEF incorporates three different parts.

1. The first part (attributes and issues are listed at Knowledge EF) scores the extent of our knowledge about individual seamounts by listing the most important attributes, including geological, oceanographic and ecological features that are found on seamounts and may contribute to their role in enhancing local biomass and biodiversity.

2. The second part of the SEEF (attributes and issues are listed at Threats EF) scores the relative severity of threats posed to the abundance and diversity by human activities, principally fishing and other extractive exploitation of seamount resources. Effectively, it identifies seamounts in different states of conservation. Scores in parts A and B are given by expert consultation whereby disagreements can lead to productive research and a useful expression of uncertainty.

3. The third part of SEEF (functions), currently under development, aims to quantify each attribute and threat using actual values or categories of values in a fuzzy logic system. In doing so, SEEF will determine the extent of local enhancement effects on the food web, biodiversity or biomass and at the same time that will quantify the different threats posed to seamount ecosystems.