diff --git a/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/common.py b/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/common.py
index e230f899..e51ea455 100644
--- a/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/common.py
+++ b/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/common.py
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
 
 from q2_types.feature_data import FeatureData
 from q2_types.feature_data_mag import MAG, MAGSequencesDirFmt
-from q2_types.genome_data import SeedOrthologDirFmt, OrthologFileFmt
+from q2_types.genome_data import (SeedOrthologDirFmt, OrthologFileFmt,
+                                  LociDirectoryFormat)
 from q2_types.per_sample_sequences import (
     Contigs, MAGs, ContigSequencesDirFmt, MultiMAGSequencesDirFmt
 )
@@ -86,16 +87,20 @@ def _run_eggnog_search_pipeline(
     _eggnog_search = ctx.get_action("moshpit", search_action)
     collate_hits = ctx.get_action("types", "collate_orthologs")
     _eggnog_feature_table = ctx.get_action("moshpit", "_eggnog_feature_table")
+    collate_loci = ctx.get_action("types", "collate_loci")
     (partitioned_sequences,) = partition_method(sequences, num_partitions)
 
     hits = []
+    loci = []
     for seq in partitioned_sequences.values():
-        (hit, _) = _eggnog_search(seq, *db, num_cpus, db_in_memory)
+        (hit, _, loci_dir) = _eggnog_search(seq, *db, num_cpus, db_in_memory)
         hits.append(hit)
+        loci.append(loci_dir)
 
     (collated_hits,) = collate_hits(hits)
     (collated_tables,) = _eggnog_feature_table(collated_hits)
-    return collated_hits, collated_tables
+    (collated_loci,) = collate_loci(loci)
+    return collated_hits, collated_tables, collated_loci
 
 
 def _search_runner(
@@ -152,6 +157,19 @@ def _eggnog_search(
             for mag_id, mag_fp in mags.items():
                 search_runner(input_path=mag_fp, sample_label=mag_id)
 
+    # iterate over the gff files and move them to the correct location
+    loci_dir = LociDirectoryFormat()
+    gff_fp = [
+        os.path.basename(x) for x
+        in glob.glob(f'{output_loc}/*.emapper.genepred.gff')
+    ]
+    for fn in gff_fp:
+        new_fn = fn.replace('.emapper.genepred.gff', '.gff')
+        qiime2.util.duplicate(
+            os.path.join(output_loc, fn),
+            os.path.join(loci_dir.path, new_fn)
+        )
+
     result = SeedOrthologDirFmt()
     ortholog_fps = [
         os.path.basename(x) for x
@@ -164,7 +182,7 @@ def _eggnog_search(
         )
 
     ft = _eggnog_feature_table(result)
-    return result, ft
+    return result, ft, loci_dir
 
 
 def _eggnog_feature_table(seed_orthologs: SeedOrthologDirFmt) -> pd.DataFrame:
diff --git a/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/diamond.py b/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/diamond.py
index c496b094..71309317 100644
--- a/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/diamond.py
+++ b/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/diamond.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
     MAGSequencesDirFmt
 )
 from q2_types.genome_data import (
-    SeedOrthologDirFmt
+    SeedOrthologDirFmt, LociDirectoryFormat
 )
 from q2_types.per_sample_sequences import (
     ContigSequencesDirFmt, MultiMAGSequencesDirFmt
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ def _eggnog_diamond_search(
     ],
     diamond_db: DiamondDatabaseDirFmt,
     num_cpus: int = 1,
-    db_in_memory: bool = False
-) -> (SeedOrthologDirFmt, pd.DataFrame):
+    db_in_memory: bool = False,
+) -> (SeedOrthologDirFmt, pd.DataFrame, LociDirectoryFormat):
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as output_loc:
         db_fp = os.path.join(str(diamond_db), 'ref_db.dmnd')
         search_runner = partial(
@@ -44,16 +44,17 @@ def _eggnog_diamond_search(
             num_cpus=num_cpus, db_in_memory=db_in_memory,
             runner_args=['diamond', '--dmnd_db', str(db_fp)]
         )
-        result, ft = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, str(output_loc))
-    return result, ft
+        result, ft, loci = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner,
+                                          str(output_loc))
+    return result, ft, loci
 
 
 def eggnog_diamond_search(
     ctx, sequences, diamond_db,
     num_cpus=1, db_in_memory=False, num_partitions=None
 ):
-    collated_hits, collated_tables = _run_eggnog_search_pipeline(
+    collated_hits, collated_tables, loci = _run_eggnog_search_pipeline(
         ctx, sequences, [diamond_db], num_cpus, db_in_memory, num_partitions,
         "_eggnog_diamond_search"
     )
-    return collated_hits, collated_tables
+    return collated_hits, collated_tables, loci
diff --git a/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/hmmer.py b/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/hmmer.py
index a178d362..c030c0ae 100644
--- a/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/hmmer.py
+++ b/q2_moshpit/eggnog/orthologs/hmmer.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from q2_moshpit.eggnog.types import EggnogHmmerIdmapDirectoryFmt
 from q2_types.feature_data_mag import MAGSequencesDirFmt
 from q2_types.genome_data import (
-    ProteinsDirectoryFormat, SeedOrthologDirFmt
+    ProteinsDirectoryFormat, SeedOrthologDirFmt, LociDirectoryFormat
 )
 from q2_types.per_sample_sequences import (
     ContigSequencesDirFmt, MultiMAGSequencesDirFmt
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def _eggnog_hmmer_search(
     seed_alignments: ProteinsDirectoryFormat,
     num_cpus: int = 1,
     db_in_memory: bool = False
-) -> (SeedOrthologDirFmt, pd.DataFrame):
+) -> (SeedOrthologDirFmt, pd.DataFrame, LociDirectoryFormat):
     with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as output_loc:
         taxon_id = os.listdir(idmap.path)[0].split(".")[0]
         tmp_subdir = f"{output_loc}/hmmer/{taxon_id}"
@@ -54,17 +54,18 @@ def _eggnog_hmmer_search(
                 '--genepred', 'prodigal'  # default incompatible with HMMER
             ]
         )
-        result, ft = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, output_loc)
-    return result, ft
+        result, ft, loci = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, output_loc)
+    return result, ft, loci
 
 
 def eggnog_hmmer_search(
-    ctx, sequences, pressed_hmm_db, idmap, seed_alignments,
-    num_cpus=1, db_in_memory=False, num_partitions=None
+        ctx, sequences, pressed_hmm_db, idmap, seed_alignments,
+        num_cpus=1, db_in_memory=False, num_partitions=None
 ):
-    collated_hits, collated_tables = _run_eggnog_search_pipeline(
-        ctx, sequences, [idmap, pressed_hmm_db, seed_alignments],
-        num_cpus, db_in_memory, num_partitions,
-        "_eggnog_hmmer_search"
-    )
-    return collated_hits, collated_tables
+    collated_hits, collated_tables, collated_loci = (
+        _run_eggnog_search_pipeline(
+            ctx, sequences, [idmap, pressed_hmm_db, seed_alignments],
+            num_cpus, db_in_memory, num_partitions,
+            "_eggnog_hmmer_search"
+        ))
+    return collated_hits, collated_tables, collated_loci
diff --git a/q2_moshpit/eggnog/tests/test_orthologs.py b/q2_moshpit/eggnog/tests/test_orthologs.py
index 6baee696..f417ce5d 100644
--- a/q2_moshpit/eggnog/tests/test_orthologs.py
+++ b/q2_moshpit/eggnog/tests/test_orthologs.py
@@ -73,9 +73,11 @@ def setUp(self):
     def test_eggnog_hmmer_search_pipeline(self):
         mock_action = MagicMock(side_effect=[
             lambda sequences, num_partitions: ({"mag1": {}, "mag2": {}},),
-            lambda seq, pressed, idmap, fastas, num_cpus, db_in_memory: (0, 0),
+            lambda seq, pressed, idmap, fastas, num_cpus, db_in_memory:
+            (0, 0, 0),
             lambda hits: ("collated_hits",),
             lambda collated_hits: ("collated_tables",),
+            lambda collated_loci: ("collated_loci",),
         ])
         mock_ctx = MagicMock(get_action=mock_action)
         obs = eggnog_hmmer_search(
@@ -85,7 +87,7 @@ def test_eggnog_hmmer_search_pipeline(self):
             idmap=self.idmap_artifact,
             seed_alignments=self.fastas_artifact
         )
-        exp = ("collated_hits", "collated_tables")
+        exp = ("collated_hits", "collated_tables", "collated_loci")
         self.assertTupleEqual(obs, exp)
 
     def test_symlink_files_to_target_dir(self):
@@ -114,8 +116,8 @@ def test_eggnog_hmmer_search(
             self, mock_eggnog_search, mock_symlink, mock_tmpdir, mock_makedirs
     ):
         mock_tmpdir.return_value.__enter__.return_value = "tmp"
-        mock_eggnog_search.return_value = (0, 1)
-        result, ft = _eggnog_hmmer_search(
+        mock_eggnog_search.return_value = (0, 1, 2)
+        result, ft, loci = _eggnog_hmmer_search(
             sequences=self.mags,
             idmap=self.idmap,
             pressed_hmm_db=self.pressed_hmm,
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ def test_eggnog_hmmer_search(
             ANY,  # partial() method not patchable or comparable
             "tmp"
         )
-        self.assertTupleEqual((result, ft), (0, 1))
+        self.assertTupleEqual((result, ft, loci), (0, 1, 2))
 
     def test_eggnog_search_mags(self):
         sequences = MultiMAGSequencesDirFmt(
@@ -138,7 +140,7 @@ def test_eggnog_search_mags(self):
         output_loc = self.get_data_path('hits')
         search_runner = MagicMock()
 
-        result, ft = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, output_loc)
+        result, ft, _ = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, output_loc)
         result.validate()
         self.assertIsInstance(ft, pd.DataFrame)
 
@@ -155,7 +157,7 @@ def test_eggnog_search_contigs(self):
         output_loc = self.get_data_path('hits')
         search_runner = MagicMock()
 
-        result, ft = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, output_loc)
+        result, ft, _ = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, output_loc)
         result.validate()
         self.assertIsInstance(ft, pd.DataFrame)
 
@@ -171,7 +173,7 @@ def test_eggnog_search_mags_derep(self):
         output_loc = self.get_data_path('hits')
         search_runner = MagicMock()
 
-        result, ft = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, output_loc)
+        result, ft, _ = _eggnog_search(sequences, search_runner, output_loc)
         result.validate()
         self.assertIsInstance(ft, pd.DataFrame)
 
@@ -218,7 +220,7 @@ def test_good_small_search_contigs(self):
             self.get_data_path('contig-sequences-1')
         ).view(ContigSequencesDirFmt)
 
-        _, obs = _eggnog_diamond_search(
+        _, obs, _ = _eggnog_diamond_search(
             sequences=contigs,
             diamond_db=self.diamond_db
         )
@@ -234,7 +236,7 @@ def test_good_small_search_mags_derep(self):
             self.get_data_path('mag-sequences')
         ).view(MAGSequencesDirFmt)
 
-        _, obs = _eggnog_diamond_search(
+        _, obs, _ = _eggnog_diamond_search(
             sequences=mags,
             diamond_db=self.diamond_db
         )
@@ -253,7 +255,7 @@ def test_good_small_search_mags(self):
             self.get_data_path('mag-sequences-per-sample')
         ).view(MultiMAGSequencesDirFmt)
 
-        _, obs = _eggnog_diamond_search(
+        _, obs, _ = _eggnog_diamond_search(
             sequences=mags,
             diamond_db=self.diamond_db
         )
@@ -279,12 +281,12 @@ def test_eggnog_search_parallel_contigs(self):
         )
 
         with self.test_config:
-            _, parallel = self.eggnog_diamond_search.parallel(
+            _, parallel, _ = self.eggnog_diamond_search.parallel(
                 contigs,
                 self.diamond_db_artifact
             )._result()
 
-        _, single = self._eggnog_diamond_search(
+        _, single, _ = self._eggnog_diamond_search(
             sequences=contigs,
             diamond_db=self.diamond_db_artifact
         )
@@ -301,12 +303,12 @@ def test_eggnog_search_parallel_mags_derep(self):
         )
 
         with self.test_config:
-            _, parallel = self.eggnog_diamond_search.parallel(
+            _, parallel, _ = self.eggnog_diamond_search.parallel(
                 mags,
                 self.diamond_db_artifact
             )._result()
 
-        _, single = self._eggnog_diamond_search(
+        _, single, _ = self._eggnog_diamond_search(
             sequences=mags,
             diamond_db=self.diamond_db_artifact
         )
@@ -323,12 +325,12 @@ def test_eggnog_search_parallel_mags(self):
         )
 
         with self.test_config:
-            _, parallel = self.eggnog_diamond_search.parallel(
+            _, parallel, _ = self.eggnog_diamond_search.parallel(
                 mags,
                 self.diamond_db_artifact
             )._result()
 
-        _, single = self._eggnog_diamond_search(
+        _, single, _ = self._eggnog_diamond_search(
             sequences=mags,
             diamond_db=self.diamond_db_artifact
         )
diff --git a/q2_moshpit/plugin_setup.py b/q2_moshpit/plugin_setup.py
index a2c290c2..30b35204 100644
--- a/q2_moshpit/plugin_setup.py
+++ b/q2_moshpit/plugin_setup.py
@@ -708,7 +708,8 @@
     },
     outputs=[
         ('eggnog_hits', SampleData[Orthologs]),
-        ('table', FeatureTable[Frequency])
+        ('table', FeatureTable[Frequency]),
+        ('loci', GenomeData[Loci])
     ],
     name='Run eggNOG search using diamond aligner',
     description="This method performs the steps by which we find our "
@@ -752,7 +753,8 @@
     },
     outputs=[
         ('eggnog_hits', SampleData[Orthologs]),
-        ('table', FeatureTable[Frequency])
+        ('table', FeatureTable[Frequency]),
+        ('loci', GenomeData[Loci]),
     ],
     name='Run eggNOG search using HMMER aligner',
     description="This method uses HMMER to find possible target sequences "
@@ -772,11 +774,11 @@
     },
     parameters={
         'num_cpus': Int,
-        'db_in_memory': Bool,
+        'db_in_memory': Bool
     },
     input_descriptions={
         'sequences': 'Sequences to be searched for ortholog hits.',
-        'diamond_db': 'Diamond database.',
+        'diamond_db': 'Diamond database.'
     },
     parameter_descriptions={
         'num_cpus': 'Number of CPUs to utilize. \'0\' will '
@@ -788,12 +790,14 @@
     },
     outputs=[
         ('eggnog_hits', SampleData[Orthologs]),
-        ('table', FeatureTable[Frequency])
+        ('table', FeatureTable[Frequency]),
+        ('loci', GenomeData[Loci])
     ],
     output_descriptions={
         'eggnog_hits': 'BLAST6-like table(s) describing the identified '
                        'orthologs. One table per sample or MAG in the input.',
-        'table': 'Feature table with counts of orthologs per sample/MAG.'
+        'table': 'Feature table with counts of orthologs per sample/MAG.',
+        'loci': 'Loci of the identified orthologs.'
     },
     name='Run eggNOG search using Diamond aligner',
     description="This method performs the steps by which we find our "
@@ -838,12 +842,14 @@
     },
     outputs=[
         ('eggnog_hits', SampleData[Orthologs]),
-        ('table', FeatureTable[Frequency])
+        ('table', FeatureTable[Frequency]),
+        ('loci', GenomeData[Loci])
     ],
     output_descriptions={
         'eggnog_hits': 'BLAST6-like table(s) describing the identified '
                        'orthologs. One table per sample or MAG in the input.',
-        'table': 'Feature table with counts of orthologs per sample/MAG.'
+        'table': 'Feature table with counts of orthologs per sample/MAG.',
+        'loci': 'Loci of the identified orthologs.'
     },
     name='Run eggNOG search using HMMER aligner',
     description='This method performs the steps by which we find our '