Cruise Report - MapGES / ATLAS Project: August 2018 Cruise on board of R/V Arquipélago

Objectives: to explore seamounts of the Azorean archipelago to better understand the distribution patterns of large VME species and commercial fishes. Namely, the cruise aimed to (i) map benthic communities inhabiting unexplored seamounts and banks in the Central (Dom João de Castro) and Eastern (Alcatraz and Mar da prate) part of the Azores Region, (ii) identify new areas that fit the FAO vulnerable marine ecosystems definition; and (iii) determine distribution patterns of deep-sea benthic biodiversity in the Azores. The results of this cruise will also contribute to identify the environmental drivers that determine the spatial distribution of deep-sea benthic biodiversity in the Azores region. It will also provide valuable information in the context of Good Environmental Status (GES), Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and provide new insights on how to sustainably manage deep-sea ecosystems. The devices used in this survey correspond to low-cost custom made video platforms designed to operate between 200 and 500 m depth.