The main objective of the cruise was to characterize deep-sea benthic communities and identify Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VME) in the Great Meteor Complex, specifically to (i) map the benthic communities inhabiting the Atlantis and Irving seamounts using the ROV Luso; (ii) identify new areas that fit the FAO VME definition; and (iii) collect complementary biological, oceanographic, and geophysical data. The results of this cruise contributed to the baseline knowledge of these remote seamount ecosystems, documenting rich coral and sponge gardens, evidence of anthropogenic impacts, and potential new habitats. The data collected provides valuable information for scientific assessment and future conservation measures in the deep Atlantic.

The BIOMETORE 2015 cruise was a partnership between the Institute of Marine Research (IMAR) of the University of the Azores, the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the Polytechnic School of Technology and the Sea (ESTM), and the Portuguese Task Group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf (EMEPC). The expedition aimed to explore the benthic ecosystems of the Great Meteor Complex seamounts (Atlantis and Irving) using the Portuguese ROV Luso aboard the vessel NRP Almirante Gago Coutinho.