Expedition to map and characterize marine habitats in Vila Franca do Campo islet (S. Miguel, the Azores)
A marine habitat mapping campaign in the Azores was performed during December 2021. This expedition was led by the Asociación Biodiversidad Atlántica y Sostenibilidad (ABAS), with the collaboration of the University Institute of Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (IU ECOAQUA) and The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea (IOW). It intended to characterize the marine area surrounding the Vila Franca do Campo islet (habitat mapping), with a conservation special focus on the seabed habitats of rhodolith and black coral forests. The data and results from the campaign will be shared with local stakeholders in a capacity-building workshop in 2022.