Picture of the nearly entire ship crew on RV Kronprins Haakon. Photo by Riley Meyer / IMR.
Photo: Riley Meyer / Havforskningsinstituttet
First Station Starts Off with Sunshine, Corals and Sponges
Published: 20.04.2026
We reached the first station on Thursday morning (16 April 2026) just after breakfast, all eager to see what the station had in store for us. But just as we caught sight of some bamboo corals and glass sponges while landing with the remotely operated vehicle, Ægir6000, from NORMAR, we experienced some technical difficulties that put the dive on hold for a couple of hours. However, the wait was completely worth it in the end.
Photo: Riley Meyer / IMR
Once we finally were able to get started on the video line, there was a sight to behold. The habitats alternated between bamboo coral gardens containing glass sponges, ascidians, and soft corals to patches of brittle star beds. At some point the bamboo coral framework completely covered the area, with living bamboo corals growing on top of the dead coral framework (similar to what we observed in October 2025). It was a quite exciting way to start the cruise, and we can’t wait for the stations to come!
Dense coverage of bamboo coral with associated animals like sponges, crinoids, soft corals, fish, and skate egg cases found at the first station of MAREANO cruise 2026007006 on AMOR.
Photo: MAREANO/Havforskningsinstituttet; taken by Ægir6000/NORMAR.
Dense coverage of bamboo coral with associated animals like sponges, crinoids, soft corals, fish, and skate egg cases found at the first station of MAREANO cruise 2026007006 on AMOR.
Photo: MAREANO/Havforskningsinstituttet; taken by Ægir6000/NORMAR.
Dense coverage of bamboo coral with associated animals like sponges, crinoids, soft corals, fish, and skate egg cases found at the first station of MAREANO cruise 2026007006 on AMOR.
Photo: MAREANO/Havforskningsinstituttet; taken by Ægir6000/NORMAR.
Contact
Riley (Heidi Kristina) Meyer
Institute of Marine Research
Scientist (biology)
