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About MAREANO

MAREANO maps depth and topography, sediment composition, biodiversity, habitats and biotopes, and pollution in the seabed in Norwegian offshore areas.

Steinur

Organization

The Programme aims to provide answers to questions such as:

  • How is the seascape of the Norwegian continental shelf?
  • What does the seabed consist of?
  • How is the biodiversity distributed on the seabed?
  • How are habitats and biotopes distributed on the seabed?
  • What is the relationship between the physical environment, biodiversity and biological resources?
  • How much contaminants are stored in the bottom sediments?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Institute of Marine Research, the Geological Survey of Norway and the Norwegian Mapping Authority comprise the Executive Group which is responsible for carrying out the MAREANO field sampling and other scientific activities. The Programme Group, led by the Norwegian Environment Agency, has the executive responsibility for the MAREANO activities.

The Programme is financed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Climate and Environment. These ministries, inclusive of the ministry of Energy, Local Government and Modernisation and the Ministry of Transport and Communications, form the MAREANO Steering Board.

Main products

  • information about seabed characteristics and biotopes
  • information about the distribution of benthic fauna, communities, biological diversity and production
  • information about contaminants in the sediments
  • detailed bathymetric maps
  • online database and map services collecting information on Norwegian coastal and ocean regions
kart om mareano

Areas mapped by MAREANO in the perioden 2006 – 2013. Red dots show stations sampled by using the video-rig Campod, while black dots show stations where all the MAREANO sampling gears have been in use (video, grab, beamtrawl, sled, mutlicorer).

First phase: 2006–2010

MAREANO-results contributed significantly with marine benthic knowledge to the revision of the Management plan for the Barents Sea and areas off Lofoten, which was presented in 2011. The report forms a background knowledge that is to be used by Norwegian authorities in their management of northern seas, in particular relative to fisheries and future petroleum activities. These areas were therefore given priority in the first phase of the MAREANO baseline mapping.

Second phase: 2011–

The MAREANO mapping will continue in the Barents Sea inclusive of the new Norwegian areas. However, due to a scheduled revision of the Management plan for the Norwegian Sea in 2014, priority is as well given to the shelf areas of the Norwegian Sea. The field-mapping of the Nordland VI-area was finished in 2013.

IMG 3337

Financial contribution

Financial contribution to the MAREANO programme
Year Amount
2023 Mill. NOK 113,7
2022 Mill. NOK 99.5
2021 Mill. NOK 100.154
2020 Mill. NOK 98.377
2019 Mill. NOK 109.2
2018 Mill. NOK 107.3
2017 Mill. NOK 105.7
2016 Mill. NOK 98.9
2015 Mill. NOK 94
2014 Mill. NOK 91.7
2013 Mill. NOK 90.5
2012 Mill. NOK 88.4
2011 Mill. NOK 92.4
2010 Mill. NOK 51.5
2009 Mill. NOK 51.5
2008 Mill. NOK 32.6
2007 Mill. NOK 32.6
2006 Mill. NOK 23.6
2005 Mill. NOK 5