The innovative partnership between BCSS (Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies) and Kisawa Sanctuary has been spotlighted in the June 2025 edition of DAN Alert Diver magazine — reinforcing their position as leaders in sustainable dive tourism and ocean science.
Kisawa Sanctuary Entrance
A Feature Worth Reading
As part of their ongoing mission to bridge science with the scuba and conservation communities, DAN Alert Diver magazine featured BCSS and Kisawa in a dedicated spread — a first for Mozambique.
The article outlines how the Resort to Research concept is setting new standards in the field of sustainable dive travel in Africa, especially in remote island ecosystems where both tourism and biodiversity intersect.
BCSS is a regular contributor to DAN media, and this feature cements their reputation as a future-focused research hub redefining marine conservation models.
What Is the “Resort to Research” Concept?
At its core, the Resort to Research concept is a circular model where sustainable luxury travel directly funds marine research and ecosystem monitoring. Rather than separating tourism from conservation, this approach weaves them together — creating a consistent, transparent pipeline of funding, data, and community involvement.
Unlike traditional philanthropic or NGO-led conservation projects, the Resort to Research concept creates real-time value for both researchers and guests. And it’s working.
The sightings’ locations of the male humpback whale between the breeding grounds G and C. Squares represent primary feeding grounds of the Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Breeding Stocks (BS) G, A, B, and C, with the latter split into C1 southern (C1S) and C1 northern (C1N) extents, C2, C3, and C4. Semicircles represent their respective core breeding grounds.
(Kalashnikova et al., 2024.)
A Whale’s 13-Year Journey: From St Lucia, South Africa to Bazaruto, Mozambique
A whale first spotted in 2009 off St. Lucia, South Africa, was photographed again 13 years later by BCSS researchers off Bazaruto. This individual—now part of the Happywhale catalogue—remains unnamed. Through our “Name the Whale” campaign, individuals and organisations can sponsor a whale, supporting ongoing conservation, data collection, and student outreach in Mozambique.
This humpback whale was first photographed off South Africa in 2009. In 2022, BCSS documented the whale again in Bazaruto—a powerful testament to the value of long-term photo-ID and collaboration through Happywhale.
The Role of BCSS in Whale Monitoring
BCSS, located on Benguerra Island in Mozambique, hosts the first permanent Ocean Observatory in Africa focused on multi-ecosystem time series research. Whale sightings are a core part of its seasonal monitoring activities during the migration season in the Mozambique Channel.
Researchers and citizen scientists at BCSS contribute to:
- Monitoring whale presence and behaviors
- Photographing whale flukes and dorsal fins
- Uploading sightings to Happywhale
- Educating visitors and communities on ethical whale-watching and conservation
This partnership allows data from the Western Indian Ocean to be seamlessly integrated into global tracking efforts, enhancing the scope and impact of marine conservation science.
Citizen Science in Action: How You Can Help
This is the heart of the story: you don’t need to be a scientist to make a scientific impact.
If you’re traveling, sailing, diving, or even just photographing wildlife from shore, you can help:
- Capture clear photos of humpback whale flukes or dorsal fins.
- Note the location and date of your sighting.
- Upload to Happywhale.com — the platform does the rest.
You’ll receive updates if your photo results in a match, and your contribution will join a global database helping track individual whales across the planet. A single photo might lead to a discovery that spans oceans.
Humpback whale. (Orlando Miranda + Salvador Colvee/BCSS)
The Mozambique Channel: A Migratory Hotspot
The Mozambique Channel is increasingly recognized as a critical migration corridor for humpback whales, particularly between June and October.
- BCSS researchers observe annual patterns of whale behavior, including breaching, competitive groups, and resting mothers with calves.
- These observations — paired with photographic records — help map whale residency, habitat use, and timing.
- The region’s relatively low human disturbance makes it a valuable site for long-term monitoring and conservation efforts.
With every migration season, the data grows — and so does our understanding.
Why This Matters
- Mozambique’s coast is a critical stopover for migrating humpback whales.
- At BCSS, our research vessels and team are on the water throughout the season, collecting photo-ID data to better understand these long-distance travelers.
- Our logistics support full-scale cetacean surveys—photo-ID, acoustic monitoring, and behavioral observations—off the Bazaruto Archipelago.
- Every photo adds to our collective understanding of whale migration across ocean basins.
This is science that invites participation. And it starts with a camera, a sighting, and a willingness to get involved.
Join the Journey
Whether you’re a diver, a sailor, or simply a lover of the ocean — you can help us track and protect these gentle giants.
More information:
For questions about this article, please contact:
Ekaterina Kalashnikova, Bazaruto Archipelago – Ocean Observatory Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies ekaterina.kalashnikova@bcssmz.org
To get in touch and collaborate with our research Center , please visit https://bcssmz.org/logistical-support-consultancy/
To learn more about our Scientific Training Program, please see https://bcssmz.org/scientific-training-program/