In October 2025, the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS) strengthened its presence on the global ocean science stage as Dr. Mario Lebrato, Chief Scientist and Station Manager, virtually represented the organization at the Annual Meeting of the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) that took place in Santa Marta, Colombia. This key gathering brings together leading oceanographic institutions, research centers, and initiatives to align efforts toward understanding and protecting the planet’s ocean systems. In his presentation, Dr. Lebrato emphasized the need for more African representation in global scientific initiatives like SCOR and its activities: GEOTRACES, IIOE-2, and more.
Dr. Lebrato virtually presented the groundbreaking work of the BCSS Ocean Observatory, showcasing its role as a permanent, multi-ecosystem time-series platform generating open-access ocean and biodiversity data in the Western Indian Ocean.
Group photo of the SCOR-INVEMAR symposium participants. SCOR 2025 Annual Meeting
Contributing to the IIOE-2 Science Plan Addendum
In parallel to the conference, Dr. Lebrato was also selected as a scientific reviewer of the Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2) Science Plan Addendum (2026–2030).
His insights helped shape the next chapter of IIOE-2, a major international effort to accelerate our understanding of the Indian Ocean’s climate, ecosystems, and human interactions.
The newly launched addendum outlines a focused path for regional research priorities, placing strong emphasis on climate change impacts, biodiversity conservation, and improved inclusion of African stakeholders. Dr. Lebrato’s contribution was acknowledged by SCOR, one of the sponsors of IIOE-2, in a formal letter of appreciation—further underscoring BCSS’s value as a long-term science partner in the region.
“The community is invited to contribute to IIOE-2 in its next phase of activity (2026–2030), which will continue to support the original objectives of the project with an emphasis on accelerating progress on understanding the impacts of anthropogenic influences on the ocean.” – SCOR
A Data-Driven Contribution to Global Ocean Science
The BCSS presentation highlighted the Observatory’s ability to generate high-resolution, multi-variable time-series datasets that couple oceanographic and atmospheric variables with biodiversity trends. These include measurements such as:
- Sea surface temperature (SST), pH, and dissolved oxygen
- Wind speed/direction, air pressure, and moon phase
- Visual and acoustic megafauna surveys
- Seabed heatwave and acidification monitoring
- Coral reef and peat reef composition changes
- Biomass tracking using smart satellite buoys
By aligning physical conditions with biological responses, BCSS offers a unique coupled view of the marine environment—essential for climate adaptation, biodiversity forecasting, and ecosystem management.
Scientific and Societal Impact
The Observatory’s work feeds into global observatory networks (e.g. GOOS, OceanSITES, GOA-ON) and fills a critical data gap in the Western Indian Ocean, one of the world’s least monitored ocean basins. For Mozambique and the region, BCSS’s data provides:
- Science: Baseline data to detect long-term changes in ocean conditions and biodiversity
- Policy: Evidence to guide marine protected areas, climate resilience, and ESG frameworks (e.g. blue bonds, carbon credits)
- Society: Publicly accessible data that supports education, tourism, fisheries, and conservation sectors
Examples of Findings Presented
Some of the compelling results shared during SCOR 2025 included:
- Seasonal presence of whales, dolphins, sharks, and rays—including IUCN endangered and critically endangered species
- Acoustic monitoring of marine mammal activity
- Seabed pH & temperature shifts associated with ocean acidification & marine heatwaves
- Upwelling-related ecosystem changes driven by wind-temperature coupling
- Real-time biomass detection using repurposed smart buoys linked to satellites
- Coral reef degradation & peat reef dynamics, tracked through quadrat & biodiversity data
A slide from Dr. Mario’s Lebrato’s presentation featuring BCSS open-access data
A Call for African Participation in Global Ocean Science
In closing his presentation, Dr. Lebrato emphasized the need for more African representation in global scientific initiatives like SCOR and its activities: GEOTRACES, IIOE-2, and more. As BCSS expands its observatory model to other locations, including underrepresented regions across Africa, the call for collaboration is growing.
The Western Indian Ocean continues to be an under-observed and climate-vulnerable region, yet holds immense ecological, social, and economic value. Through continued participation in initiatives like SCOR and IIOE-2, BCSS aims to be a bridge—connecting African ocean science to the world.
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For questions about this article, please contact:
Ekaterina Kalashnikova, Bazaruto Archipelago – Ocean Observatory Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies ekaterina.kalashnikova@bcssmz.org
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