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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, Benguerra Island A Feature Worth Reading As part of their ongoing mission

Photo credit: Humpback whale flukes. (Orlando Miranda + Salvador Colvee/BCSS) In 2022, a single photo taken off the coast of Zanzibar changed what we know about whale migration. The image — a clear shot of a humpback whale’s fluke — was uploaded to Happywhale, a global photo-identification platform powered by artificial intelligence. What happened next was

In 1979, the Indian Ocean was designated a whale sanctuary by the International Whaling Commission. It was a critical and timely decision—by then, many populations of great whales had been hunted to near extinction, with some subpopulations reduced to less than 5% of their original size. Today, we are privileged to witness the slow recovery

A groundbreaking new study documenting the first multiple visual and acoustic records of melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra) in southern Tanzania has been published in the May 15 issue of Aquatic Mammals Journal. The research, conducted by Ekaterina Kalashnikova of BCSS, and colleagues, supervised by Dr Aylin Akkaya of DMAD, provides significant new insights into the

BCSS is releasing our Marine Debris Yearly Report for 2024, detailing the ongoing efforts to mitigate plastic waste and other pollutants in the Bazaruto Archipelago. This year’s report highlights the collection, analysis, and sustainable processing of marine debris found in the region’s vital ecosystems, including beaches, mudflats, mangroves, and seagrass meadows. Download our 2024 Marine

Time to reflect on an extraordinary year of achievements, discoveries, and partnerships at BCSS. From  sound research and collaborative ventures to significant milestones, with its sister property Kisawa, BCSS continues to lead in marine science and sustainability. Our Impact Report details a groundbreaking year. Here are the highlights. BCSS monitoring confirms at least 12 marine mammal

Findings from a study conducted by Ekaterina Kalashnikova of the Tanzania Cetacean Program and BCSS, Davis Godfrey Orio of the Mnazi Bay Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MPRU), and Dr. Aylin Akkaya of the DMAD-Marine Mammals Research Association, present the first recorded instance of humpback whales feeding in their East African breeding grounds. The research has

French national broadcaster, TF1 visited BCSS for a report on the Bazaruto Archipelago and its wildlife. Captivated by the seascape’s allure, the TV crew were particularly drawn to the dugong population, which resides in this seascape. Dugongs, endangered animals, vital to marine biodiversity, graze on seagrass meadows, promoting underwater habitat health that supports diverse species