News

The Start of Humpback Whale Season As the humpback whale migration season is in full swing, our volunteers are privileged to have witnessed these majestic sea nomads in the waters of Bazaruto Archipelago last month. The BCSS team records sightings alongside spatiotemporal and environmental meta-data collection, and aims to shed more light on the occurrence, […]

New Scientific Paper Published: “Gelatinous Carbon Impacts Benthic Megafaunal Communities in a Continental Margin” Last week, Frontiers in Marine Science published a paper led by BCSS’s Chief Scientist Dr. Mario Lebrato, alongside an international team of scientists. The paper, “Gelatinous Carbon Impacts Benthic Megafaunal Communities in a Continental Margin”, outlines how sinking ocean plankton (e.g.

World Earth Day We celebrate our planet Earth every day through conducting surveys, analysing data and monitoring the incredible wildlife that the Bazaruto Archipelago has to offer. As part of Earth Day, the team conducted coral reef exploratory surveys to understand the coral-macroalgae relation, as a result of increased observation of microalgae coverage on  coral reefs

Large fishing net found and removed by BCSS team The BCSS team recently found a bottom trawling net in the Bazaruto Archipelago. The net measured 32m in length and was removed from the waters east of Bazaruto Island, as soon as the team spotted it. Trawling nets are detrimental to a vast amount of marine

Happy 2022! We are very excited to learn that our region, the Inhambane Seascape has been recognised as a Hope Spot. Benguerra Island, where our research station is located, is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago, which lies in the heart of the Inhambane province’s waters. Dr Sylvia Earle’s NGO, Mission Blue, acknowledged the work Mozambique

Last year was an eventful year for us, with many highlights to celebrate: from new collaborations and partnerships, the establishment of an educational food garden at the Benguerra Island primary school, to sighting large groups of humpback whales and teaching volunteers and interns how we conduct marine science research.  January & February We ended 2020

Happy 2022! At the station, we are looking back on our highlights of the last year. From new collaborations and partnerships and the establishment of an educational food gardenat the Benguerra Island primary school, to sighting large groups of humpback whales and teaching volunteers and interns how we conduct marine science research. Read our full year in review article

New Article: Climate Change and the West Indian Ocean The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) has incited much global discussion about its successes and failures. In the spirit of the summit, we elaborate on the importance of research and continuous data in order to find solutions to the major threat to our planet.

Group of Orcas Spotted Northeast Off Benguerra Island On the 25th of September, a pod of killer whales (Orcinus orca) were encountered. Four individuals were identified a few miles northeast from Benguerra Island. The orcas surfaced several times, but moved mostly at a depth of 10 to 20 meters, heading south. Orcas belong to the

Humpback Whale Season in Full Swing July marks the start of humpback whale season in Mozambique, and the number of early sightings have noticeably increased this year. From July until the end of August, we have made 41 sightings – and though this might mean we have seen the same individual on multiple occasions, it