DATA

ACCESS

GOVERNANCE & LEGAL STATUS

BCSS Ocean Observatory/Bazaruto Archipelago

The platform, providing public open-access data within the Mozambique Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) and the Mozambique Channel/Bazaruto Archipelago is managed by the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS), being located on Benguerra Island in a research station and laboratory, hosting a PADI 5* Dive Center. The research is organized in four themes, working on multi-ecosystem time-series mode to understand Earth-Ocean-Human biogeochemical and ecological processes, impact, and interactions, which contribute to the Blue Economy sector. The BCSS Observatory and Research Station operate under the BCSS Foundation (Fundação Centro de Estudos Científicos do Bazaruto, No. 101218511), a registered Mozambican foundation established by Nina Flohr. Officially authorized in April 2017 and inaugurated in December 2017, BCSS was launched with the support of the Government of Mozambique, ANAC, BANP, academic institutions, and the Benguerra Island community. BCSS is a licensed research center under MCTES (License No. 002/IICDTI/BCSS/MCTES/2023), with industrial property registration (Process No. 42686, Class 42). It is a certified 5* PADI Dive Center (No. S27771) and holds a national diving license issued by the Ministry of Transport & Communications and INAMAR (License No. 1437/INAMAR/MA/2021). The foundation maintains formal research agreements and ongoing collaborations with key government partners, including MIMAIP, the Instituto Oceanográfico de Moçambique (InOM), and MCTES.
Geographical and Operational Structure
Core Variables & Data Availability

DATABASES AVAILABILITY & METHODS

Mozambique Channel/Bazaruto Archipelago

The Observatory is organized around moorings, buoys, sectors, and GPS fixed points whereby continuous/discrete time-series data/samples are obtained using a combination of surveys, samples/analytics, satellite/API solutions, weather stations, sensors, and models. The main ecosystems surveyed to obtain time-series data include coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, sand banks, open ocean, seamounts/pinnacles, and the water column.

All databases are individually DOI-protected (https://datacite.org/) and once accessed/used must be cited and mentioned in relevant public forum materials as indicated in the “Reference_Citation (all)” section of the database.

Any other use of the databases and/or Observatory materials must appear in public forum as follows: Material provided by the BCSS Ocean Observatory – Bazaruto Archipelago_https://bcssmz.org/ocean-observatory-mozambique/_(registry: 002/IICDTI/BCSS/MCTES/2023)_DOI: https://doi.org/10.82174/bcssmz.ocean.observatory.data.repository)

Research Themes Methodology

An overview of the Ocean Observatory research themes is available below for downloading. This includes the specific methodology for data types and sub-types, as well as parameters. For specific data sets, please see the tables below. 

Focuses on time-series ocean monitoring through remote sensing and in-situ measurements to understand the dynamics of marine ecosystems across spatial and temporal scales.

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Involves ocean, coastal, and seabed surveys to identify and monitor resident and migratory species, revealing how marine life interacts with habitats across space and time.

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Focuses on tagging and sampling pelagic species to understand their habitat use, migration patterns, and responses to environmental and spatial factors, including marine protected areas.

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Is a collaborative effort with BANP using monthly and opportunistic surveys at fixed sites to assess and track marine debris on Benguerra Island.

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