PUBLIC
DATABASE
GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING
The Mozambique Channel: a critical biodiversity hotspot in the Indian Ocean
The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region stretches from the Horn of Africa (Somalia) to the southern tip of South Africa. Over 20 marine conservation areas and national parks exist in this coastline, nine of them located within Mozambique. One of the most important, the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (BANP) and the Greater Bazaruto area, hosts diverse coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and a narrow continental shelf that quickly connects with the open ocean.
The BANP is a group of five islands in the Inhambane Province, Mozambique, classified as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in 1971. The Bazaruto Archipelago is a conservation priority owing to its significance for contributing to biodiversity and the important goods and services provided by the variety of marine ecosystems. The local marine life includes humpback whales, dolphins and sharks, marlin and tuna, sailfish, wahoo, king mackerel, great trevally, groupers, rays, manta rays, reef fish and turtles. Critical habitats and ecosystems are also abundant in the area, being dominated by coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, sand banks, seamounts/pinnacles, and open ocean/canyon systems, which trigger regular upwelling and primary/secondary production.
OCEAN MONITORING
The first permanent multi ecosystem time-series Ocean Observatory in Africa
Long-term monitoring across spatiotemporal scales is critical to understand the magnitude of regional and global impact owing to environmental change and human actions in the oceans. The BCSS Ocean Observatory is an independent platform providing time-series data for the whole Mozambique Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) and Mozambique Channel, with the main operations and focus in the Bazaruto Archipelago. The platform has an open-access data policy, and it contributes to global programs such as the GEOTRACES Program, the SIBER-SCOR Indian Ocean Programme, and the GOA-ON international network (NOAA/UNESCO endorsed).
The main objectives of the Observatory are:
1.) To monitor spatiotemporal variability in seawater key parameters relevant to Environmental variability/Climate Change/Ocean Acidification (OA) and Human Impact/Pollution concerns at a local, regional and global level.
2.) To provide time-series baseline of the current and future marine environmental status of the Mozambique Channel and the Bazaruto Archipelago, and how Environmental changes and Human impact/ pollution affect its ecosystems, with the ultimate goal to be a long-term oceanographic reference for the WIO region.
3.) To effectively and timely transfer the Ocean Observatory time-series outcomes to relevant local, regional/national, and international communities in a way that is used to inform management, conservation and policy decisions within the Blue Economy sector.
Download our main brochure
The brochure showcases over six years of dedicated work in and around the iconic Bazaruto seascape spanning 1,430 square kilometres across five islands.
Key highlights of the brochure include:
- Four research themes with continuous sampling;
- Five years of monitoring data displaying recorded wildlife per taxa, with conservation status indicators;
- Number of samples collected to date;
- Visualised data and insights into the marine debris project;
- Testimonies from our scientific training programs participants; and
- Details on our research logistics facilities.