The Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS) continues to make strides in oceanographic research, contributing critical data and advancing marine science in the Western Indian Ocean. The 2024 BCSS Impact Report highlights research station’s achievements in data collection, biodiversity monitoring, and international collaboration, reinforcing its role as a key player in marine conservation.
A Year of Research Milestones
BCSS’s Ocean Observatory recorded over 300,000 environmental data points in 2024, monitoring 28 oceanographic and weather variables, including sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentrations, and acoustic recordings. This effort contributes to a cumulative 16 million data points collected since the station’s inception, providing an invaluable resource for understanding regional climate trends and marine ecosystem health.
Additionally, BCSS conducted 800+ hours of marine monitoring, including 57 megafauna censuses, 69 spatial mapping surveys, and collected 72 zooplankton biosamples. These extensive efforts have contributed to a growing repository of biodiversity data, with over 13,000 animal encounters recorded during 2024-year fieldwork alone.
Groundbreaking Research Publications
BCSS’s research gained significant global recognition, with four peer-reviewed scientific papers published in 2024, including studies in Frontiers, Nature, The Ecology Ethology & Evolution, and the Royal Society.
Strengthening Scientific Collaborations
BCSS expanded its international partnerships, signing five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with institutions such as IFREMER (French Institute for Ocean Science), Sustainable Seas Trust (South Africa), and Satlink. These agreements will foster collaborative research efforts, particularly in ocean sustainability and marine biodiversity conservation.
Furthermore, BCSS played an active role in global scientific communication, with its Chief Scientist Dr. Mario Lebrato presenting at the United Nations’ Blue Economy Summit in Milan and the Global Blue Finance Summit in Barcelona. These engagements underline BCSS’s commitment to integrating science into policy and conservation strategies.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, BCSS aims to expand its Ocean Observatory’s capacity, improve data-sharing mechanisms, and support early-career Mozambican scientists through research co-funding initiatives. BCSS remains dedicated to leveraging cutting-edge science to inform conservation and sustainable ocean management in the Western Indian Ocean.
For more details, read the BCSS_Kisawa_Impact Report 2025
