Research on Marine Megafauna in the Caribbean

At Augmentum, we believe that protecting our planet’s biodiversity requires a global approach. This year, we are proud to announce our partnership with the Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS) to support two flagship projects: ‘Jorobadas del Caribe’ and ‘Calypso’. Together, we are working to fill critical data gaps and harmonise conservation efforts across one of the world’s most complex marine environments.

The Caribbean: A Beautiful but Fragile Frontier

Whales, dolphins, and other marine megafauna are more than just charismatic icons of the ocean; they are "ecosystem engineers" critical to the health of our marine environments. However, in the Caribbean, these species face a unique challenge. The Caribbean is one of the most complex geopolitical areas on Earth, a mosaic of different languages, cultures, and regulations.

While marine megafauna are migratory species that do not recognise man-made frontiers, the protections afforded to them vary wildly from one island to the next. In some areas, cetaceans are strictly protected; in others, they are still hunted under loose or non-existent regulations. Despite their importance, there remains a massive lack of data regarding their populations and movements, making it nearly impossible to implement effective, region-wide

conservation strategies.

Enter the Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS)

To bridge this gap, the Caribbean Cetacean Society was founded five years ago. As a local NGO, CCS focuses on a four-pillar approach:

• Research: Filling knowledge gaps with high-quality scientific data.

• Cooperation: Harmonising regulations across different islands and nations.

• Education: Building local capacity to ensure long-term, sustainable impact.

• Conservation: Translating science into meaningful management and policy.

Their work is already making waves. CCS has supported governments in creating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and establishing new regulations. Their efforts are officially endorsed by the UNESCO Ocean Decade and supported by international heavyweights such as the UN, WWF and the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

Spotlight on Support: Two Flagship Projects

As part of our commitment to marine preservation, Augmentum is supporting two of CCS’s most ambitious initiatives this year.

1. Jorobadas del Caribe: Protecting the Humpback Legacy

The "Jorobadas del Caribe" project is dedicated to understanding the ecology of humpback whales in the Caribbean. This research is urgent: humpbacks are still hunted under quotas in certain Caribbean islands, and the combined threats of climate change and human activity are intensifying.

With Augmentum’s support, the CCS research team is conducting scientific expeditions in the Marine Protected Areas of the Dominican Republic—home to some of the most important breeding grounds in the world. Through a series of eight scientific expeditions, the team is estimating whale density and tracking temporal distributions. This data is critical for providing the Dominican government with the evidence needed to refine management plans and safeguard these vital habitats before it is too late.

2. Project Calypso: The Largest Marie Megafauna Scientific Expedition in Caribbean History

Project Calypso represents a milestone in Caribbean marine biology. It is the largest expedition ever undertaken in the region to understand marine megafauna ecology. For the first time, nearly the entire Caribbean Sea is being studied as a single ecosystem.

Using a cutting-edge suite of technologies—including acoustic surveys, automated cameras, BRUVS (Baited RemoteUnderwater Video Systems), photo-ID, and eDNA—Project Calypso aims to map the diversity and movement of whales, dolphins, sharks, and seabirds. By overlaying this data with human-based threats, the project will identify high-risk areas that require immediate intervention.

Beyond the science, Augmentum’s support of Calypso is an investment in the future. The project is building local capacity and providing results that will be used to harmonise ocean governance across the Caribbean, ultimately proposing the creation of a network of new, interconnected MPAs.

A Shared Vision for the Blue Horizon

By supporting the Caribbean Cetacean Society, Augmentum is investing in a future where the "frontiers" of the Caribbean no longer act as barriers to the safety of its most majestic inhabitants. We are proud to stand with CCS as they turn data into action and action into a lasting legacy for the Caribbean Sea.

Learn more : https://www.ccs-ngo.com/