Successful scientific expedition for CCS, which counted more than 9 cetacean species in less than two weeks

Founded in 2020 by two marine biologists from Guadeloupe and Martinique, the Caribbean Cetacean Society (CCS) is an NGO dedicated to the protection of cetaceans in Caribbean waters. To achieve this goal, the CCS’s field of action is divided into 4 activities: the production of scientific databases (1) to improve knowledge of cetaceans and disseminate information on existing threats to raise awareness among local populations and political decision-makers (2). The idea is to provide governments with reference data on which to base the development and implementation of appropriate management/conservation measures that are more protective of cetaceans (3). It should be noted that the CCS has chosen to work not just in the French West Indies, but on a regional level and is in fact working to set up a cooperative network of committed people, by bringing together researchers, young people, associations and governments from different territories (4). This approach is justified by the fact that cetaceans don’t understand borders, and move freely between islands.

Optimum protection of cetaceans therefore calls for increased regional cooperation between the islands, all the more so as the cetaceans of the West Indies (which home to over a third of the world’s species diversity) are endangered.
And yet, according to a number of studies, man is the source of many of these threats: collisions with ships, chemical pollution, waste pollution, noise pollution and, above all, cetacean fishing.

In fact, many Caribbean countries authorize cetacean fishing, and while whale fishing is often regulated, this is not really the case for dolphin fishing, which is carried out on a daily basis.

However, this human activity has serious consequences for the marine biodiversity of the West Indies.

In addition to being essential mayons of the marine ecosystem, cetaceans perform an essential ecological function, absorbing 4 times as much CO2 as the Amazon rainforest, and thus representing an important lever against climate change.

Saving cetaceans means saving our planet, this is why the Embassy has been supporting the CCS for 3 years now, through its "Research" allocation. In addition to this financial support, the Embassy also helps the CCS to obtain research permits from the various islands crossed during CCS scientific expeditions, as the CCS’s work to produce scientific data, raise awareness and promote cooperation is carried out in particular through scientific expeditions.

These scientific expeditions are part of the "Ti Whale An Nou" program, and are carried out throughout the West Indies (from Anguilla to Grenada), with a research effort divided into three sub-areas: south, center and north.

The scientific expedition in which the Embassy participated took place in the Southern Islands (Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada). This was the 21st CCS scientific expedition.
11 people - geographically representative of 6 islands (St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Martinique and the Turks and Caicos Islands) - took part in the expedition. Among the participants were scientists, marine biologists, wildlife veterinarians, directors of marine wildlife conservation NGOs and government representatives (Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Fisheries).

This level of representation testifies to a real coup on the part of the CCS, which has succeeded in building up a genuine transnational cooperation network, thereby fostering the development of the skills of several regional players. This success deserves to be applauded, as few cooperation projects truly integrate the English-speaking Caribbean.
In order to strengthen its local roots and better integrate English speaking Caribbean players -which most of whose practices and conceptions differ from those of the CCS -, the CCS has chosen not to enter into direct confrontation and, in fact, to favor a collaborative approach based on dialogue, the idea being to change mentalities through cooperation and the contribution of scientific data.
The aim is to raise awareness of the importance and potential economic spin-offs of the blue economy, by promoting and training stakeholders in sustainable tourism practices such as (non-intrusive) cetacean sightings, which can generate numerous sources of income for local populations.

Supporting the CCS means supporting the sustainable economy of the West Indies, while at the same time making a commitment to the climate and biodiversity, in line with the commitments made by France at COP 15 in 2022.

If you’d like to find out more about CCS, we invite you to follow them on their networks:
Web page: https://www.ccs-ngo.com/about-us?lang=fr
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/caribbean_cetacean_society_ccs/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanCetaceanSociety/?locale=fr_FR