The IndoCet Consortium is dedicated to all cetacean species across the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO).

Its geographic boundaries are 20°E and 90°E, and 12°N and 55°S. It reaches from the Northern limit of the Horn of Africa to the Southern limit of the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. Its western boundary is the southernmost tip of Africa.

The Indian Ocean Cetacean Consortium (IndoCet) aims to dynamize the scientific exchanges, continue the research about cetaceans’ biology in the South-West Indian Ocean and promote its conservation.

Relying on the expertise and the professional and geographic diversity of its members, the IndoCet Consortium:
– supports collaborative research programs,
– improves knowledge sharing and scientific protocol harmonization
– advises SWIO range States for cetacean conservation and anthropogenic impact mitigation,
– provides training for biologists and conservationists,
– fosters the development of citizen science,
– promotes the development of professional codes of conduct and research ethic guidelines.

Goals & objectives

The primary goals and objectives of the Consortium are to advance understanding of cetacean biology in the SWIO, and promote their conservation.

Helping research groups collaborate, advising SWIO range States for cetacean conservation and anthropogenic impact mitigation, providing training for biologists, conservationists and managers, developing citizen science, and promoting professional conduct codes and research ethics guidelines are some of the ways to achieve the Consortium’s goals.

Structure

The Consortium comprises an Executive Committee and two types of members: active and associate. Active members are involved in cetacean research in the SWIO, whereas associate members are active in cetacean research outside the Consortium’s boundaries. See Consortium members.

A little bit of reading

Learn more about the Consortium by reading or downloading the IndoCet Consortium’s Memorandum of Understanding.

Find details about the context of the Consortium’s creation in the “Humpback Whale Satellite Tagging in the South- Western Indian Ocean” workshop report. This workshop took place in Reunion island from November 19 to 21, 2014.

2019 Indocet meeting report Reunion Island, 10-12 July 2019

Member organizations