Sainte Marie, August 19, 2023. Sainte Marie Island is one of the must-visit destinations for tourists in Madagascar. But it holds particular significance for biodiversity. Indeed, every year from June to September, thousands of humpback whales (Megaptera) from Antarctica arrive in these warm waters to reproduce and give birth. This makes Sainte Marie a global hotspot for these marine mammals.

 

Cétamada is at the forefront of promoting actions to develop sustainable and responsible marine tourism. Cétamada also leads scientific research programs on humpback whales in the Southwest Indian Ocean region. To support them in carrying out these scientific research programs, a partnership has been established between Cétamada and Suzuki Marine, represented in Madagascar by Matechmad, one of the companies of the EDL Group. "We are proud to contribute to the protection of the marine ecosystem alongside Cétamada. The historic brand we represent, Suzuki Marine, is committed to preserving and protecting the marine environment," shares Philippe Lormeteau, Technical Director at Matechmad.

Matechmad has provided a DF115A outboard engine to the association for their research boat free of charge. This arrangement will last for a duration of two years and may be renewed. "In the course of carrying out our various missions, support and assistance are greatly appreciated. This support from Suzuki Marine will enable us to carry out our scientific research programs," explains Dr. Anjara Saloma, President of the Cétamada association. Suzuki Marine will also provide technical assistance during this period of provision. Suzuki Marine engines have multiple advantages. They are reliable and known for their fuel economy and quietness. These aspects make them an ideal and animal-friendly tool, especially for marine mammals. The signing of this partnership agreement took place on Saturday, August 19, 2023, on Sainte Marie Island.

The use of the Suzuki DF115A for two years corresponds with:

320 hours of scientific outings

200 biological collection samples

over 1000 hours of acoustic recording

40 breath samples

10 tag deployments

1 Ph.D. demo, 2 masters theses

50 children discovering whales.

Cétamada is a non-profit Malagasy association dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals and their habitats in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean.