The Calypso Project

From May 15 through June 29, 2026, SeaKeepers DISCOVERY Vessel Seeker supported 35 research days across three expedition legs of the Caribbean Cetacean Society’s Calypso Project. Beginning in Martinique, the expedition surveyed waters surrounding Trinidad and Tobago before returning north through Martinique, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and concluding in Curaçao.

Throughout the expedition, researchers conducted standardized visual and passive acoustic marine megafauna surveys while collecting eDNA samples, deploying BRUVS, documenting marine debris, and photographing wildlife for identification studies. During the expedition, the team recorded more than eight cetacean species, along with sharks, marlins, leatherback sea turtles, and a remarkable diversity of seabirds.

One of the expedition’s most significant achievements was completing the first standardized marine megafauna survey around Trinidad and Tobago, providing an important scientific baseline for future research in the region. The project also strengthened regional partnerships and conservation capacity through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Trinidad and Tobago, the launch of the Trinidad and Tobago Marine Mammals Coalition, training local participants in survey methodologies, and outreach events that engaged students, community members, NGOs, and government representatives throughout the Caribbean.

The expedition highlighted both the ecological richness of the Caribbean Sea and the growing pressures facing its marine ecosystems, reinforcing the importance of coordinated, multinational conservation efforts across the region.