Dolphin & Whale Research Programme, Mediterranean

Cetacean Sanctuary Research

A sailing-boat based cetacean research and conservation programme in the Cetacean Sanctuary, Western Mediterranean

Since 1990 this project has been investigating the ecology and behaviour of cetaceans living in the Cetacean Sanctuary - a special marine protected area extending between Italy and France. The research focuses on the spectacularly large fin whale as well as on sperm whales, Risso’s dolphins, pilot whales, striped and bottlenose dolphins.

The Project
Participants will be directly involved in field activities, helping the researchers to collect cetacean data and assist them in preliminary analyses of digital photos and acoustic recordings, while learning basics in sailing.

Location
The project is conducted within the Ligurian Sea Cetacean Sanctuary, in an area delimited by Cote d'Azur (France), Tuscany, and northern Sardinia (Italy). In this region, particularly rich in nutrients, cetaceans are found in numbers that are higher than in other Mediterranean areas. Base harbour is in Sanremo (Italy), near the French border.

Description
You will be trained through specific lectures and work side by side with researchers. During this period you will be asked to contribute to the data collection and analysis (e.g. recording cetaceans number and behaviour at regular intervals, preliminary analysis of cetaceans digital photos, etc).

Accommodation
During your experience, you will be aboard a comfortable 21m sailing boat, which hosts 16 persons in five cabins: two single beds in the bow sharing one bathroom, two four-bed cabins and a very large room for six (two double and two single beds); each with private bathroom, shower and hot water.

In case of unfavourable weather or harsh sea conditions, the boat stays in the harbour or in a sheltered bay. Participants may decide to stay on board assisting the researchers with data analysis and computer work (e.g. photo-identification of cetaceans) and attending the lectures held by the staff, or they may visit the surrounding area.

Sample day
The schedule of a research cruise depends very much on weather conditions. Surveys are conducted whenever the sea state and wind forecasts are favourable for data collection. Participants are full members of the crew, and they will be assigned a number of duties. These include sighting shifts (looking for cetaceans), computer shifts (data entry and hydrophone listening), navigation shifts (checking the boat course and velocity), cooking and boat-keeping shifts (participants as well as staff members will be in charge of preparing meals and cleaning-up, keeping the boat tidy and ready to sail).


2012 Dates

Placements are available for one to several weeks.  Volunteers work in groups of 15 (11 volunteers, 4 staff).

Costs:  The total cost ranges from £735 to £885 GB pounds per week (depending on course date). This includes a £150 GB pounds deposit payable with the application with the balance payment to be paid in Euros (780 to 960 Euros depending on course date and duration). Discounts are available for students under 26 yrs old (699 to 869 Euros).  Please enquire to the Volunteer Coordinator: victoria.mcneil@workingabroad.com for any questions.

Price includes:
- Food and beverages (breakfast, lunch and dinner, except for alcoholic and soft drinks) for the duration of the cruise
- Accommodation on board
- Mooring expenses in San Remo harbour
- Electricity, water heating and cooking costs
- Fuel for boat and dinghy
- Lectures and training by researchers
- Scientific supervision
- Certificate of involvement in the Cetacean Sanctuary Research
- Personal insurance for the duration of the course, issued by the Research Institute
- Research contribution

Price excludes:
- Travel expenses to and from San Remo
- Mooring expenses outside of Portosole (approximately €80-100 per night, to be divided by all the crew with the exception of the skipper)
- Personal expenses (telephone, souvenirs, etc.)
- Meals other than those served onboard the boat
- Soft drinks, liquors and spirits (beer, wine, etc.)

How to get there
Boarding is in the harbour of Portosole, Sanremo (Imperia), where the boat, the "Pelagos" is moored. Sanremo is a small town located along the Italian Riviera, a few km from the Italy-France border. It can be reached by train, by car, or by plane.  The closest international airports are Nice (France), about 60 km to the west, and Genova (Italy), about 140 km to the east. From both airports there are bus services to the train station, where it is possible to take a train to Sanremo. Several national airlines and low-cost airlines fly to Genoa and/or Nice from all over Europe, including:  www.flyairone.it/it/Index.asp, www.transavia.com,  www.ryanair.com, www.lufthansa.it and www.blu-express.com.

Feedback from volunteers:

Ann Watts from the UK  said: "I had an amazing time; I met some fabulous people and encountered wonderful wild dolphins too! I really enjoyed the data capture and the statistical analysis. A trip I shall remember forever; thank you all." 

Floriane Kaiser from Switzerland  said: "San Remo is a lovely place, the work on board was well organised and I felt very free. Food was excellent and I liked cooking all together. Congratulations to you in the office for managing everything before departure, and to the scientists on board!"

Dinah, Australia said:  "It was one of those weeks where the planets aligned – the weather was beautiful, the seas were mostly kind, the team of people on the boat were a great lot and the cetaceans showed themselves often enough to earn their appearance fees. Thank you indeed to the professionalism of the crew – Francesca, Viridiana, Nina and Captain Paolo – I have learnt a lot about these wonderful creatures who inhabit our oceans and remind us of both the antiquity and fragility of Planet Earth. Long may she live! Research and programs such as this will be what will save her."

Wendy from Australia said:  "It wasn’t like a movie, there were no whales launching themselves onto the boat, no dolphins diving through hoops. It was much more real, respectful and impressive. So much to appreciate. The programme takes participants on a journey that will help to sustain the Mediterranean Sea, the whales, the dolphins, other marine life and the participants themselves. The Tethys team is not only professional, knowledgeable, and organized, but also a joy to be around. Thank you to Francesca, Viridiana, Nina and Paolo."

Mary, from Canada:  "An extraordinary voyage with researchers who had a wonderful ability to wrangle 11 guests, while conducting serious and important detailed research into the habits and identities of cetaceans. They generously shared their detailed knowledge of whales and dolphins and other sea life with us. The participants were “simpatico”, the food was great and the whales cooperated by revealing themselves at regular intervals. Thank you for a wonderful experience."

Khoa from the USA:  "As sad as it sounds, it took an experience like this for me to realize the beauty and magnificence of cetaceans and the enormous effect that humans have on their future well-being. I will remain ever vigilant and ever true regarding personal decisions I make from this moment on. Thank you for providing me with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – you’ve been extremely welcoming and patient, even if we have trouble reporting what types of boats are in the vicinity =). I won’t let you down!"

To Apply for Cetacean Sanctuary Research
If you are interested in joining this project, you will need to fill out the online application form – to secure a placement on the project, please complete and submit the form with your deposit of £150.  If for some reason, your application is declined, we will reimburse this deposit fully.  However for those who are accepted, you will be required to pay 50% of the full amount within 10 days of acceptance, with the remaining 50% 1 month before arrival.  This will have to be paid in Euros to our programme research partner in the field, Tethys Research Institute.  Once we have confirmed your place, you will receive a detailed information package on the programme background and scientific objectives, your role as a volunteer, the work you will do, amenities on the boat, suggested items to bring, how to travel there etc.   Following this, Tethys Research Institute will send you documents on volunteer liability that will need to be completed after you are booked on the programme.  Any questions with regards to your application, please email:  victoria.mcneil@workingabroad.com