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All to help you do more good.
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  This project sees volunteers being trained to work alongside a team of scientists researching whales and dolphins in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain. The research has been ongoing for the last 10 years and the area is particularly important as it has some of the highest cetacean diversity and abundance in Europe. Volunteers may come across the following species during the research surveys; Pilot Whales, Killer Whales, Sperm Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Fin Whales, Striped Dolphins and Common Dolphins. Research work includes sea based surveys as well as data entry back on land. Training will be given on methodologies used, and presentations will be delivered on knowledge so far and future conservation plans for cetaceans in the area. You will be in charge of a small supervised project during your trip.
How this program makes a difference:
The Strait of Gibraltar has the second highest amount of maritime traffic in the world. Problems of collisions exist between ships and Sperm Whales, Fin Whales and Pilot Whales. The project team are working directly with the Spanish Ministry of environment to mitigate these problems. The team have already changed maritime charts that now include a note on the presence of cetaceans in the Strait. Further problems exist between Bluefin Tuna long-line fisheries and Killer Whales. Finally, many whale watching boats operate in the area targeting mainly Pilot Whales and Bottlenose Dolphins. Thanks to our studies we have identified all the individual Killer Whales, Pilot Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, Sperm Whales and most Common Dolphins. This allows us to follow the life of each individual and study in detail the demography of each population. The project team also collaborate directly with ACCOBAMS, IUCN and the International Whaling Commission for the conservation of cetaceans.
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