January 2016 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Summer Animal Care Internships at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
by Cassie Seebart 09 Jan '16

09 Jan '16

*CALL FOR INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS* (Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL) Clearwater Marine Aquarium conducts rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts for sick or injured marine life. If rescued animals are deemed un-releasable due to their physical limitations or need for continuous care, Clearwater Marine Aquarium can provide permanent care for these animals. Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers intensive, hands on internships for individuals interested in particular aspects of the marine animal care field. The *Stranding Team Internship *provides interns with a unique opportunity to gain hands on experience in the response of live and dead dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and North American river otters. Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assisting with the monitoring, rescue, transport, data collection, rehabilitation, release, and necropsy of stranded aquatic animals. Interns will also be given ample opportunities to further their skill sets relating to writing and public speaking. This will be achieved through duties such as writing weekly newsletters and presenting daily guest narrations. The Stranding Team seeks enthusiastic, dedicated, and hardworking individuals who are interested in promoting wildlife conservation through stranding efforts. The *Marine Mammal Training Internship* is designed to give individuals an inside look into what it takes to care for marine animals, with emphasis on common bottlenose dolphins, North American river otters and African great white pelican. During your internship, you will learn how to prepare diets, clean to USDA standards, maintain exhibits, provide enrichment/mental stimulation and give public presentations to educate our visitors as well as promote environmental conservation. Through a classroom lecture series, you will also learn how trainers use principles such as positive reinforcement, operant conditioning and shaping to train. Candidates should be able to perform physically demanding duties and ideally be enrolled in a four-year college program in psychology, biology, marine biology or another related field. Hands-on animal experience, such as volunteering at an animal shelter or completing other marine mammal internships at another facility is required. SCUBA, First Aid and CPR certification is also a plus. The *Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Internship* offers a hands-on learning experience caring for rehabilitating sea turtles as well as permanent residents at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Interns will be exposed to all aspects of the field including stranding, triage, food prep, exhibit maintenance, operating under USDA and FWC standards, animal restraint, basic target training, enrichment, daily husbandry and, occasionally, more extensive surgical procedures. Interns are able to practice many duties necessary for future animal care careers. After completing this internship, previous interns have used their experiences to gain employment in vet clinics or animal rehabilitation jobs, gained admission to veterinary school, or pursued educational and conservational outreach. The Sea Turtle department has an additional *Sea Turtle Nesting Internship*, in the summer only, designed to give interns an opportunity to perform field research that is reported to government agencies. Nesting interns will assist in patrol of about 25 miles of beach. Interns will conduct all aspects of sea turtle nesting including nest marking, night patrol, hatchling release, inventory, caging, data input, and much more. Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers 3 internship time frames annually. The Summer Internship runs from May through August. The application deadline for this internship is February 1st. To learn more about Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s animal care internships and how to apply, please visit the “About Us” page on www.seewinter.com and select the link for “Internships.”

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Protected Species Observer Training in Galveston, TX - February 26-27
by abostwick 08 Jan '16

08 Jan '16

MPSC will be holding Protected Species Observer training in Galveston, Texas on February 26-27. This BOEM/BSEE-compliant PSO certification course covers the regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, and how to visually locate and identify the animals. Course comprehension is measured with examinations on regulations and animal identification. Lunch is provided and included in the $800 course fee (college/recent graduate and group discounts available), along with various identification guides, regulatory documents, and advice on applying to PSO positions. The registration form may be found here: http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/MPSC_Registration-February2016.pdf For more information or to register, please contact Angela at ABostwick(a)PSOCertifications.com <mailto:ABostwick@PSOCertifications.com> , by phone at 832-523-2402 <tel:832-523-2402> , or visit the website at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/. Thank you, Angela Bostwick, M.S. Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com <http://www.ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com> https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/

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Beluga whales shift hearing
by Paul Nachtigall 08 Jan '16

08 Jan '16

Work on beluga whale hearing in which either a 32 or 45 kHz tone was presented prior to a loud 32 kHz tone showed that either warning tone caused the whale to dampen its hearing in anticipation of the loud sound. This response was quickly learned within a single day but took three days to extinguish when the loud sound was removed. This work, presented at the recent SMM meeting in San Francisco, is now available as a publication in the Journal of Comparative Physiology A. DOI. Nachtigall, P.E*., * Supin, A.Ya. Estaban, J.A., and Pacini, A.F. (2016) Learning and extinction of conditioned hearing sensation change in the beluga whale (*Delphinapterus leucas*) * Journal of Comparative Physiology A* DOI 10.1007/s00359-015-1056-x A limited number of preprints are available on request. ALOHA Paul Nachtigall - nachtiga(a)hawaii.edu

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Research Intern opportunity at The Marine Mammal Center
by Christine Fontaine 08 Jan '16

08 Jan '16

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT INTERNSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT Research Department The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) is a non-profit hospital dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick, injured or orphaned marine mammals. Also integral to the Center’s mission are the research and education programs that expand our knowledge of marine mammals, and their ocean environment, and inspire global conservation. Since 1975, TMMC volunteers and staff have responded to more than 18,000 stranded pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sea otters along California’s central coast. For more information about TMMC, please visit: www.marinemammalcenter.org<http://www.marinemammalcenter.org>. The Science Department at TMMC is seeking applicants for a volunteer internship position in our research division. There are two intern opportunities, spring and summer. Responsibilities The successful candidate will participate in the following projects: 1) Assist with necropsies: Necropsies are performed on all animals that die during treatment at the center. Depending on the case, some necropsies require a significant amount of sampling. Primary responsibilities will include: assisting with necropsy sample collection, data collection, archiving samples, stocking necropsy lab, and clean up. 2) Data entry and cleaning: The goal of this project is to improve data integrity, standardization, and volume in the Veterinary Science Department’s databases (FileMaker Pro). These data include animal care and medical records, diagnostic results, specimen tracking information, and stranding and disposition details. Intern tasks may include entry of respective data from hard-copy records and data checking and cleaning. 3) Specimen archive project: This project will focus on tracking and optimizing the storage of archived specimens collected from live and dead marine mammals. Intern duties will primarily include: freezer inventory. 4) Library project: This project involves cataloging scientific publications into TMMC’s hardcopy and electronic libraries. Intern duties will primarily include: reference entry using EndNote X, restocking hardcopy reprints, and scanning hardcopy publications. 5) Animal crew: The selected intern will spend one day on an animal crew. Animal crew’s duties include feeding the patients, cleaning the pens, restraining animals for feeds and/or procedures. Training is provided. In addition, the intern will assist with other duties within the Science Department as needed, such as filing paperwork, rescues and releases. Qualifications Applicants would ideally have the following qualifications: * Minimum of 21 years of age and engaged in or recently completed undergraduate studies; * A background or degree in Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Zoology or a related field; * Basic computer proficiency, especially with Microsoft Office Suite; * Comfortable hiking 5 miles and lifting 50 lbs; and * A willingness to spend a minimum of 12 weeks working full time (40 hours per week) as a volunteer with our program. * As there is no compensation for this internship position, and the successful applicant will be responsible for their own living and transportation expenses during the time of the internship. There is flexibility on the start date of this position for both the spring and summer Internships. Please specify which time slot you’re applying for- spring or summer. Internship Period Application Deadline Interviews Notification of acceptance Approximate Internship Time Spring Feb 5th, 2016 February 11-12, 2016 February 17, 2016 March – May 2016 Summer April 15th, 2016 April 25-26, 2016 May 2nd, 2016 June – August 2016 Application The following application material is required and should be submitted electronically (PDF or Word document attachments) to intern(a)tmmc.org<mailto:rustl@tmmc.org>. Please put “Research Intern” in the subject line of the email. 1. Statement of Interest (no more than two pages, double spaced) that describes: a) your professional interests and career goals, b) your reasons for applying for this internship, c) why you should be selected for this internship, and d) your availability and plan for housing. 2. College transcript(s) (official or unofficial copy) with all college-level courses you have taken to-date and the grades you have received. Please include an explanation of grading scales not on a 4.0 scale. 3. One letter of recommendation from an individual capable of commenting on your academic qualifications and, if possible, research skills. College or university faculty or research advisors preferred. Letters of recommendation MUST be sent directly from the person writing the letter, preferably via email (as an attachment or in the body of the email). 4. Resume or curriculum vitae (no more than two pages) describing any relevant jobs, internships, volunteer work, scholarships and/or other activities that you have held or participated in and other skills or accomplishments that you wish to identify. If email submission is not possible, application material can be faxed to (415) 754-4078 (Attn: Christine Fontaine) or mailed to: The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA 94965 (Attn: Christine Fontaine). It is the responsibility of the applicant that all required material is submitted by the deadline. If the intern intends to receive university credit for their internship, they are responsible for making all arrangements with their educational institution. Christine Fontaine Senior Research Assistant The Marine Mammal Center Fontainec(a)tmmc.org<mailto:fontainec@tmmc.org> 415-289-7377<tel:415-289-7377>

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15 Jan 2016 (23:45 CET) – early registration deadline of the 30th Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Madeira, 14 - 16 March, 2016.
by ECS2016 Madeira Conference 08 Jan '16

08 Jan '16

The EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE for the 30th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society is near - *15 Jan 2016 (23:45 CET). Please register before in order to take advantage of the lower registration fees.* The theme of the conference is *‘Into the Deep: Research and Conservation on Oceanic Marine Mammals’.* For further information on the conference visit: http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/30th-annual-conference-funchal… INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS to be held in association with the Conference on the 12th and 13th March are available at the conference web page: http://europeancetaceansociety.eu/conference/workshops-0 Please contact the workshop organizers (contacts on the web page) directly in order to obtain further information and to register. Looking forward to meeting in Madeira in March 2016, The Conference Organising Committee

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Volunteer/Intern Position for Whale Research Station North Coast BC
by CetaceaLab 08 Jan '16

08 Jan '16

Cetacea Lab is a whale research facility located along the remote north coast of British Columbia, Canada. We are accepting applications for the 2016 field season from May until the end of September. All positions are for 1 to 2 month duration. There is a weekly fee for food and accommodation.These are volunteer/intern positions to help with the collection of data on the habitat use and abundance of northern resident/transient killer whales, humpback and fin whales. Both the lab and out camp are located in areas of high abundance of all 3 species. Due to our remote location applicants need to be in good physical condition, able to participate with the daily routine of living off the grid and comfortable sleeping in a tent in the wilderness of BC. There is a lot of hard physical work that will come with this position, you must be fit with out any physical injuries. There are no roads, very limited Internet access, and power is completely off the grid. - Daily shifts involve scanning for whales, documenting all sightings and when possible to take identification pictures of whales - Listening and recording all whale vocalizations that are transmitted to the lab facility from our network of hydrophone stations - Data entry from land based and marine vessel based surveys - Identification work of all whales from photographs taken in the field - There will also be a lot of heavy lifting and moving over uneven rocky terrain, chopping wood ( our only source of heat) and assistance with the physical maintenance of the hydrophone stations. - Experience with carpentry, electronics, computers, acoustic software programs and environmental communications would be a valuable asset. Interested applicants should send a letter describing why they would like to join our team, CV and letter of reference to cetacealab(a)gmail.com. References will be contacted. More information about our research can be found at www.forwhales.org All the Best, Hermann Meuter & Janie Wray

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RESEARCH ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SUMMER 2016.
by Megan Whittaker 08 Jan '16

08 Jan '16

RESEARCH ASSISTANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SUMMER 2016. Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is a family owned company and has been running since 2000. We are the original operator in Reykjavik, strict in abiding by IceWhale’s (www.icewhale.is) guidelines in vessel behaviour around wildlife and work with IFAW to stop Whaling in Iceland. We are also well known for our environmental policy. Elding also provides a platform for marine biologists to study the cetaceans we encounter to help build our knowledge and understanding. Elding also has ties with Whale Safari ( www.whalesafari.is) a RIB whale watching company and developing a new whale watching company in Akureyri (North Iceland) this up and coming summer. For further information please visit our website at www.elding.is. Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is looking for four voluntary research assistants with a passport from an EEA country (https://www.gov.uk/eu-eea) to assist for 5 months (1st May to the 31st September 2015). Research is conducted in co-operation with the University of Iceland’s research center in Húsavik and it comprises of photo identification and behavioral studies mainly of minke whales and white-beaked dolphins but occasionally also humpback whales, orca, fin whales and basking sharks. Research will be conducted on the whale watching tours (3 hours, 3 times a day). There will always be two assistants on board taking data and one on land processing, cropping, ID matching and uploading onto an online database. Each researcher will have four days at sea and two days on land processing. Working day averages at about 12-14 hours for those at sea and 6-8 hours those on land. You will have every Sunday off work as well as bad weather days when tours are cancelled. We are looking for assistant that; · Have a strong interest and education in marine science specifically cetaceans and marine birds. · Good spotting skills · Have experience on boats preferably above 17m and not acceptable to seasickness easily. · Be able to work calmly and politely under pressure and sometimes in stressful situations. · Must be a quick learner, adaptive, have a very good sense of humour, hard working, outgoing and generally a very positive person. · Willingness to work long hours outdoors in sometimes unfavorable weathers. · A Team Player · Physically fit - there may be some heavy lifting. i.e. moving cases of drinks or working with heavy ropes, being on your feet for most the day. · Don’t mind cleaning – lots of cleaning needs to be done on a daily basis, between and after tours and yes it also means cleaning up vomit and toilets. · Bar work – Each vessel has a bar where light refreshments are sold · Have their own equipment and good at using them e.g. DSLR camera and computer. Assistants will be responsible for their own travel costs, travel insurance and personal expenses but accommodation is provided throughout the working period as well as an afternoon hot meal. Further information on living and working in Iceland can be found at http://www.mcc.is/media/frettir/Living_and_working_in_Iceland.pdf and www.iceland.is *Accommodation* You will be living on an old converted capelin fishing boat that now acts as a permanently stationed gift shop/ waiting area/ small museum for our passengers in the heart of Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik. You will get your own small bedroom but the living area, shower room, kitchen and toilet, with all essentials, will be communal with the other researchers and maybe the occasional crewmember. All facilities are provided including wifi, fridge, cooker, bedding, towels etc. Elding prides itself on teamwork, no job is too small or too big for any of our staff members. We work together to make sure everything is finished for the following day. So being a team player is also very important. *How to apply: * Please email your C.V. and introduction of yourself in English specifying any relevant experience and languages you have, also why you would be good for the job with the contact details of one reference to Megan ( megan(a)elding.is) Deadline for applications is the 15th February and those that are successful for interview will be contacted no later than the 29th of February 2016. -- Kind Regards Megan Whittaker Head Naturalist and Research co-ordinator Elding Adventures at Sea Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland Tel. (+354) 519 5090 elding(a)elding.is www.elding.is Add us on Facebook Elding Whale Watching Reykjavík <http://www.facebook.com/EldingWhaleWatching> Follow us on Twitter: EldingWhale <https://twitter.com/eldingwhale> Check our Videos on YouTube: Reykjavik Activitie <http://www.youtube.com/reykjavikactivities>s Please think of the environment; please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

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JOB OPPORTUNITY AS AN ON-BOARD NATURALIST FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SUMMER 2016.
by Megan Whittaker 08 Jan '16

08 Jan '16

JOB OPPORTUNITY AS AN ON-BOARD NATURALIST FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SUMMER 2016. Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is a family owned company and has been running since 2000. We are the original operator in Reykjavik, strict in abiding by IceWhale’s (www.icewhale.is) guidelines in vessel behaviour around wildlife and work with IFAW to stop Whaling in Iceland. We are also well known for our environmental policy. Elding also provides a platform for marine biologists to study the cetaceans we encounter to help build our knowledge and understanding. Elding also has ties with Whale Safari ( www.whalesafari.is) a RIB whale watching company and developing a new whale watching company in Akureyri (North Iceland) this up and coming summer. For further information please visit our website at www.elding.is. Elding is looking for full-time guides that are fluent in English. Preference will go to those that are multi-lingual (German, French, Spanish in particular). However, few positions are available for those that are not. Applicants MUST have a passport from an EEA country https://www.gov.uk/eu-eea . Duration: April/May to August/September, winter work may also be available for hard workers. Shift work on a 2-2-3 schedule (two days on, two off etc. and you have every other weekend off Fri-Sun). Flexibility is essential and there is usually opportunity of overtime. Salary will be discussed at a later date but looking around 300,000ISK/month (~€2000/£1600month) Remember taxes are about 35%. Recommend looking through http://www.eures.is/english/work-in-iceland/living-conditions/nr/32/ before applying. Employees are responsible for their own accommodation, travel, travel insurance and living expenses. *Employment Duties* · Narrating clearly to passengers the biology, conservation (including whaling) and ecology of the marine life found in Faxafloi Bay and other areas around Iceland. · Spotting wildlife for passengers. · Cleaning – cleaning the boats is done at the end of the day or when cancelled due to bad weather. · Looking after the welfare and security of passengers onboard. · Bar work – Each vessel has a bar where light refreshments are sold. · Hospitality – this is done both onboard and in the office when needed. · Other work/tasks – i.e. selling tickets, distributing brochures, answering the phone, translating documents etc… · Photo Identification for the research. *Important skills/qualifications* · A strong interest and education in marine science specifically cetaceans and marine birds. · A good knowledge of conservation issues related to marine life. · Confidence to narrate and interact with large groups. · Must be a quick learner, adaptive, hard working, outgoing and generally a very positive person (finding beauty in the little things). · Be able to work calmly and politely under pressure and sometimes in stressful situations. · Must have experience on boats and not acceptable to seasickness easily · Good spotting skills. · Maritime safety and First Aid certified is an advantage but not necessary. · Photography skills are highly desirable. · Willingness to work long hours outdoors in sometimes unfavorable weathers. Elding prides itself on teamwork, no job is too small or too big for any of our staff members. We work together to make sure everything is finished for the following day. So being a team player is also very important. How to apply: Please email your C.V. and introduction of yourself in English specifying any relevant experience and languages and why you think you would be good for the job. Please also include one reference from a past employer to Megan (megan(a)elding.is) Deadline for applications is the 15th February and those that are successful for interview will be contacted no later than the 29th of February 2016. -- Kind Regards Megan Whittaker Head Naturalist and Research co-ordinator Elding Adventures at Sea Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland Tel. (+354) 519 5090 elding(a)elding.is www.elding.is Add us on Facebook Elding Whale Watching Reykjavík <http://www.facebook.com/EldingWhaleWatching> Follow us on Twitter: EldingWhale <https://twitter.com/eldingwhale> Check our Videos on YouTube: Reykjavik Activitie <http://www.youtube.com/reykjavikactivities>s Please think of the environment; please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

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Last call for applicants for Education & Outreach Assistant & Research Intern opportunity with Sea Watch Foundation in Cardigan Bay, Wales, UK in 2016.
by Kathy James 07 Jan '16

07 Jan '16

Please see two different internship opportunities listed below Deadline 10th January Sea Watch Foundation Voluntary Education and Outreach Assistant opportunity based in Cardigan Bay for the 2016 summer season The Sea Watch Foundation <http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/> is seeking an Education and Outreach Assistant for the 2016 season. This position will suit a volunteer who has a strong interest in marine conservation and recognises the importance of educating and raising awareness by involving the public. The assistant will be responsible in aiding the Sightings Officer with the following duties: · Promoting and organising the National Whale and Dolphin Watch event (23rd 31st July 2016) · Participating in presentations and creating activities to take to local schools · Researching and writing articles · Creating educational/promotional materials (posters, displays, flyers) · Assisting in the organisation of training courses · Social networking (Facebook, Twitter, website) · Raising Sea Watch Foundations profile locally (organising events, manning the Sea Watch stand on the pier, liaising with local boat operators to produce educational materials) · Interacting with the media (radio, TV and newspapers) · Representing Sea Watch at public events within the UK generally · Liaising with the Adopt a Dolphin Coordinator for the promotion of Sea Watch Foundation and the Adopt a Dolphin scheme The Education and Outreach Assistant will also have some opportunity to be involved in the fieldwork aspects of the Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project <http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/cardigan-bay-monitoring-project/> (land-based and boat-based surveys). This project, undertaken on behalf of Natural Resources Wales, manages the conservation of a coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, the largest in the UK. Monitoring of harbour porpoise and grey seal populations is also part of the project. The field season will run from April to October 2016 and has been split into two periods of 6 weeks followed by two periods of 8 weeks. One assistant is required for each half of the season. However, preference may be given to those who can stay for the entire seven-month field season. The assistant will be based in New Quay, West Wales. Accommodation is provided at a rate of approximately £70/week in a house, sharing with the research interns. The assistant is responsible for their own travel and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required. Intern periods for summer 2016: Period 1: 18/04 12/06, Period 2: 13/06 07/8, Period 3: 08/08 18/9, Period 4: 19/09 30/10 Important skills/qualifications Essential: * a strong interest in marine conservation and education * outgoing personality with confidence to interact with the public * excellent verbal and writing skills * must have initiative and bring their own ideas and personality to the position * strong commitment to volunteering work * an ability to work in an organised and reliable manner and to manage a variable workload, including appropriate delegation * an ability to get on well with others in a small team and within shared accommodation Desirable: * a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar * a strong interest and some knowledge of British cetaceans * good IT skills (Office package) * prior experience in public speaking * experience with postings in social media * prior experience in boat-based survey work * willingness to work long hours outdoors in often very changeable Welsh weather To apply: Please send your CV and a cover letter reporting any relevant experience you have and specifying the period(s) you would prefer to volunteer for, as well as contact details of two referees, to Kathy James (kathy.james(a)seawatchfoundation.org.uk) Deadline: 10th January 2016. Please specify EDUCATION ASSISTANT APPLICATION into your subject title. Applicants must be available for interview via Skype between the 20th and 26th January and will be notified of the outcomes by the 29th January 2016. Sea Watch Foundation Research Intern Opportunity in Cardigan Bay for 2016 Interns are invited to assist the Sea Watch Foundation ( <http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk> www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk) with the running of the Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project. The project is based in New Quay, West Wales, and supports the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure using a combination of vessel-based, land-based and acoustic surveys. Sea Watch has been monitoring these populations on behalf of the Welsh government (through funding provided by Natural Resources Wales) for the last 15 years. Cardigan Bay contains Britains largest coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, for which two Special Areas of Conservation have been established under the EU Habitats Directive. Interns will help the Cardigan Bay Monitoring Officer and the Sightings Officer by taking part in the following tasks: · Land-based surveys · Boat-based surveys · Photo-identification matching · Data entry · Raising public awareness · Education initiatives and school visits · Acoustic data collection · Assisting with and participation in training courses and public talks. In addition to these tasks, this year we are specifically looking for two interns in each period with interest in recently acquired specialist equipment to assist us in acoustic and aerial data collection using a towed hydrophone and unmanned camera drone respectively. Both drone and hydrophone interns will undertake all regular intern activities but will be expected to concentrate on acoustic and aerial data collection during boat based surveys. If you are particularly interested in either opportunity, please draw our attention to it in your covering letter and application form, highlighting relevant experience and by titling your application email Drone Research Intern or Hydrophone Research Intern. Interns are required from mid April until the end of October 2016. The research season is split into four separate periods, two 8-week periods (periods 1 & 2) and two 6-week periods (periods 3 & 4). Preference will be given to those applying for more than one period, including the whole 6.5 month field season, and particularly to applicants interested in working with the drone or towed hydrophone. Those applying for longer periods of time will be able to take on a personal project, potentially leading to a publication. Interns will be based in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales. Accommodation is provided through rental of a house that interns share at a rate of around £70 per person per week. Interns are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required. Period dates for summer 2016: Period 1: 18/04 12/06, Period 2: 13/06 07/08, Period 3: 08/08 18/09, Period 4: 19/09 30/10 Important skills/qualifications Essential: · an ability to work in a meticulous and reliable manner · strong commitment to volunteering work · willingness to work long hours outdoors in often changeable Welsh weather · good IT skills (Office package) · an ability to get on well with others in a small team and in shared accommodation Desirable: · a strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans · a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar · prior experience in boat-based survey work · good verbal and written communication skills and in public speaking · experience in interacting with the public All interns will be trained in cetacean observation and identification, in boat survey protocols, and photo-identification of bottlenose dolphins. Interns in Periods 2 and 3 will be able to take part in Sea Watchs annual 2-day training courses. Internships with Sea Watch have frequently led to established posts both within the organisation and in other national and international research and conservation bodies, as well as providing a stepping stone for students to undertake doctoral studies in marine mammal science. Please note that interns are responsible for their own travel and living expenses. International applications are welcome but it is the applicants responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met; Sea Watch cannot sponsor visa applications. To apply: Please send your CV and application form (which can be downloaded from our website www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/internships/) with a cover letter and contact details of two referees, reporting any relevant experience you have, to Katrin Lohrengel- katrin.lohrengel(a)seawatchfoundation.org.uk Deadline: 10th January 2016. Please specify NEW QUAY INTERN APPLICATION in your subject title. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 10th February 2016. The Sea Watch Foundation The Sea Watch Foundation is a registered marine environmental research charity that aims to achieve better conservation of whales and dolphins in the seas around Britain and Ireland, by involving the public in scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face. At Sea Watch Wales, we are dedicated to raising awareness, knowledge and conservation of the marine wildlife inhabiting Welsh seas. Our work in Wales has been funded over the years by Natural Resources Wales, and we work closely with the local management authority, Ceredigion County Council. Research The purpose of our research here is to monitor the marine mammal populations inhabiting Cardigan Bay, so as to gain information to aid the conservation and long-term well being of these animals and the local marine environment. This is achieved by conducting various projects including: * Estimating the abundance and distribution of bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, and grey seals within Cardigan Bay using distance sampling and opportunistic boat surveys * Maintaining and updating a catalogue of photographically identified bottlenose dolphins in Wales in order to study their abundance, social structure, movements and life histories, using mark-recapture techniques. * Acoustic monitoring of bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises in the Cardigan Bay SAC primarily through hydrophone data collection. * Setting up a library of bottlenose dolphin whistles in Welsh waters in order to develop bio-acoustic research in the area. Public awareness We aim to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the marine wildlife and the habitats supporting them, to encourage respect and conservation of the marine environment for future generations. We also run training courses for the public in cetacean identification and survey methods. A list of recent of recent awareness and education achievements is given below: · Sea Watch Director, Peter Evans, received the European Cetacean Society Conservation Award, 2012 · Sea Watch Foundation was recipient of the UNEP/ASCOBANS Outreach and Education Award, 2009 · Sea Watch Foundation was voted best UK animal adoption scheme by BBC Wildlife, December 2008

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Important Information for Applicants to Volunteer Internships in Cardigan Bay this summer
by Kathy James 07 Jan '16

07 Jan '16

Please note that there are two organisations offering internships in Cardigan Bay, UK this summer. You will need to apply to either Sea Watch Foundation or Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre for the specific roles that they are offering. Please do not assume that if you have applied to one that your application will be considered for the other. Whilst we are located in close proximity, we are entirely different organisations. I am sending this message following some confusion from the MARMAM moderators and hope this clears up any further confusion amongst applicants. Deadlines for internships with Sea Watch Foundation are this coming Sunday 10th January at midnight (GMT). Please see www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/internships for more info and to apply. We look forward to receiving your applications and wish you the best of luck! Thank you, Kathy James Sightings Officer For correspondence between Oct and April: Loveden House 26 Bridge Street Aberystwyth Ceredigion SY23 1QB Tel: 01970 623906 (please bear in mind I will be working in an office shared with other organisations and that you should ask for me by name) www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk

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