January 2018 - MARMAM - devlists.uvic.ca

Allied Whale and BHWW Co. Research Assistant Positions: 2018 Field Season
by Tanya Lubansky 21 Jan '18

21 Jan '18

Allied Whale, the marine mammal research lab of College of the Atlantic, and Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. seek five interns/research assistants for the 2018 field season. These are entry-level research positions designed to offer experience for individuals seeking to develop their professional careers in marine mammal research. Two summer positions (May *through* August 31st) and three full season positions (May *through* October 31st) are available. *Overview of position*: This is a unique internship program in that the selected individuals will have the opportunity to participate and receive training in a wide range of marine mammal research activities while receiving income when working as a crew/scientist aboard commercial whale watching trips operating from Bar Harbor, Maine. Allied Whale currently supports field projects in the behavioral ecology and distributions of humpback and fin whales, the ongoing housing and maintenance of the North Atlantic humpback and fin whale photo ID catalogs, an active stranding response program, and a research and education partnership with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. In addition, Allied Whale maintains the facilities on and conducts research from Mount Desert Rock, a remote offshore island. The interns play a critical role in the success of the field season and serve as support to all aspects of summer activities within both Allied Whale and the BHWW Co.. *Description of duties*: Upon arrival in May, all interns will receive research, boat crew, and Gulf of Maine natural history training by both Allied Whale and the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company staff. Once the season is in swing, interns will independently rotate through time “onshore” in Bar Harbor and “offshore” at our island field station at Mount Desert Rock. *Bar Harbor*: While in Bar Harbor, interns will rotate through shifts working as a Research Assistant/Deckhand for the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co., being on call for field days on our Allied Whale research vessels, or assisting the Allied Whale strandings coordinator. Research responsibilities on the whale watch trips include searching for whales, photo-identification of whales and behavioral data collection. Deckhand responsibilities include line handling, vessel cleaning, helping seasick passengers and passenger safety. RAs are also responsible for assisting the naturalist in promoting education and conservation programs on each trip. Maintaining a positive, professional, friendly and outgoing demeanor while engaging whale watch passengers and fellow crew is compulsory. While on board one of the AW research vessels, interns will be responsible observing for marine mammals along transect lines, for computer data entry, and for photo identification of whales. This season, they will also assist in data recording for whale biopsy collections contributing to a stable isotope project. When not scheduled on a boat, interns may freely structure their time to complete office work, develop independent projects, assist with stranding activities......or explore Acadia National Park! *Mount** Desert** Rock*: Interns will have multiple shifts (each at least a week in length) at our offshore research station Mount Desert Rock. While on the island, interns will participate in land-based whale monitoring from the lighthouse tower (with use of a theodolite), plankton tows, oceanography data collection, seal counts, gull counts, and maintenance/construction projects at the station. They will also receive experience working in a remote off-the-grid location. *Pay/Housing*: Those accepted to the program are able to earn income by their work on the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company. Deckhands are paid $50 a trip (at the height of summer, there are 2-3 trips running a day) plus considerable tips. Interns also receive free First Aid Certification. Provided housing in downtown Bar Harbor is mandatory for a fee. Rent will be approximately $375 a month. While at Mount Desert Rock, food is provided for free. The BHWW Co. also provides funding for RAs to attend the annual North Atlantic Right Whale Conference in New Bedford, Massachusetts in November. *Qualifications*: Applicants should have a college background in biology, ecology, and/or marine sciences. Previous data collection experience in a research setting and knowledge of marine mammals are great advantages. Prior experience offshore or skills in photography are also assets. Due to Coast Guard requirements, all crew onboard US commercial vessels and therefore *all research assistant/interns, must be US citizens or have permanent resident alien status.* Also, all interns will be drug screened prior to employment and will be enrolled in a random drug testing program. Most importantly, applicants must be positive in attitude, flexible to quickly changing schedules, able to work independently, and be seaworthy/comfortable working on boats. Lastly, because of the community living situation both in Bar Harbor and on Mount Desert Rock, applicants must get along well with others and be able to handle working in a team setting. These positions begin in early May and applicants must be able to work through the allotted time period. *To apply*: Please send a cover letter detailing your reasons for applying, a resume, and two letters of recommendation to: Dr. Tanya Lubansky ( tlubansky(a)coa.edu) *Please specify which position you are interested in (summer or full-season)*. Deadline of application is *February 20th*. <https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=b7gqm0inku9uf> -- -------------------------------------------- Tanya Lubansky, PhD Research Associate Allied Whale Bar Harbor, ME

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HUMPBACK WHALE RESEARCH & LEARNING PROGRAMME IN CAPE VERDE, AFRICA
by AIMM Internships 20 Jan '18

20 Jan '18

*HUMPBACK WHALE RESEARCH & LEARNING PROGRAMME IN CAPE VERDE, AFRICA* *BACKGROUND: *The Marine Environment Research Association is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on the research and conservation of marine species, running an ongoing study of cetaceans in southern Portugal (Algarve) and Boa Vista, Cape Verde. This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence, behavior, and social structure of the local cetacean populations in order to obtain scientific data to support conservation measures and inform marine management policies. The main species observed are Humpback whales (*Megaptera novaeangliae*) and the rough-toothed (*Steno bredanensis*) although more than 14 species of cetacean were describe to the Cape Verde region. Sea turtle could be also find in the ocean, mostly the Green turtle (*Chelonia mydas*), Loggerhead turtle and Leatherback turtle (*Dermochelys coriacea*) AIMM participants are hard-working individuals who are willing to contribute to the association and support on-going activities, while experiencing fieldwork at sea, learning data collection and processing methodologies, and being a part of AIMM's team of researchers and marine biologists for a period of time. All team members and participants share accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an environmental friendly and multicultural environment. *WHERE:* Boa Vista Island, Cape Verde, África *WHEN:* The field season lasts from 1st of March to 31st of May, 2018. The minimum attendance is 14 days, preferably starting on a Monday. *FIELDWORK: *The field trips are conducted in an opportunistic platforms (commercial whale-watching boats). Fieldwork is dependent on weather conditions and seat availability in the whale-watching boats. Field days can be intense, especially in the peak of season, but are fulfilling and good fun. The interns will be trained to: · Conduct on-board surveys of marine species occurrence; · Record effort tracks on a handheld GPS; · Collect data on behavior, group size, species, etc.; · Collection of photos to photo-identification and underwater videos while on-board. *DATA ANALYSIS: *This will be conducted on a daily basis and will entail entering data into established databases and spreadsheets, photo-identification processing, and preliminary data interpretation. *FEES:* AIMM is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from our volunteers, partners, and conservation-minded people like you so that we may continue our important research and education programs. This program requires a monetary contribution which is used to off-set the cost of accommodation and running a non-profit. For more information on fees for the 2018 season, please contact: interns(a)aimm-portugal.org with the title “CAPE VERDE LEARNING PROGRAMME” *Included* in the fee is: · Accommodation in the research house; · Fieldwork on a commercial whale-watching vessels. *Not included* in the fee is: · Transport to/from Boa Vista Island, Cape Verde; · Transport from the Airport in Rabil to Sal Rei Village; · VISA; · Meals / food; · Free time activities; · Personal insurance (all participants should have health and/or travel insurance); · Personal expenses. *PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO:* · Be above the age of 18; · Have a mature attitude towards marine mammal research and environment; · Be autonomous and flexible; · Be able to live and work in an international team and mainly outdoors at sea; · Speak English; · Participate for minimum 2 weeks. *Preference will be given* to those who have: · Relevant marine mammal field experience · Availability to stay for longer periods of time · Experience working from dolphin/whale watching platforms · Experience in photo-identification *PROGRAMME APPLICATION: * Applicants should send an e-mail to interns(a)aimm-portugal.org, subject “*CAPE VERDE LEARNNING PROGRAMME*” with your Resume/CV, personal statement on which are your expectations and the period of time that you want do the program. You will receive an e-mail with the availability and all the others details. Applications will be accepted during all season, however, early application is recommended due to limited vacancies. *Contacts*: interns(a)aimm-portugal.org | www.aimmportugal.org | -- AIMM - Associação para Investigação do Meio Marinho / *Marine Environment Research Association* w <http://aimm-marineresearch.blogspot.pt/>ww.aimmportugal.org

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Louis M Herman Research Scholarship DEADLINE EXTENSION
by Lindsay Porter 20 Jan '18

20 Jan '18

*ANNOUNCEMENT* Aloha! The deadline for submissions for the Louis M Herman Research Scholarship has been extended to *16 February 2018 (Hawaii midnight: GMT -10 hours) * See here for the award announcement at SMM Halifax 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swmmWrCB6yU See here for award criteria https://www.marinemammalscience.org/jobs-grants/awards-and-scholarships/lou… Thank You *Lindsay Porter* *Awards and Scholarship Sub-Committee* *Society Marine Mammalogy* lindsay.jp(a)gmail.com

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internship opportunity with the UNEP/CMS Secretariat in Bonn
by Heidrun Frisch-Nwakanma 19 Jan '18

19 Jan '18

Dear MARMAMers, I am happy to inform you that the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, based in Bonn, Germany, is offering additional internships in 2018. The application deadline is 29 January. All applications must be submitted through this page, where you can also find all the details on the opportunity: https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=90736 Kind regards, Heidi Mrs Heidrun FRISCH-NWAKANMA IOSEA Turtle MOU Coordinator & CMS Aquatic Species Team UNEP/CMS Secretariat UN Campus - Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1 - 53113 Bonn - Germany Phone: +49 228 815 2491 - Skype: heidrun.frisch heidrun.frisch(a)cms.int<mailto:heidrun.frisch@cms.int> www.cms.int/iosea-turtles<http://www.cms.int/iosea-turtles> / www.cms.int<http://www.cms.int/> [cms_logo_blue_300dpi][_IOSEA_Logo - OFFICIAL Transparent small] Disclaimer: The information transmitted is intended only for use by the addressee and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, re-transmission, dissemination or other use of it, or the taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons and/or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please inform the sender and/or addressee immediately and delete the material. Thank you.

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Call for Applications: Bio-acoustic Structure, a NIMBioS Investigative Workshop
by Catherine Crawley 19 Jan '18

19 Jan '18

The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) is now accepting applications for its Investigative Workshop, "Bio-acoustic Structure," to be held June 25-27 at NIMBioS. *Objectives:* Acoustic repertoires may serve as a central component for social cohesion, foraging, and reproduction; in turn, these sounds may reflect population or species boundaries for many taxa. As acoustic monitoring has increased in popularity, so has interest in using this data to identify population structure and quantify biological diversity. In cases where it is difficult to obtain other biological samples, acoustic data may be the only source of information from which population structure can be inferred. Historically, acoustic research on different taxa has proceeded independently, utilizing different features and developing different methods for classification or quantifying regional differences. Additionally, while it is clear that there is a genetic component to some bio-acoustic features, the degree to which they are shaped by the environment or can be used as a proxy for relatedness is still uncertain. In order to make progress on the promise of using acoustics to characterize population structure, this workshop will bring together experts in bio-acoustics of multiple taxa, including birds, frogs, primates, and cetaceans, with mathematicians and computer scientists with expertise in classification, clustering, and information theory to develop a unified approach. This will be accomplished by: 1) compiling guidelines of best practices for designing acoustic surveys, 2) reviewing acoustic features of each taxon useful for identifying regional and taxonomic differences, and 3) reviewing methods for quantifying and comparing information content, generating classification models, and identifying biologically significant clusters. The results of this workshop will describe the current state of using acoustics to assess population structure, create a community bridging taxonomic disciplines, and provide new non-invasive tools for conservation. Location: NIMBioS at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville *Co-Organizers:* Frederick Archer and Shannon Rankin, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA For more information about the workshop and a link to the online application form, go to http://www.nimbios.org/workshops/WS_bioacoustics Participation in NIMBioS workshops is by application only. Individuals with a strong interest in the topic are encouraged to apply, and successful applicants will be notified within two weeks after the application deadline. If needed, financial support for travel, meals, and lodging is available for workshop attendees. *Application deadline: March 5, 2018* The National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) (http://www.nimbios.org) brings together researchers from around the world to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to investigate solutions to basic and applied problems in the life sciences. NIMBioS is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, with additional support from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. / ***************************** / /////Catherine Crawley, Ph.D. / /////Communications Manager/ /////National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) / /////University of Tennessee / /////1122 Volunteer Blvd, Ste. 106/ /////Knoxville, TN 37996/ /////e ccrawley(a)nimbios.org / /////t +1 865 974 9350 <tel:+1%20865%20974%209350> / /////f +1 865 974 9461 <tel:+1%20865%20974%209461> / /////http://www.nimbios.org / /////http://www.facebook.com/nimbios / /////http://twitter.com/nimbios / /////To receive email notifications of blog updates, click here <http://www.nimbios.org/wordpress/subscribe2updates/> / /////To subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter, click here <http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001RgvbKVLa7a4Psoj…>/

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HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL FIELD CAMP VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
by Lizabeth Kashinsky - NOAA Affiliate 18 Jan '18

18 Jan '18

Recruitment is underway for the 2018 The Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program Field Camp Volunteer positions! *JIMAR HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL FIELD CAMP VOLUNTEER* The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program (HMSRP) is seeking 4-5 volunteers to assist experienced staff with monk seal research and recovery activities for the 2018 field season. While volunteer positions do not require as much previous field experience as paid field staff positions, ideal applicants for this volunteer position should have the right personality and basic capabilities to live on a remote, isolated atoll for ~4-5 months. These volunteer positions require about 3-4 weeks of training and packing at the Inouye Regional Center located at Ford Island, Honolulu before field deployment to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Once the field season is over, volunteers will spend approximately one week in Honolulu to clean up gear and equipment. Dates are subject to change, but the positions are tentatively scheduled to begin early March with a field deployment date around mid-April. Field staff will be deployed approximately 4 months with a tentative return date in late August. The position end date is tentatively scheduled for some time in September. Those assigned to the field camp at one site (French Frigate Shoals) may not return to Honolulu until mid-October so the end date for them will be extended to reflect a later return date. Travel to and from Honolulu and food, lodging, and transportation in Honolulu before deployment are *not *provided. Transportation between Honolulu and field sites and food and lodging in the field will be provided. Due to unforeseen circumstances, departure delays could result in longer periods in Honolulu that may result in additional unexpected and uncompensated living expenses. All other qualifications being equal, preference will be given to applicants currently living on Oahu so they can be incorporated into our program before official field training begins to gain as much useful experience ahead of time as possible. Volunteers will be working in groups of 2-4 people per camp with rustic living conditions (e.g., living in tents, bathing in the ocean, no internet, no cell phone coverage, limited communication with the outside world). Deployment to these remote field sites is a serious undertaking. There are logistical constraints to working at such sites since the NWHI are hundreds of miles from Honolulu. Transportation to the NWHI is via ship to most sites and takes days to weeks to arrive. Ships are sometimes at the mercy of the weather and subject to mechanical failures which could result in significant delays in scheduled pick-up and drop-off as well as delays in in the event of an emergency (including evacuation). Please see the volunteer position description below for more details. Applicants must be able to meet both the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) security requirements to access the work location, and also the health requirements to board a NOAA vessel. General information about the program can be found at the link below: http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/hawaiian_monk_seal/ To apply: Please send cover letter, resume, and name and contact information for *3 supervisory* references to Lizabeth Kashinsky at lizabeth.kashinsky(a)noaa.gov . Positions will be open until filled. However, applicants should apply without delay. Cover letter should include: · Address why you are interested in the *field camp position* · *Clearly address all of your qualifications listed in the* *field camp volunteer position description* (see below) and state why you are a good candidate · State your availability, including your earliest start date if you are able to start volunteering before the formal training begins in March. Please note that due to the remoteness of the field sites, if you are NOT available for the full field season and training, we cannot accept your application. *JIMAR HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL FIELD CAMP VOLUNTEER **,* located at the National Marine Fisheries (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) in Honolulu, Hawaii. *DUTIES: *Under guidance of field camp leader, field camp assistant, and/or NMFS personnel, assists in camp preparation, collection, entry and editing of data. Maintains safe working environment for field personnel. Collects census and life history data on Hawaiian monk seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or on remote shorelines in the Main Hawaiian Islands; collects observational data and conducts visual assessments of monk seals, enters data into computer databases; collects, inventories, and removes debris capable of entangling seals and turtles; assists with collection of tissue samples for DNA analysis; assists with tagging and measuring weaned pups under the guidance of field camp leader/assistant; may assist with the disentanglement of seals and other recovery actions which may include mitigation and deterrence of shark predation by assisting the leader/field camp assistant while translocating weaned pups from areas of high shark predation to areas of lower shark predation risk. This may also involve assisting the field camp leader during shark fishing procedures by photographing, recording data, handing equipment and supplies to the leader, and holding the line taut, all while standing at a safe distance away. Also, assists with preparation of equipment and supplies for field camps; packs equipment and supplies for shipment to Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; loads and unloads gear from transport vessel; assists with establishing field camp at remote site. At the field site, under guidance of field camp leader, field camp assistant, and/or NMFS personnel may assist with necropsies; collects and assists processing of scats and spews for food habits analysis. Participates in daily maintenance and operation of field camp. Assists with return, repair, and clean-up of field equipment and supplies. May participate in boating operations under the direction, and at the discretion of, the field camp leader. Performs other duties as assigned. *PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION: *High School Diploma or equivalent. *EXPERIENCE:* Some field or wilderness experience, including working in small groups. Some previous experience collecting or working with data. *ABIL/KNOW/SKILLS:* Good communication and team skills. Ability to perform accurate data entry. Ability to follow directions and abide by the restrictions of living and working in a fragile (and federally protected) ecosystem. Capable of maintaining a positive attitude in challenging field conditions and succeed and thrive in an isolated environment with minimal contact with current events and family/friends during the extent of deployment. Demonstrated ability to be a good team player. Working knowledge of personal computers including use of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. *PHYSICAL/MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: *Ability to swim. Ability to work in remote locations for extended periods of time. Must be able to work long hours in the sun. Must be able to walk long distances (up to 7 miles) in the sand carrying 25-35 pounds of field gear. Must be able to manually restrain immature seals (up to 200 pounds). Must be able to obtain medical clearance for embarking/working on NOAA research vessels or other appropriate vessels which includes providing proof of required immunizations and/or obtaining the necessary immunizations as required by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations. *SECONDARY QUALIFICATIONS: *Prior field experience, including experience working within small groups in remote settings. Wildlife handling experience. Prior monk seal experience in the main Hawaiian Islands or in a Hawaiian monk seal field camp. Previous experience in field or laboratory studies of marine mammals, previous experience handling marine mammals, previous data entry experience. Prefer applicants interested in pursuing career in marine mammalogy or related field. For positions requiring travel between multiple-island atolls, possess prior experience with small boats and/or the ability to conduct routine maintenance on small boats. Possess NOAA certification for small boat operations (having completed Motorboat Operators Certification Course (MOCC), open water module (OWM) and NOAA small boat component training) to work at multiple-island atolls. *INQUIRIES: Lizabeth Kashinsky * lizabeth.kashinsky(a)noaa.gov -- Lizabeth Kashinsky JIMAR/Program Supervisor Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program NOAA IRC NMFS/PIFSC/PSD 1845 WASP Blvd., Building 176 Honolulu, HI 96818 Ph: (808) 725-5719 Fax: (808) 725-5567 2017 *is the **Year of the Monk Seal**!* *Join the celebration: *http://tinyurl.com/2017YOTMS

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FL Manatee Photo-identification Internships
by Johnson, Jennifer 18 Jan '18

18 Jan '18

Manatee Photo-identification Internships The manatee photo-identification program is based in St. Petersburg, Florida at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). FWRI is the research arm of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), a state agency. For more information about FWRI, please visit: http://www.myfwc.com/research/. FWRI's manatee photo-identification research focuses on long-term monitoring of Florida manatees in southwest Florida. The program's primary goal is to document individual manatees, which allows us to estimate annual adult survival and reproductive rates and to model population dynamics for state and federal assessments of Florida manatee status and recovery. Photo-identification data also provide insight regarding manatee movements, site fidelity, habitat use and behavior. Interns will primarily assist staff members with photographing manatees and collecting behavioral and environmental data at sites around Tampa Bay. Interns will also be responsible for a number of lab-based photo-identification tasks, such as downloading images, entering information into databases, scanning data sheets and matching images to known animals. Interns often collect data independently in the field, thus responsible, detail oriented applicants are encouraged to apply. Most field work is land-based; however, during the winter session opportunities are available to assist with boat-based manatee photo-identification. Other responsibilities may include but are not limited to data entry, assisting with manatee genetics research, special projects and outreach activities. This internship provides a great opportunity to gain valuable field and lab experience at a government agency. Two positions are available each year: one in winter (November to March) and one in summer (May to September). Start and end dates are flexible; however, a minimum commitment of four weekdays per week for four months is required. Work hours are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no compensation for these internship positions and successful applicants will be responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from the institute. Positions are open until filled, and priority will be given to candidates who can commit for longer periods. Qualifications: * Computer proficiency; Microsoft Access literacy preferred. * Working knowledge of SLR digital cameras, filters and lenses preferred but not required. * The ability to lift approximately 50 pounds of equipment. * A valid U.S. Driver's License. * Enthusiasm and willingness to learn field and lab based research methods. If you are interested in applying for an internship with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the following information is required: * A cover letter describing the internship you are applying for; area(s) of academic/research interest; and the dates, days, and hours of availability. * A resume (or curriculum vitae) describing your relevant training and experience. * Current academic transcripts. (unofficial are sufficient) * Names and contact information for three references. Please submit application items as an e-mail attachment to: Interns(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Interns@MyFWC.com> If electronic submission is not possible, hard copies can be mailed to: Internship Coordinator FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue SE St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5020 Applicants may contact FWRI's Manatee Photo-identification Project Manager, Kari Rood, (Kari.Rood(a)MyFWC.com<mailto:Kari.Rood@MyFWC.com>, 727-502-4737) with questions regarding the internship.

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The Whale Museum Soundwatch Internship Opportunity-2018 (Dates updated)
by Sadie Youngstrom 17 Jan '18

17 Jan '18

The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program: 2018 Summer Internships Available! Soundwatch is a successful and internationally acclaimed education and monitoring program working to reduce vessel disturbance to orcas and other marine wildlife in the Salish Sea region of Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Soundwatch needs interns to help conduct seasonal vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional/federal guidelines and regulations, and collect data while monitoring vessel activities around whales. Data from this critical program characterizes vessel activity trends around endangered orcas and other marine wildlife. The data is used to promote better boater compliance and to inform marine mammal management strategies such as state and federal vessel laws and guidelines. The Soundwatch program is operated by The Whale Museum (TWM), a not-for-profit organization located in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington state. Interns Must: . Commit to at least 12 weeks between May and September (with possible extension) . Be able to work approximately 35-40 hours per week, Mon-Sun . Perform a variety of tasks both in the field on the boat and in an office setting . Have a strong sense of responsibility, work ethic and attention to detail * Produce high quality research efforts and exhibit strong interpersonal skills * Field days: Interns must be able to spend many hours on the water sometimes in extreme seasonal conditions. Field days typically exceed eight hours and occur at least three or four times a week. Internship is located in Friday Harbor, Washington. Interns are responsible for finding their own housing and having a mode of transportation. Once accepted, TWM staff will be able to assist Interns in suggesting suitable housing options and locations. Applicant requirements: At least 18 years of age, physically fit (able to lift 40 lbs), must be able to swim, not easily susceptible to seasickness, and familiar with database spreadsheets. Preference will be given to undergraduates or recent graduates in the marine or wildlife sciences. Interns will need a valid US passport or an enhanced driver's license, CPR/First Aid certification. A state boater license/or equivalent safe boating card, not required, but is encouraged. HOW TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP POSITION: Please send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references. Be sure to include what dates you can start/end. Applications accepted until March 20 Decisions will be made by April 13 PLEASE SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO: Soundwatch Coordinator P.O. Box 945 Friday Harbor, Washington 98250 Or email (preferred) to: soundwatch(a)whalemuseum.org Please visit The Whale Museum's Web site for more information on Soundwatch: http://www.whalemuseum.org/programs/soundwatch/soundwatch.html Sadie Youngstrom Soundwatch Coordinator The Whale Museum P.O. Box 945 (62 1st St. N.) Friday Harbor, WA 98250 Phone: (360) 378-4710 ext. 33

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UK Cetacean Job Opportunity
by Peter Evans 17 Jan '18

17 Jan '18

JOB OPPORTUNITY: SIGHTINGS OFFICER The Sea Watch Foundation is a long-established national UK marine environmental research charity concerned with monitoring the numbers and distribution of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the seas around the British Isles, as well as investigating the conservation threats that they face. In the 1970s, its Director pioneered cetacean “Citizen Science”, a special partnership between scientists and trained volunteer observers drawn from all walks of life, which has created the largest and longest-running cetacean sightings database in Europe. We are looking for a Sightings Officer to work alongside Sea Watch’s Cardigan Bay Monitoring Officer and (from Apr-Oct) a team of interns. The successful candidate will be based in Sea Watch’s field office in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales. Liaising with the Director and other staff, the key responsibilities are to 1) support and develop Sea Watch’s network of observers; 2) increase the amount of useful sightings data (particularly from effort-related observations), and 3) facilitate public awareness and education through the regular dissemination of environmental information. Visit our web site to learn more about us: http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk Minimum Requirement: A university degree in biological science or a related subject Preferred Experience: Applicants having knowledge & direct experience with cetaceans Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: · Highly organised and conscientious · Accustomed to a high and varied workload · Strong interpersonal skills · Experience managing volunteers · Ability to enthuse others through written word and face to face · Experience managing volunteers · Passion for conservation and research · Proven social media experience · Data management experience · Experience of events management · Public speaking experience · Basic knowledge of GIS, production of graphs/histograms from sightings data Job Title: Sightings Officer Job Location: Sea Watch Foundation Field Office, Paragon House, Wellington Place, New Quay, Ceredigion SA45 9NR Hours: 40 hours per week. Usually 9am-6pm, but flexible working hours are required to cover some evening work, public holidays and weekends from time to time. Salary: £20,000 p.a. (+ Pension scheme). Closing date for applicants: Sun 4th February 2018 (applications will be assessed between 5th – 10th Feb, and interviews of short-listed candidates will take place on 14th & 15th Feb). Start Date: March 2018. Job description: Duties include: Development and Maintenance of UK Observer Network · Recruitment of new observers throughout the UK, and feedback of information and advice to current contributors of sightings · Distribution of training aids and advice to potential observers · Regular support & liaison with Regional Coordinators, with occasional visits to coastal regions to support local efforts to develop monitoring, information exchange, and local fund-raising. Review with regional co-ordinators the best approaches for strengthening the observer network · Promotion, support and liaison with others to encourage data collection from land and boats around the UK · Participation in delivering training courses for students, regional co-ordinators, and prospective observers on techniques of quantitative monitoring, species identification, and photo-ID · Organisation of and reporting on the annual National Whale & Dolphin Watch held usually in late July/early August · Supporting local observers for the annual Orca Watch event held in late May in North Scotland · Administration of Sea Watch’s Recommended Boat Operator Scheme Public Awareness and Education · Content management of an active website, including linked social media, to serve as a prime medium of communication to observers, initiating regular dissemination of new information, and recruiting new observers. Maintenance of static content and regular updating with news items, recent sightings, etc · Taking part in educational and outreach events, and school visits, providing supervision and support for the Education Assistant · Attending meetings and giving public lectures on behalf of Sea Watch, liaising with other like-minded organisations · Preparation and dissemination of news releases for the media on major stories of environmental interest and writing articles for specialist magazines · Responding to email correspondence & telephone queries from interested parties Sightings Data Collation · Compilation of sightings data in a standardised format for entry into the Sea Watch database Other duties · Supervision of residential interns, most specifically the Education and Outreach Assistant and the National Whale and Dolphin Watch Assistant · Assistance with supervising students and other volunteers in New Quay, and supporting Monitoring Officer on some survey trips · Participation in the development and running of the new “Members and Supporters” scheme · Arranging the charity’s annual AGM · Participation in fundraising activities and promotion of Adopt a Dolphin campaign · General support to the Director For anyone interested, please send (by e-mail only) a letter of application together with a CV (and two references) to Sea Watch’s Director, Dr Peter Evans, at peter.evans(a)bangor.ac.uk<mailto:peter.evans@bangor.ac.uk> Please ensure your application is received by Sun 4th February. Rhif Elusen Gofrestredig 1141565 - Registered Charity No. 1141565 Gall y neges e-bost hon, ac unrhyw atodiadau a anfonwyd gyda hi, gynnwys deunydd cyfrinachol ac wedi eu bwriadu i'w defnyddio'n unig gan y sawl y cawsant eu cyfeirio ato (atynt). Os ydych wedi derbyn y neges e-bost hon trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i'r anfonwr ar unwaith a dilewch y neges. Os na fwriadwyd anfon y neges atoch chi, rhaid i chi beidio a defnyddio, cadw neu ddatgelu unrhyw wybodaeth a gynhwysir ynddi. Mae unrhyw farn neu safbwynt yn eiddo i'r sawl a'i hanfonodd yn unig ac nid yw o anghenraid yn cynrychioli barn Prifysgol Bangor. Nid yw Prifysgol Bangor yn gwarantu bod y neges e-bost hon neu unrhyw atodiadau yn rhydd rhag firysau neu 100% yn ddiogel. Oni bai fod hyn wedi ei ddatgan yn uniongyrchol yn nhestun yr e-bost, nid bwriad y neges e-bost hon yw ffurfio contract rhwymol - mae rhestr o lofnodwyr awdurdodedig ar gael o Swyddfa Cyllid Prifysgol Bangor. 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New paper on man-made disturbances in cetaceans
by Andreas 17 Jan '18

17 Jan '18

Dear All, We are pleased to announce that the following paper has been published which may be of interest to people interested in the effect of man-made disturbances on marine mammals (cetaceans). This is a different initiative of the journal Frontiers, a European open access journal which is growing rapidly. The paper is a review/revision of some work we have done in an attempt to define risk of gas emboli and decompression sickness in large whales exposed to sound. It is written for a younger audience and something we wanted to share. Fahlman, A., Tyack, P. L., Miller, P. J. M. and Kvadsheim, P. H. (2017). Human Disturbances Might Cause Dangerous Gas Bubbles to Form in Deep-Diving Whales. Frontiers Young Minds 5, 62. DOI:10.3389/frym.2017.00062 URL: https://kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frym.2017.00062 Abstract: Over millions of years, whales have evolved for diving in the ocean to obtain food while holding their breath. Because whales are air-breathing mammals, they eventually have to return to the ocean surface to get more oxygen. However, the air in the lungs also contains nitrogen, a gas that is taken up but not used by the body. As the whale dives deeper, the pressure from the water increases and more nitrogen is taken up by blood circulating from the lungs to other tissues. When the whale returns to the surface and the water pressure decreases, the nitrogen gas is returned to the lungs. If the whale spends too much time in the zone where nitrogen is taken up at elevated pressure, bubbles may form when the whale returns to the surface; similar to what happens when you open a soda bottle. The bubbles can cause many different problems inside the whale’s body and even cause death. Whales normally do not experience problems caused by bubbles. In recent years, scientists have discovered that when humans disturb whales, their dive behavior or their bodily functions may change in ways that increase the risk of formation of bubbles that could cause problems and death. A better understanding of whale behavior and how the nitrogen bubbles form may help scientist develop tools that can prevent these problems in whales. Please email me if you would like a PDF copy of the paper or if you have any questions regarding the work. Best regards, Andreas

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