Archipelagos, Institute of Marine Conservation, is organizing a marine mammal field course to take place from the 18th of July until the 27th of July 2011. This 10 day field course will be conducted in the area of the Eastern Aegean Sea with participants based on the Island of Samos. The field course will be composed of both lectures and field work on the followings topics:

Lectures:

- The biology, behaviour and ecology of cetaceans.

- Marine mammal populations within the area.

- Current conservation methods implemented within the Eastern Aegean.

- Threats to cetaceans.

- Theory of the survey methods, including acoustic surveying, used to measure cetacean biodiversity.

- First aid and stranding response protocols for marine mammals.

 

Practical/ Field work:

- Boat based visual census and surveying of marine mammal populations within the region.

- Acoustic surveying.

- Bio acoustics.

- Photo identification of cetaceans.

- GIS analysis.

The participants in the Marine mammal field course will also have the option of getting involved in some of Archipelagos's additional research activities, which include:

- Surveying for chameleons, carried out during the early evenings.

- Early morning fisheries data collection from local artisanal fishermen.

- Carrying out snorkeling surveys in a number of snorkeling sites in and around Ormos, Samos.

The cost is €1000 which covers accommodation, full board meals each day and use of equipment.

Further information can be found at www.archipelago.gr, or email fieldcourses@archipelago.gr