Dear Marmam community,

WWF-NL is reaching out to you with a consultancy call for an exciting new EU-funded project on marine megafauna in the Caribbean.

Terms of Reference (ToR) - WWF Netherlands 

Expert marine megafauna / marine mammal conservation science – Caribbean Marine Megafauna and

Anthropogenic Activities (CAMAC)

WWF-NL Background

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the largest independent conservation organizations in the world. We are an international NGO committed to environmental protection and active in nearly 100 countries. WWF-Netherlands (NL) works on conservation efforts in the Caribbean, including the Dutch Caribbean islands, collaborating with governments, businesses, knowledge institutes, local communities, and partner organizations to protect and restore marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

In 2022, WWF and its partners released the report Protecting Blue Corridors: Challenges and Solutions for Migratory Whales Navigating National and International Seas. In June 2025, this evolved into a collaborative initiative with the marine mammal science community, showcased through the interactive digital platform bluecorridors.org. A similar initiative was recently launched for marine turtles: Blue Corridors for Turtles. These connectivity conservation initiatives are central to our global efforts to protect marine megafauna

Project Description

WWF-NL is a consortium partner in the CAMAC (Caribbean Marine Megafauna and Anthropogenic Activities) project, which is led by the Agoa Sanctuary on behalf of the French Agency of Biodiversity (OFB) and co-financed by the EU Interreg Caribbean programme. CAMAC aims to understand and limit the negative interactions between human activities and marine megafauna, such as marine mammals, sea turtles, sharks, rays, and seabirds, across the Wider Caribbean and Guiana Plateau.

The project entered its second phase in 2025, focusing on improving scientific knowledge, strengthening regional cooperation, and implementing conservation strategies for marine species. The CAMAC project is structured into multiple work packages (WPs), with this contract linked to delivering on Work Package 4 (WP4), which focuses on enhancing knowledge of whales, dolphins and seabirds in the Caribbean that runs from September 2025 until the end of 2027. WP4 aims to:  

• Collect and analyze existing data on species distribution, populations, and movements to identify conservation priorities and solutions.
• Assess the impacts of human activities on marine mammals and seabirds.
• Map critical habitats—such as migration corridors and bottlenecks—and identify solutions to support conservation planning for these species groups.
• Strengthen collaboration among stakeholders involved in marine megafauna conservation.

Scope of Work  

• The consultancy will primarily focus on WP4: Enhancing Knowledge on Whales, Dolphins, and Seabirds and ensure alignment with the other WPs.  

Main deliverables:

• Data request and sharing agreement for data contributors agreed with main stakeholders. 

• Online database or platform containing data sources collected during the project period agreed by main stakeholders. 

• Reports: most recent knowledge on distribution, density, population and conservation status of cetaceans, seabirds and potentially marine turtles in the Caribbean, human interaction analysis and management solutions based on data from WPs and existing data and literature and aligned with WP5 on sharks and rays.   

• Organize a stakeholder workshop and related report on knowledge of marine megafauna and human interaction for policy and decision making based on stakeholder consultation. 

• Co-produce peer-reviewed scientific publications, policy briefs, and outreach materials such as videos with CAMAC partners. 

Internal: 

• Update workplan of WP4 in line with project standards (e.g. Gantt-chart) and agreed with the client. 

• Written advice on focus species and human activities for analyses and how to best manage and visualize data and study results agreed by CAMAC partners. 
• Stakeholder mapping within the CAMAC project focus.

• Half-year and final reporting of consultancy activities and deliverables meeting the CAMAC reporting requirements. 

• All deliverables and activities will happen in close collaboration with CAMAC partners and related WPs, BirdsCaribbean, WWF Protecting Whales & Dolphins initiative, WWF Global Turtle Program and in consultation of the expert group from CAMAC phase 1 and the CARIMAM network.  

Responsibilities include: 

Marine Megafauna Research & Data Management:

• Collect and synthesize existing data on marine mammal distribution and movement in the Wider Caribbean and where possible link it to bluecorridors.org. 

• Oversee data-sharing agreements and collaborations with scientific institutions and research organizations. 

• Support the analysis and visualization of marine mammal hotspots and their interaction with human activities. 

• Lead the collection and collation of data with stakeholders to assess cetacean movement and distribution and make connections to (regional) Blue Corridor Reports.  

Threat Analysis & Risk and Solutions Mapping:

• Assessment of impacts of human interactions such as fisheries, maritime traffic, climate change, offshore construction, harvest and pollution on marine mammals. 

• Support spatial overlap analyses to identify critical risk areas for marine megafauna. 

• Synthesize research into actionable conservation strategies. 

• Identify bottlenecks, risk hotspots, and conservation opportunities and solutions for whale and turtle migration routes relevant in the context of (regional) Blue Corridor Reports.  

Stakeholder Engagement & Conservation Recommendations:

• Work with Caribbean, International and European conservation bodies to develop mitigation measures. 

• Facilitate knowledge exchange with scientists, NGOs, regional Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and policymakers. 

• Engage with relevant stakeholders to develop policy recommendations. 

• Organize a workshop and stakeholder meetings.  

• Contribute to the final CAMAC workshop, where conservation recommendations will be presented. 

• Contact person for data contributors 

Communication & Dissemination:

• Develop outreach materials to communicate research findings to decision-makers and the public. 

• Ensure that research outcomes contribute to regional and national conservation policies. 

• Support integration of WP4 findings into broader marine conservation efforts including the Blue Corridors approach.  

• Disseminate findings through scientific publications, policy briefs, and outreach materials.   

Administrative & Reporting Duties  

• Report to project lead at WWF-NL 

• Participate in CAMAC project meetings   

• Ensure stakeholder inclusivity, scientific integrity and transparency of all project activities.   

• Prepare progress reports and contribute to the final CAMAC project report in line with project requirements.   

• Represent the project at international marine conservation forums. 

Profile of the Candidate  

• We are seeking a highly motivated marine conservation science expert with experience in marine megafauna research, marine spatial analysis, project management and stakeholder engagement.   

Essential Qualifications & Experience  

• Master’s or higher in Marine Biology, Oceanography, Conservation Science, or a related field.   

• At least 5 years of experience in marine mammal conservation and research.   

• Experience in international conservation projects, cross-border collaborations and stakeholder management.  

• Strong knowledge of marine mammal ecology, conservation policies, and anthropogenic threats. 

• Experience in managing government-funded projects is particularly desired. 

• Experience developing policy recommendations and conservation strategies.   

Preferred Skills & Attributes

• Experience working in the Wider Caribbean region.   

• Knowledge of seabird and marine turtle ecology, conservation policies, and anthropogenic threats. 

• Strong data management and analysis skills, with proficiency in GIS tools.  

• Background and experience in social sciences.  

• Ability to work collaboratively in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.   

• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in Dutch, Spanish, French, or Creole languages is an asset.   

Contract Details

• Type: consultancy based on average of 32 hours a week  

• Duration: start in September 2025 with envisioned end of 31^st of December 2027.  

• Location: flexible within the Wider Caribbean Region, with fieldwork and travel required to partner locations across the region (budget for expenses of project delivery is available). 

• General terms and conditions of WWF-NL apply.  

• The consultancy is bound to the conditions of Interreg Carib.   

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a concise qualitative proposal describing how the main results will be achieved with optimal quality, including a total quote with anticipated expenses and hourly rate to WWF-NL by 11^th of August. Applications should be sent to Iago Velasco López: ivelascolopez@wwf.nl and Nathalie Houtman: nhoutman@wwf.nl. For questions, please contact Iago Velasco López. Online interviews are planned for the week of the 18^th of August.    

Best wishes,

Nathalie Houtman
Advisor Species & Fisheries | WWF-NL
E: nhoutman@wwf.nl | M: +31615137786
wwf.nl

BE ONE WITH NATURE