Volunteer assistants wanted for a marine mammal census starting from Lorient, France, in the Atlantic Ocean and ending in Athens, Greece (at least 2500 nautical miles). The project will take place in April and May 2006, and is coordinated by the Cetacean Research Group of the University of Thessaly, the Zoology and Marine Biology Department of the University of Athens and OCEANUS onlus; www.oceanus.it. The aim of the trip is to collect visual and acoustic data as well as skin samples for a population genetic structure research and toxicology analysis 

The trip consists of 3 legs:

• Lorient (France) to Cadiz (Spain), with intermediate ports of call La Corunia (Spain) and Lisbon (Portugal)
• Cadiz (Spain) to Cagliari (Italy), with intermediate ports of call Gibraltar (UK) and Almeria (Spain)
•  Cagliari (Italy) to Athens (Greece) with intermediate ports of call Lipari (Italy) and Galaxidi (Greece)

Research assistants may participate to at least one leg (9 days).

The research will take place onboard a 14.5 m research sailing catamaran

equipped with all necessary navigation safety and research instrument (GPSs,

plotters, echo-sounders, underwater digital video and still cameras,

binoculars etc) as well as a dual frequency hydrophone and DAT recorder.

The most important requirements for participants are enthusiasm, and the

ability and willingness to work under often difficult, but rewarding field

conditions. The duties of the participants require involvement to all the activities onboard including:

• Navigation and sailing (taking shifts with the trained crew and acquiring experience).
• Research (visual scan, use of the hydrophone, filling in forms, preliminary analysis of effort/distribution and Photo-id data, maintenance of equipment).
• Support activities (maintenance and cleaning of the vessel, cooking etc).

Preference will be given to those who:

1. have previous marine mammal field experience particularly with visual

and acoustic surveys

2. have some sailing experience

On board accommodation will be provided. However research

assistants will be expected to contribute to food provisioning and the running costs of the survey, and arrange their own travel itinerary / flights to the arrival/departure ports. The cost for participation to any one leg is 500 euros.

APPLICATIONS

Interested persons should email at the address below providing a

brief resume with their background, personal details and interests. Please

also remember to include your preferred dates for participation.

Contact :

Email:  aroundeurope2006@oceanus.it  ;   info@oceanus.it