Dear MARMAM readers,
Marine Mammal Research Center (DMAD) is inviting volunteers to participate in the
first season of boat based cetacean surveys in the Turkish coast of
Mediterranean. The
project aims to determine the cetacean fauna, their distribution and habitats in
the Antalya Bay. 9 cetacean species were recorded in the Turkish part of the
Mediterranean so far. While bottlenose
dolphins, striped dolphins, common dolphins, Risso's dolphins, Cuvier's beaked whale were
considered common, minke whale, fin whale, sperm whale, long-finned pilot whale
and Mesoplodon
sp. were considered rare. However, there wasn't any consistant or a long term
study in the area to identify the cetacean residency in the area. Many listed cetacean species were categorized either as data deficient, vulnerable
or endangered. Therefore, the project aim
to fullfill the gaps of missing long term studies in the area by collecting
data on cetacean fauna.
Volunteers will
be responsible from collecting sighting and behavioural data together with organising
photo-ID files thus you will obtain hands-on experience in marine mammals
research, boat based field work. Moreover intensive training and mentoring in
marine mammals, photo-ID, statistics and GIS will be provided.
Volunteers should be prepared for
long working days in the field, hours of work may vary between 6 to 12 hours
per day, and expect to wake up very early (around 4:30 a.m.). The work will be
carried under hot or cold weathers conditions. The field work will take around 2
days in a week and office work will take a day or two.
Successful applicants will be
responsible for their own transportation to and from Antalya-Turkey. As a newly formed NGO, the DMAD is just a self-funded centre which means that no outside funding is
raised yet . In order for you to volunteer, you will have to pay a volunteering
fee that includes the accommodation and
covers a part of other expenses such as the rent for the
research vessels, the work equipment and their maintenance. Thus, the project can
go on independently.
Successful applicants will need to:
- be able to live and work with
others in a multi cultural team
-have a strong desire to work with
marine mammals under harsh condition
This project provides an excellent
opportunity for students and individuals interested in getting more experience
and knowledge in the field of marine mammal research.
Applicants should send a short email
introducing themselves to akkayaaylin@yahoo.com.
The email should include an outline of why you would like to work on this project.
Please also attach a brief CV.
There is no deadline to apply.
However, approved applications are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis.
Start and end dates are flexible.
All the best,
Aylin Akkaya Baş