Sea Watch Foundation – Research Intern Opportunity in Cardigan Bay for
2016
Interns are invited to assist the Sea Watch Foundation
(www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk) with the running of the “Cardigan Bay
Monitoring Project”. The project is based in New Quay, West Wales, and
supports the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour
porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their
abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure
using a combination of vessel-based, land-based and acoustic surveys.
Sea Watch has been monitoring these populations on behalf of the Welsh
government (through funding provided by Natural Resources Wales) for the
last 15 years. Cardigan Bay contains Britain’s largest coastal
population of bottlenose dolphins, for which two Special Areas of
Conservation have been established under the EU Habitats Directive.
Interns will help the Cardigan Bay Monitoring Officer and the Sightings
Officer by taking part in the following tasks:
• Land-based surveys
• Boat-based surveys
• Photo-identification matching
• Data entry
• Raising public awareness
• Education initiatives and school visits
• Acoustic data collection
• Assisting with and participation in training courses and public talks.
In addition to these tasks, this year we are specifically looking for
two interns in each period with interest in recently acquired specialist
equipment to assist us in acoustic and aerial data collection using a
towed hydrophone and unmanned camera drone respectively. Both drone and
hydrophone interns will undertake all regular intern activities but will
be expected to concentrate on acoustic and aerial data collection during
boat based surveys. If you are particularly interested in either
opportunity, please draw our attention to it in your covering letter and
application form, highlighting relevant experience and by titling your
application email Drone Research Intern or Hydrophone Research Intern.
Interns are required from mid April until the end of October 2016. The
research season is split into four separate periods, two 8-week periods
(periods 1 & 2) and two 6-week periods (periods 3 & 4).
Preference will be given to those applying for more than one period,
including the whole 6.5 month field season, and particularly to
applicants interested in working with the drone or towed hydrophone.
Those applying for longer periods of time will be able to take on a
personal project, potentially leading to a publication.
Interns will be based in New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales. Accommodation
is provided through rental of a house that interns share at a rate of
around £70 per person per week. Interns are responsible for their own
travel, accommodation and living expenses, but it is generally quite
easy to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required.
Period dates for summer 2016:
Period 1: 18/04 – 12/06, Period 2: 13/06 – 07/08, Period 3: 08/08 –
18/09, Period 4: 19/09 – 30/10
Important skills/qualifications
Essential:
• an ability to work in a meticulous and reliable manner
• strong commitment to volunteering work
• willingness to work long hours outdoors in often changeable Welsh
weather
• good IT skills (Office package)
• an ability to get on well with others in a small team and in shared
accommodation
Desirable:
• a strong interest and knowledge of British cetaceans
• a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar
• prior experience in boat-based survey work
• good verbal and written communication skills and in public speaking
• experience in interacting with the public
All interns will be trained in cetacean observation and identification,
in boat survey protocols, and photo-identification of bottlenose
dolphins.
Interns in Periods 2 and 3 will be able to take part in Sea Watch’s
annual 2-day training courses.
Internships with Sea Watch have frequently led to established posts both
within the organisation and in other national and international research
and conservation bodies, as well as providing a stepping stone for
students to undertake doctoral studies in marine mammal science.
Please note that interns are responsible for their own travel and living
expenses. International applications are welcome but it is the
applicant’s responsibility to ensure visa requirements are met; Sea
Watch cannot sponsor visa applications.
To apply:
Please send your CV and application form (which can be downloaded from
our website www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/internships/), with a cover
letter and contact details of two referees, reporting any relevant
experience you have, to Katrin Lohrengel-
katrin.lohren...@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
Deadline: 10th January 2016.
Please specify NEW QUAY INTERN APPLICATION in your subject title.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 10th February 2016.
The Sea Watch Foundation
The Sea Watch Foundation is a registered marine environmental research
charity that aims to achieve better conservation of whales and dolphins
in the seas around Britain and Ireland, by involving the public in
scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face. At Sea
Watch Wales, we are dedicated to raising awareness, knowledge and
conservation of the marine wildlife inhabiting Welsh seas. Our work in
Wales has been funded over the years by Natural Resources Wales, and we
work closely with the local management authority, Ceredigion County
Council.
Research
The purpose of our research here is to monitor the marine mammal
populations inhabiting Cardigan Bay, so as to gain information to aid
the conservation and long-term well being of these animals and the local
marine environment. This is achieved by conducting various projects
including:
• Estimating the abundance and distribution of bottlenose dolphins,
harbour porpoises, and grey seals within Cardigan Bay using distance
sampling and opportunistic boat surveys
• Maintaining and updating a catalogue of photographically identified
bottlenose dolphins in Wales in order to study their abundance, social
structure, movements and life histories, using mark-recapture
techniques.
• Acoustic monitoring of bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises in
the Cardigan Bay SAC primarily through hydrophone data collection.
• Setting up a library of bottlenose dolphin whistles in Welsh waters in
order to develop bio-acoustic research in the area.
We further aim to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of
the local marine wildlife and the habitats supporting them, to encourage
respect and conservation of the area and its wildlife for future
generations. At the New Quay Office, we also run national training
courses in cetacean identification and survey methods for the public.
--
[1]
Katrin Lohrengel / Wales Development Officer
katrin.lohren...@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
Sea Watch Foundation
Paragon House, Wellington Place, New Quay, Wales, SA45 9NR
http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/ [1]
[2] [3]
Links:
------
[1] http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/
[2] https://www.facebook.com/seawatchfoundation?ref=ts&fref=ts
[3] https://twitter.com/WelshCetaceans
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