BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN PHOTO-ID VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Opportunities for Volunteering in association with the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay, West Wales
2006.
For more
information please visit our website www.cbmwc.org.
Our 2005
Bottlenose dolphin photo-identification catalogue can be found on our website,
(http://www.cbmwc.org/current_res/photo-idcatalogue.htm).
We are recruiting
willing volunteers to assist with our ongoing research and education programmes
concerning the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay,
primarily the bottlenose dolphins (photo-identification), harbour porpoise and
Atlantic grey seals.
Volunteers are
needed from mid April until mid October 2006.
Undergraduate and
postgraduate student research projects can be supported with boat time and
office space.
Please contact us
to discuss feasible projects email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
We support
non-invasive and non-disruptive research.
About the Cardigan
Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (Est.1996):
The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, based in
New Quay, West Wales is a non-profit
organisation run by a group dedicated to working for and in the interest of
Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre. The group is part of and affiliated to the
Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.
Our headquarters are located in the heart of New
Quay in a heritage building overlooking the beautiful beach and harbour. This
facility is a valuable and important marine wildlife and conservation asset,
which is used for interpretation, education and research and furthermore acts
as a focal point of interest and reference for visitors to the area.
The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is dedicated
to promoting public awareness of the marine species, habitats and conservation
of the marine wildlife in Cardigan Bay through
research and education. It is also dedicated to forming links and working with
established marine conservation and research groups to set up specific projects
and new initiatives both within and outside the local area.
The primary purpose of our ongoing research,
supported by Environment Wales and the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales,
is to monitor the marine mammal populations found within Cardigan
Bay’s Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and beyond. We
endeavour to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the local
marine wildlife and habitats, to encourage respect and conservation of these
important entities and to ensure the long term well-being of these animals and
the local marine environment.
Our intention is to establish an enduring and
stimulating education programme for all. We also aim to provide
interpretational materials on the species and habitats in Cardigan
Bay and to conduct public awareness initiatives.
This is a fantastic opportunity for volunteers to
make a positive contribution to marine wildlife research, to gain knowledge and
experience of the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay
and of public awareness and education programmes.
Volunteers will be
involved in the following:
Shorter Term Posts
Research & Education Assistant
Boat Based Work
- Assist with boat
based photo identification surveys.
- Assist with
collection of data on marine mammals & other wildlife in Cardigan Bay
- Act as a marine
mammal “lookout”.
- Educate passengers
about the wildlife in Cardigan Bay.
- Assist with other
ongoing projects at our centre including opportunistic jellyfish surveys
and sunfish surveys amongst others.
- Help crew research
vessel, Sulaire.
Land-based work
- Assist with the
day-to-day operation of our Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife visitor centre,
including staffing the front desk, taking boat bookings and answering
enquiries.
- Advise visitors to
the centre and the public about the Marine Wildlife in Cardigan
Bay and the work that is being conducted.
- Help develop the
facilities at the Marine Wildlife Centre.
- Creation and
regular updating of our website pages with sightings and other
information.
- Conduct land based
surveys from New Quay in conjunction with Ceredigion County Council.
- Record sightings
information, update sightings boards in our centre and central database
with information gained from our boat and land based research surveys.
- Assist with
analysis & cataloguing of photo identification of the bottlenose
dolphins.
- Assist with
research and production of our education programme and interpretational
materials.
- Develop ideas for
refurbishment of the CBMWC, what materials etc… could be displayed
in the centre, including interactive materials, touch tanks,
interpretation boards etc.
- Develop ideas for
articles for other publications including CBMWC newsletter & website.
- Train new
volunteers in collection of data and survey work.
- Help develop
Fundraising ideas
Desired skills/qualifications:
- Fluency in English
(essential).
- Willingness to work
in a conscientious, responsible and reliable manner.
- Enthusiastic and
hard working.
- An interest in
wildlife and conservation.
- An interest and
knowledge of British cetaceans would be an advantage.
- A background in
biology, particularly marine biology/environmental science.
- A background in
environmental interpretation or education and experience working with
children is desirable.
- Experience working
with the public, and public speaking would be useful.
- Excellent verbal
and written communication skills.
- IT skills.
Sightings Officer
- The sightings
officer will be responsible for ensuring that the land and boat based
sightings’ are updated on our website and in our visitor centre on a
daily basis.
- Ensure that all
sightings data collected during surveys are input onto computer.
- They will also be
responsible for ensuring that the “new” Welsh sightings’
database is kept up to date with data from our surveys and land based work
and that data submitted by other organisations is input promptly and
correctly.
- As above (Research
& Education assistants)
Longer Term Posts (5-6 Months)
Bottlenose dolphin Photo-id
catalogue Officer
- Main responsibility
will be to oversee the cataloguing of the bottlenose dolphin photo-id
catalogue and matching individuals to previous year’s images.
- Conduct talks on
the photo-identification work conducted at the CBMWC to interested
parties.
- As above (Research
& Education assistants)
Education Officer
- Help to plan,
research and design interpretation boards on the marine wildlife in
Cardigan Bay for display in the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre and
other organisations’ centres throughout Wales.
- Design educational
materials for younger children on the marine wildlife in Cardigan
Bay e.g. Activity booklet.
- Act as mentor and
point of contact for work experience students.
- Conduct talks on
the work of the CBMWC to interested parties.
- Coordinate and
organise other volunteers participating with the education work at CBMWC
- Help plan, develop
ideas for events at the CBMWC (e.g. talks on local wildlife).
- As above (Research
& Education assistants).
We are also looking for volunteers with website
building experience for a new project, volunteers with accountancy experience,
fundraising experience and any other experience that may be of benefit to the
CBMWC.
Volunteer positions are available from mid April
until October 2006, commitment for a minimum of 2 weeks is required. Priority
will be given to volunteers available for longer periods.
Accommodation can be arranged for committed
volunteers (approx 45 - 50GBP per week).
Volunteers are responsible for their own food,
travel and accommodation costs.
Local volunteers
are always welcome to join us.
For further
information about the work we do please visit - www.cbmwc.org
To apply:
Please contact us by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include a copy of
your CV detailing your background and relevant experience together with a
covering letter indicating when and how long you are available to volunteer.
Or alternatively post your application to:
Cardigan Bay
Marine Wildlife Centre
Patent
Slip Building
Glanmor Terrace
New Quay
Ceredigion
SA45 9PS
West Wales (UK)
Tel: +44 (0) 1545 560032/ (0) 7796135490
www.cbmwc.org
