Eine Schule von Delfinen werden zur Delfinforschung beobachtet

Your trip at a glance

Highlights

  • Life and learn on the high seas – with stops in England and Spain
  • Contribute to the protec­tion of whales, dolphins and other marine mammals
  • Be part of an inter­na­tional team
  • Cross the Bay Biscay for two full days
  • Explore different marine mammals through intensive monitoring
  • Experi­ence an unfor­get­table educa­tional adventure in the eastern Atlantic

Locations

reiseort-grossbritannien-nord-ost-atlantik-wal-natucate
Northeast Atlantic
Zwei Delfine schwimmen parallel zueinander und springen parallel aus dem Wasser
Teilnehmerin sucht die Wasseroberflaeche mit einem Fernglas nach Delfinen und Walen ab
Kueste mit Sandstrand und Blick auf das Meer
Eine Schule von Delfinen werden zur Delfinforschung beobachtet
Eine Kueste mit Steinstrand am Meer Eine Kueste mit Steinstrand am Meer
Drei Delfine auf der Jagd nach Futter schwimmen mit hoher Geschwindigkeit durchs Wasser
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Marine mammal surveyor course

As a participant in this research course you have the chance to make an active contribution to the protection of whales and dolphins in the Bay of Biscay through intense research activities.

Ein Leuchtturm mit Anwesen an Meereskueste

Arrival and orien­ta­tion in Great Britain

We recommend you arrive in Portsmouth in South England one day before your course starts. This harbour town is approximately a two-hour drive away from Gatwick Airport. On the following day, the day your course starts, you will join a 6 hour-training seminar, which will teach you all the necessary knowledge for collecting data while at sea. Afterwards you will get on board of the ferry which will take you through the Bay of Biscay and English Channel for the following two days.

Nahaufnahme eines Delfins, der an der Wasseroberflaeche schwimmt

Activ­i­ties: Dolphin and whale research in the Atlantic

During the training course in the beginning you will be taught all the knowledge you need for the upcoming research activities. This includes learning how to handle the research equipment, how to apply observing and identification strategies and how to collect data using a distance sampling protocol (line transects, distance sampling).
Theory lessons are followed by hands-on training: Together with the other participants you will board the ferry to discover the Bay of Biscay and its marine life.

Teilnehmerin sucht die Wasseroberflaeche mit einem Fernglas nach Delfinen und Walen ab

On your way from the South of England to the Spanish town of Santander and back you will watch out for whales, dolphins and porpoises, documenting the different species as well as the location of the sighting and their behaviour. Monitoring the different species and their habitat enables our partner to develop specific measures for the protection of the animals.
By participating in this course you do not only have the chance to experience the Atlantic’s marine life first hand, but also to make an active contribution to species conservation.

Eine Schule von Delfinen schwimmt an der Wasseroberflaeche

Accom­mo­da­tion during your marine adventure

During the course all participants will be accommodated in single occupancy in two berth inside cabins on board the ferry. Each cabin has its own private bathroom. You will receive breakfast and dinner each day on the ship. All meals are served in the self-service restaurant on the ship. Lunch, snacks and drinks are not included and are your own responsibility. Free wifi is available in public areas on the ship but is of very limited speed. It is possible to send messages/emails via your own smartphone whilst in range of mainland Europe at various points through the trip (subject to your mobile data package).

Kueste mit Blick auf das Meer im Sonnenschein

Leisure time during your research experi­ence

Evenings are free and you can use the time for own activities. Furthermore, you have spare time in Santander where you can explore the city for around one and a half hours.

FAQ – Learn more about this trip



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  • reiseort-grossbritannien-nord-ost-atlantik-wal-natucate
    1. Northeast Atlantic

    The North Atlantic is the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is bordered to the north by the European North Sea and to the south by the Central Atlantic. The approx. 106 million square kilometres of the entire Atlantic cover about one fifth of the earth's surface. After the Pacific Ocean, it is the second largest ocean in the world and home to a fascinating – and partly undiscovered – flora and fauna.

Background of the whale and dolphin survey

Our planet's oceans are vast and deep which makes it a challenge to study them properly – as a result, conservation at sea is decades behind conservation at land.

Lots of whale, dolphin and porpoise species worldwide are considered to be “data deficient”. This means it is not even known how much they are under threat. As whales and dolphins are at the top of the food chain, they are furthermore important indicators of the general health of our oceans and marine ecosystems.

Gathering concrete data about our whales and dolphins via intense monitoring is of great importance in order to be able to learn more about their way of life, where they breed, feed and travel. By doing so, conservation measures can be developed to support the preservation of these fascinating animals – and this way, to contribute to conserving the world's biodiversity for future generations.

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Conscious Travel with Natucate

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