Protecting marine wildlife through research and education
Project name:
Marine Environment Research Association (AIMM)
Project purpose:
AIMM aims to be a reference for research, education and conservation of the environment in Portuguese waters, promoting understanding of marine related issues, identifying threats and mitigate their effects in marine wildlife.
Project activities:
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community awareness
-
data collection/analysis
(Daily survey on board research vessel)
(Data entry)
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teaching
(theory classes)
(research technique with marine mammals)
-
Scuba diving (separate to main program)
Weekly cost (approx USD):
$
Direct benefits you gain:
-
data/statistical skills
-
field research skills
Noteworthy conservation points:
-
publishes peer-reviewed science
Wild Sun Rescue Center
Accommodation:
Accommodation will be shared by the whole team: participants, research assistants and researchers. The field station is a small farm in Albufeira, Algarve.
When does the project run?
Facilities:
accommodation included, food included, wifi, local town. The house is equipped with Wi-Fi, laundry room and everything needed for a working kitchen. Participants will share 3 rooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, office garden with a swimming pool.
How long can I stay?
Requirements:
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Be 16 years-old or older; Stay for at least 1 week (7 days)
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Speak enough English to be able to communicate with other participants
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Be in good health, physically fit and able to walk and climb easily
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Be able to swim and feel comfortable on a boat.
Details of the day-to-day life on the project:
Everyone’s experience at AIMM is unique. The programme is tailored to your learning interests, allowing you to decide which aspect of marine fieldwork you want to explore, or even get assistance for your personal marine research projects.
The atmosphere is informal and familiar, and household chores will be shared and carried out by everyone. It is also important to keep in mind that the team includes most often members of different countries with different levels of English, so fellow participants need to be patient with each other.
Ongoing Projects
Surveillance and monitoring of marine megafauna in coastal waters off the Algarve, Portugal
The distribution and population dynamics of marine megafauna, namely cetaceans, sea turtles and sharks, inhabiting the South of Portugal are poorly known. As are top predators they play a crucial role in their ecosystems. However, they also attract attention, making them ambassadors of marine environment conservation efforts. AIMM focuses most of its research efforts in the first general study on the occurrence, distribution, and abundance of cetaceans in the Southern coast of Portugal.
This study will allow us to know which species inhabit these waters, why and how they use their habitat while verifying their conservation status and the potential threats they face.
Characterisation and improvement of the whale-watching tourism activity along the South coast of Portugal
Social organization and behaviour among large brained mammals: Maternal Strategies as an evolution factor
Ecology of marine megafauna and potential effects of climate change
Studying Cetaceans through acoustics
Marine mammals rely on acoustics to communicate, navigate and explore their environment. Acoustic studies with marine mammal allow us to understand how these animals use the sound but also permit to detect and track them in their habitat. Given these advantages and complementariry with visual methods traditionally used, AIMM recently started to use acoustics to strengthen the study of the distribution and abundance of these animals in the most Southern region of Portugal.
Reviews & ratings
Ingrid
Intern
29 Mar 2019
The marine field work you are looking for
I had an amazing experience assisting the AIMM research team in the study of Albufeira's cetaceans.
Learning about these beautiful animals, how to identify them, their characteristics, behaviors, and interactions gives a peaceful, and at the same time exciting feeling. Also, the sampling and research methodologies are valuable gained experiences that give an interesting edge to your profile.
I will definitely recommend it to anyone and think you will immensely enjoy your stay at the very welcoming AIMM headquarters.
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Marine Environment Research Association (AIMM)
Joana
Volunteer
29 Mar 2019
I wish I could do it again
In the same summer I worked with AIMM I worked another conservation organisation and working with AIMM was a lot better for me. Not only I was in my beloved country but I was helping to protect marine wildlife. The house is beautiful and team is super friendly and welcoming they cater for any kind of dietary. Plus I had the best marine wildlife encounter in my life while working with them with a juvenile male minke whale. I will NEVER forget that week with them and just wished I could do it again for a longer period.
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Marine Environment Research Association (AIMM)
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