WCA Partner MARINElife is a leading charity conserving marine wildlife through research and education. Our focus species include whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and seabirds in European waters.
No other organisation has been carrying out ferry-based research for longer than MARINElife, whose work started in the early 1990s. MARINElife leads the science of ferry-based survey collection, and founded the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC), now renamed as the European Cetacean Monitoring Coalition (ECMC), which brings together data gathered by multiple organisations conducting scientific data on whales and dolphins. MARINElife is also one of the few organisations collecting data on seabirds from ferries.
MARINElife’s core offshore work is in researching distribution, abundance, and population trends for whales, dolphins, seabirds, and other marine animals from commercial vessels, with a particular interest in White-Beaked Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale, and Balearic Shearwater.
MARINElife focus on the European waters of the North Eastern Atlantic and North Sea, with teams of 2 volunteers, aged 18+, carrying out surveys year-round along fixed ‘transect’ routes through the Channel, Bay of Biscay, North Sea, Irish Sea, and the wider Atlantic Ocean, working on ferries, freight ships, cruise liners, and smaller recreational boats, including dive boats, angling boats, and other pleasure and commercial vessels.
Additionally, they adhere to strict scientific methodologies when conducting our research surveys, and either look for experienced volunteers, or provide ongoing training for new volunteers.
Why attend the MARINElife training course?
The marine environment is under-studied, therefore, research on the status of marine wildlife, the threats it faces, and the action required to protect it, requires intensive study.
As a leading charity in the proactive conservation of marine wildlife through research and education, MARINElife relies on a diverse team of highly-valued volunteers who help gather data on the marine environment, and we are always eager to welcome volunteers who can offer their support.
Our team leaders are experts in the field of data collection, and identification of cetaceans and seabirds, giving you the immediate and ongoing training to develop your skills to a high level. The course will give you a thorough grounding on the diverse range of species we study, an insight into the methodologies we follow, and the part you can play in safeguarding their future.
Many of their volunteers go on to have careers in the field of marine mammal observation, or in scientific marine mammal and seabird research, and their survey work with MARINElife has provided the foundation for their passion, and the knowledge for the next steps in their career.
Even if you do not plan to become a MARINElife surveyor, the training courses are designed to be an excellent introduction into conducting marine mammal and seabird surveys that are of scientific value.
Upcoming courses
- Saturday 3rd August with Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley Marshes.
- Saturday 17th August with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Plumgarths, Cumbria.
- Saturday 7th September with Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust at Far Ings Visitor Centre, Far Ings NNR, Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire.
- Saturday 19th October with Wembury Marine Centre, Devon.
- Saturday 26th October with Poole Dolphin Shop Centre, Dorset
For more information on the course and how to book please visit the MARINElife website.
