Hi
Did you know that in European waters, we have over 30% of all species of whales, dolphins and porpoises? Fancy training to get out to sea and undertake surveys to record their population and activity?
The charity ORCA is holding a course at Bewl Water, near Lamberhurst in Kent on June 20th 2009 - here are the details:
Fee: £60.
Concessionary rate of £54 for ORCA and BDMLR members, and full-time students.
ORCA is a leading charity conducting cetacean population and abundance research in the European waters of the North East Atlantic. This course will give you all of the skills required to competently perform surveys for whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals at sea.
ORCA’s MMS training course is a certificated course designed to be fun and illuminating, incorporating practical training on how to organise and carry out line-transect surveys, improve your understanding of photo-identification techniques, work as part of a team, identify marine mammals, interpret their behaviour and prepare for travelling at sea.
Participants will also learn how to search for and identify cetaceans and interpret their surfacing behaviours in order to get the very most out of encounters with these exhilarating animals in the wild.
With a network of research vessels, ferries, cruise ships and yachts donating spaces to ORCA volunteers, this is a fantastic opportunity to gain the skills required to participate in future whale and dolphin surveys with the charity.
Why complete the Marine Mammal Survey (MMS) training course?
ORCA relies on a large and dedicated team of volunteer observers to carry out its research, but to achieve the standard required we request that they first complete an MMS training course. In return, ORCA provides its volunteers with a wide range of low-cost opportunities to take part in a range of surveys, experience life at sea, encounter whales and dolphins and gain a greater understanding of ocean ecosystems and the threats that they face. But even if you don’t plan to get involved with ORCA in the long-term, this training course is designed as an excellent introduction to conducting marine mammal surveys that are of scientific value.
What makes ORCA’s MMS training courses so special?
In order to provide you with the best possible training, we use the most experienced trainers – it’s as simple as that! Each aspect of the training will be provided by recognised specialists in their field, ensuring that you get the very most out of your training day.
Course Itinerary
Saturday 20th June 2009
10.30: Arrivals and Welcome.
11.00: Introduction: ORCA and marine mammals – why what we do is
important!
11.15: Lecture: How to search for and identify marine mammals at sea.
12.00: Lecture: Getting to grips with the basics: Line transect and distance sampling surveys.
13:00: Lunch break: Lunch is not included in the course fee.
14.00: Lecture: Survey Recording and Equipment
14.45: Workshops: These are team exercises. Each team member will undertake the responsibilities of the various survey roles, practice using the equipment and complete a ‘virtual’ survey.
16.00: Lecture: Have you got what it takes to be an ORCA surveyor?
16.15: Summary and Handing out of Certificates
16.30: End
Course Fee and Reservation
The fee for this course is £60, with a concessionary rate of £54 for ORCA members, BDMLR medics, and full-time students.
Please note that lunch is not included in the course fee, but there is an excellent café at Bewl Water that will be open. We will have a short break in the morning sessions to allow you to order if you do not bring your own packed lunch.
To receive a registration form and to reserve your place on this course please email Stephen on
stephen@orcaweb.org.uk or visit
Marine Mammal Survey Training Course
Hope to see you there!
