Research and Protection of Cetaceans in Montenegro

In Montenegro, a country on the Adriatic Sea in the Eastern Mediterranean, you will join the team of an internationally recognized NGO specializing in cetaceans research. The goal of the research is to collect data on the frequency, distribution, and behavior of cetaceans and to study the impact of threats ranging from tourism to seismic practices. The focus is on bottlenose dolphins and striped dolphins, both of which are classified as endangered due to human activity. You will gain theoretical knowledge and apply standard methods in marine mammal research.

In addition to research, you will participate in awareness-raising initiatives aimed at educating the public about cetaceans and the importance of ocean conservation.

Your Activities in Cetaceans Research and Conservation

Although the program is available for as short as 4 weeks, we recommend participating for 8 weeks or longer. This allows you to complete the comprehensive training provided by the organization’s marine biologists, which covers the necessary skills and knowledge for conducting research. The training includes:

• GIS mapping
• Theodolite operation and Pythagoras software
• Photo identification
• Discovery and Logger 2010 software
• Population size estimation using mark and distance techniques
• Survey planning
• Efficient use of Excel
• R for statistical analyses
• Systematic data collection and analysis

During and after the two-month training, you will engage in various marine research tasks, such as:

• At least 15 land-based observations per month, at sunrise and sunset
• At least two boat excursions per month for conducting research
• Data collection on dolphin sightings and behavior, as well as human and environmental impacts
• Learning and applying investigative techniques (spatial-temporal dolphin distribution, theodolite operation, behavioral data collection, photo identification, and measurement of human influences)
• Training on standard marine research software (Pythagoras, Logger 2010)
• Data entry, editing, and analysis using GIS, Mark, Distance, and R software
• Cataloging and matching dolphin images with photo identification software
• Promoting awareness among stakeholders
• Using social media for public communication and general marine and environmental conservation outreach
• Underwater and beach cleanups

If you wish to complete the program as an internship for a related academic field, additional opportunities are available:

• Supervision of a personal project or thesis
• Further courses on selected topics
• Skills for writing project proposals, reports, and scientific articles

A maximum of 14 volunteers and interns participate at any given time. Depending on the number of participants, they will be assigned to 5–8 observation stations along the coast, with transport provided by car.

At the end of the program, we can issue certificates of participation as well as recommendation letters.