Boomers Abroad

Description

As a volunteer on the Whale Shark Conservation Project you will help carry out the marine research and monitoring activities for the project under the guidance of our project coordinator. You will join other volunteers on the project to collect the data via beach walks, boat surveys, swims and scuba dives off the coastline of Tofo in Mozambique. Volunteers are needed not only to carry out the field activities but also to help fund the project. You can expect an excellent diving, snorkeling and beach experience whilst gaining first hand marine research skills and contributing to a worthwhile project.

As a volunteer you will help monitor whale shark numbers, behavior and ecology and take underwater identification photographs of the whale sharks. You will also join research scuba dives to help monitor the condition of coral reefs and indicator species of reef fish. At certain times of the year you may help survey humpbacked whale numbers and turtle nesting activity as well as other indicators of the health of marine biodiversity. You may also assist with beach cleanups and other general environmental activities. You may also help upload and analyze the field data and create awareness among the general public of the importance of the marine environment.

The whale shark component of the conservation project involves joining boat launches under the guidance of our project coordinator on ocean safaris to snorkel with whale sharks in the open ocean. It involves taking underwater photographs for identifying the whale sharks as well as recording other ecological information. As a summary, you will collect the following information on the whale sharks:
* Date, GPS location, surface and underwater conditions
* Size, sex, scars/distinctive features, behavior of the whale shark
* You will take an identification photograph and name each whale shark & record re-sightings

The coral reef monitoring involves joining boat launches under the guidance of our project coordinator on scuba dives and carrying our underwater data collection on indicator species of coral fish and the condition and cover of coral on the reefs. As a summary, on these research dives you may carry out the following activities:
* Reef transects recording indicator species of reef fish
* Timed counts of the numbers of each indicator species of reef fish
* Coral reef quadrats to assess the cover and condition of different coral groups

During June-August you may help monitor the numbers of humpbacked whales on their seasonal migration up and down the coast. This involves beach based observations using binoculars and boat based observations recording the numbers of whales and where possible the makeup of the pods. Although their numbers have increased these whales are still vulnerable and this work will help provide recommendations for the improved conservation of these important ocean giants.

During October-February you may help survey for turtle mortality on beaches in the areas around Tofo. Historically, loggerhead turtles have nested here in significant numbers and although these, as well as leatherback turtles and hawksbill turtles are sighted in-water, their nesting has declined dramatically owing to poaching. The surveys involve working with local community representatives to patrol the beaches at night during laying season (November-January) recording nest sites, finding turtle shells and doing GPS points to track mortality numbers, and tagging adults where possible. In addition you will have a chance to do morning observations to see if any fishermen are catching turtles as well as help raise awareness about turtles in the area.