The G.E.M.M. (Marine Mammal Study Group)
Focus: Conservation and Marine biology.
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Project Description
The marine mammal sanctuary of Polynesia was officially created on May 13, 2002 through the work of Franco-American marine mammal specialist, Dr. Michael Poole, who for 25 years dedicated his life to the study of Polynesian CETACEANS. This 4.8 million km2 sanctuary is the largest in the world in size in one single ocean! The principle of a Wildlife sanctuary is to preserve the natural life of animal populations, and to allow them to continue to live their lives free from human activities.
This is the same purpose pursued by GEMM (Study Group on Marine Mammals). In this vast sanctuary, unique at the planet’s scale, WHALES and DOLPHINS can now move freely, and be protected and respected. This is a true “paradise” for these animals, and a great opportunity for people to come and meet this precious wildlife.
CETA-BIOSPHERE is a wide marine mammal population’s survey within Fakarava Biosphere Reserve, Tuamotu Archipelago.
The G.E.M.M. (Marine Mammal Study Group) is a NGO born in 2009 in French Polynesia and dedicated to a better understanding and the conservation of whales and dolphins within the Polynesian Marine Mammal Sanctuary.
Volunteer Information
Costs & Benefits
Requirements
Contact information
Project Summary
Located in the heart of the world ocean, the Sanctuary of Marine Mammals of Polynesia, one of the largest in the world, should also be at the heart of our concerns. A regional study of tourism activities related to marine mammals conducted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in association with the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Consortium for Research on Marine Mammals of Pacific South (SPWRC) and Tourism Organization South Pacific (SPTO), showed that whale watching is an important component of tourism development in the region, for 2005, a direct economic value estimated at 7.5 million US dollars.
These activities are growing at such speed that their impacts are becoming increasingly important on cetacean populations. Thus its vocation field pushes the GEMM to implement a number of annual follow- on "sensitive" areas or "vulnerable" and involve partners from the scientific and tourist worlds in participatory action monitoring population’s cetaceans to measure the impact of human activities on marine mammals in the Sanctuary.
The field part of this campaign consists in collecting surface and underwater data as well as archiving and analyzing part of the data.
ANNUAL FOLLOW THE PROGRAM CÉTA'BIOSPHÈRE
May to August: Tracking and monitoring the impact of human activities on populations of large common dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, in Rangiroa, archipelago of Tuamotu.
June to October: Census Shipping and monitoring of populations of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, and other cetaceans in the area NW of the Tuamotu.
November to March: Prospecting and monitoring in the archipelagos of the Company or the Marquesas.
1400 EUR, 1113 GBP, 1740 USD / 2-weeks (including accommodation, food, equipment, pick-up and drop-off).
Our 60-feet aluminium expedition sailing boat welcomes teams of 6 Eco volunteers managed by 2 crew members. Sleeping bags required. Common kitchen.
Sailing experience and photography welcome, people with previous field experience, good computer skills, adaptable persons. Volunteers must be aged 18 years old and over or accompanied by their parents.
G.E.M.M. (Marine Mammal Study Group)
B.P. 2259 Uturoa, 98735 Raiatea
Rangiroa to Fakarava atolls,
French Polynesia
Tel: ++689 87.77.90.99
Email: contact@gemmpacific.org or pamelacarzon@gemmpacific.org
Website: www.gemmpacific.org
Location:Rangiroa to Fakarava atolls, French Polynesia
Average cost per day: 100 Euros
Focus: Conservation and Marine biology
Skills needed: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old
