Dolphin Research Internship in Portugal

The Marine Environment Research Association (AIMM) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization focused on the research and conservation of marine species, running an ongoing study of cetaceans in southern Portugal (Algarve). This project aims to obtain baseline information on species occurrence, behavior, and social structure of the local cetacean populations in order to obtain scientific data to support conservation measures and inform marine management policies.
The main species observed are short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), although other psecies such as minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) can also be sighted.
AIMM Interns are young, hard-working individuals who are willing to contribute to the association and support on-going activities, while experiencing fieldwork at sea, learning data collection and processing methodologies, and being a part of AIMM's team of researchers and marine biologists for a period of time. All team members and participants share accommodation, house tasks, knowledge and experience in an environmental friendly and multicultural environment.
Interns have the additional option to enrich their time with AIMM by beginning or improving their SCUBA skills with a PADI-certified instructor.

Conducted in partnership with dolphin watching companies operating in the south of Portugal, the project plays a double function, raising awareness for the impacts that this touristic activity can have in cetaceans and incentivizing a responsible code of conduct. Many of our participants are motivated, hard-working, young individuals of different nationalities with a common interest for the sea and willingness to contribute to its conservation. While participating in a small/long term internship and working in a familiar and friendly environment, they enhanced their marine scientific skills, species knowledge, threats, social behaviors and structure and sea methodologies to collect data and

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