Italy: Cetaceans & Marine Fauna Internship

Project Background

In the Ligurian Sea, bottlenose dolphin has been extensively studied only in the Eastern area, between Genoa and La Spezia, which represents, for a series of features of the seafloor, a perfect habitat for this species.

On the contrary, in the Western part, no research organization or scientific foundation has conducted studies focused only on bottlenose dolphins because, due to the morphology of the sea bottom, sightings have always been more sporadic than the opposite side. The continental shelf is very narrow and short and high depths (around 2000 m) are reached close to the coast. This makes the area suitable for other cetacean species but not ideal for bottlenose dolphins, which tend to remain in coastal waters.

Since April 2018, the beginning of our project, we have been demonstrating that this species is regularly present all year round, also in this part of the basin, with a high occurrence and great numbers. The project is structured on an annual basis to obtain data not only on the distribution during the Summer but also changes during the different seasons. Data from this study are being used to create a baseline for a long-term project, monitoring bottlenose dolphins in this part of the Ligurian Sea, and information needed to suggest and create conservation plans for their protection.

Marine Birds and Other Fauna Research Project

During our surveys, we collect data on the presence of other cetacean species and on several species of marine birds, fish and sea turtles that can be sighted. Our database of marine fauna provides interesting information about the seasonal presence of Mediterranean shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan), Scopoli’s shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea), Northern gannets (Morus bassanus), Sandwich terns (Thalasseus sandvicensis), sunfish (Mola mola) among others. Since 2021, the Ligurian region has been interested in a new phenomenon: the nesting of loggerhead sea turtles. Although still considered sporadic, we already see a rapid increase in these events. In 2024, for the first time, we had 3 nests in our study area and 6 in 2025. For this reason, we started a pilot project in Imperia where interns will conduct early morning beach surveys to look for nesting attempts from sea turtles that occurred at night (theory on track recognition will be provided beforehand).

Research Topics

●  Groups and social structure analysis: to study the interactions and associations between individuals

●  Abundance: estimation of the local population size

●  Distribution, occurrence and movements to understand if the animals perform movements and migrations, even seasonal, towards the

neighbouring areas.

●  Identification of hot spots or areas with greater importance.

●  Identification of the main threats which dolphins may incur and thereforethe creation of management and conservation plans for their protection. Interaction with fisheries

●  Distribution and occurrence of seabirds, with a focus on seasonal variability.

●  Sea turtle monitoring and nests management (not guaranteed)

Methods and data collection

The project is a long-term coastal project. Data are collected during dedicated boat-based surveys conducted from a 5.2 m zodiac equipped with a 40 hp outboard engine, based in the port of Imperia, with 4/5 crew members. Surveys are carried out in favourable weather-marine conditions (Beaufort ≤3) around 10 times a month. The main effort is focused on collecting images, which will be used to identify the sighted animals, through the technique of photo-identification. Environmental conditions, marine traffic, geographical locations and dolphins’ behavioural data are among the data collected at sea. Data are also collected during land-based surveys or along the beach (in summer for turtle tracks and nests)

The study area and the Pelagos Sanctuary

The study area, which extends from Capo Noli to the France border, from the coast to the bathymetric of 500m in depth is located in the Ligurian Sea, a basin that shows very particular features, especially in its Western part where it reaches remarkable depths very close to the shore.

In western Liguria, the continental shelf, which by definition extends from the shore to 200m deep, is little expanded and in a few nautical miles the bottom reaches more than 2500 metres in depth. The continental slope is crossed by many submarine canyons in the area. Other important oceanographic and climate parameters contribute to make this area unique for marine life.

Thanks to all these features the Ligurian basin is considered to have the highest presence of cetaceans in the whole Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, in 1999, the governments of Italy, France and the Principality of Monaco signed an agreement that sanctions the establishment of a marine protected area, called the International Pelagos Sanctuary.

The area, which extends for 96,000Km2 houses regularly 8 cetacean species: fin whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, pilot whale, common dolphin, Risso’s dolphin and Cuvier’s beaked whale. Mobula rays, sea turtles and several marine bird species are regularly present too.

Participants will assist researchers while working on board dedicated research vessels. Interns will be involved 5/6 days a week, 6-8 (up to 10-12 in case of fieldwork) hours/day (depending on fieldwork or office work), and also during the weekend if the weather is favourable. The programme is highly flexible and with possible last-minute changes due to the changeable weather. The programme is not scheduled in advance, and the activities for the next day are often communicated in the evening (before 21:30). The coordinators make every possible effort to switch between field and office work during the week, but this is not always possible due to the weather constraints. It can happen, for example, to go to the field 4 days a week or the opposite, to stay in the office for a whole week. *The month of September has a different programme. See below for details

Fieldwork

● BOAT-BASED SURVEYS: Interns will help and participate in collecting different kinds of data and actively searching for animals. Usually, a survey lasts 5 to 8 hours (rarely up to 12), and it requires the use of binoculars for most of its duration. To facilitate the search for wildlife, it is required to stand while using binoculars. Fieldwork will help participants gain first-hand experience in collecting data on free-ranging cetaceans and improve skills in cetacean boat-based surveys. Surveys are weather-dependent, and a monthly number is impossible to know in advance.

● BOAT MAINTENANCE: Interns will regularly help with refuelling. They will also help with the maintenance, cleaning and reorganising of the zodiac during the month.

● LAND-BASED SURVEYS: only in Winter, Spring and Autumn. It consists of the collection of environmental data, marine traffic, and dolphin presence from two different strategic points in Imperia.

To facilitate the interns’ stay, accommodation will be provided in an apartment located very close to both the office and the harbour. The flat includes a spacious living/dining area with a double sofa bed (used by one intern), a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, and two bedrooms (one with 1 single bed + 1 bunk bed to host up to 3 interns; one, generally for the intern coordinator, with a double bed) and will be shared by the interns and the intern coordinator.

Physical Demands

Participants must be of good health, be able to stand several hours on a boat (up to 10-12) and under the sun or harsh weather, have good physical fitness, be able to lift/carry 15 kg, be able to walk without difficulty, be comfortable on boats in nearshore/offshore waters, be able to swim and work in harsh weather conditions at times.
Boat-based surveys and the use of binoculars at sea might cause seasickness.
Before fieldwork, a briefing about tasks and safety rules will be provided to the interns. Interns must bear in mind that, throughout the month, both during office and field-based activity, they will be working as part of a team and in nearby/small spaces. Project participants must inform our Team of any possible physical/psychological issues that might interfere with these activities during the selection process, or before their arrival if the condition occurred after the selection.

Participants are required to carry health insurance valid in the European Union. Remember to check if your insurance covers medical expenses in a foreign country. It is the intern’s choice to decide what to cover, we suggest purchasing insurance that includes medical and emergency travel expenses, luggage and personal effects, money, personal accidents, personal liability, cancellation and curtailment, rescue and assistance, hijack and travel delay. During the Association activities, volunteers are also covered by Delfini del Ponente Insurance.

Data Policy

All data, pictures and videos taken during our activities (Delfini del Ponente Research Project and whale watching tours) are property of Delfini del Ponente. It is not possible to take pictures and/or videos during our fieldwork without a DDP member’s permission!