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world wide web currently offers a rapidly expanding library of information on
whales and dolphins by cetacean research, welfare and conservation groups. The
following sites, which we have tried to list for convenience by category, are
amongst the CRRU's favourites, operated by friends, colleagues and all-round wonderful
folk!
Categories: - UK-based
Cetacean Organisations
- International
Cetacean Organisations
- Other Miscellaneous Marine
Mammal Sites
- Marine Mammal
Rescue Groups
- Other
Animal Welfare / Marine Conservation Sites
- Kid's
Sites
- Scottish
Conservation Organisations
- Research
Project Opportunities
UK-based Cetacean Organisations
Biscay
Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP)
A voluntary research organisation that
has been studying cetaceans in the Bay of Biscay and English Channel since 1995.
http://www.biscay-dolphin.org.uk Hebridean
Whale & Dolphin Trust (HWDT)
Established in 1994, HWDT is a registered
charity dedicated to the conservation of whales and dolphins in the waters off
of West Scotland. Over 24 species of cetacean inhabit this region, and HWDT has
pioneered research into these populations and the threats that they face. Their
website features information on research and education projects, articles anbout
cetacean conservation, updates of cetacean sightings and detailed fact sheets
about a variety of whale and dolphin species.
http://www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk Organisation
Cetacea (ORCA)
This site is dedicated to the growing network of voluntary
observers that collect valuable information on cetaceans around the UK, in the
Bay of Biscay and further afield. It provides a focus for learning about whale
and dolphin identification and publishes news on the latest sightings (care of
its popular UKCetnet listserver). Membership funds and sightings information go
towards raising the profile of cetacean conservation, publication of the renowned
Biscay Bird and Cetacean Report and simply promoting the enjoyment of sharing
experiences with other ocean-going naturalists.
http://www.orcaweb.org.uk
Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)
The Sea Mammal Research Unit is
a University Unit of the Natural Environment Research Council, located at the
University of St Andrews. The site provides extensive scientific information on
issues such as population monitoring, individual variation, marine mammal conservation,
advances in research methods etc. It also includes a list of SMRU publications.
http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk Cetacean
Society, Guernsey
The official web-site of the Cetacean Section of La
Societe Guernesiaise, providing up-to-date information on sightings and strandings
from around the Channel Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark and Herm.
Also featured are sections on species identification, news, reviews, a gallery,
and much much more.
http://www.ci-dolphins.org.uk The
Sea Watch Foundation
The Sea Watch Foundation aims to achieve better conservation
of whales and dolphins in the seas around Britain and Ireland by involving the
public in scientific monitoring of populations. Created in 1991 by Dr Peter Evans,
the group produces educational material informing and lobbying for better environmental
protection. The site informs about the Foundation, its aims, projects and its
work. Also contains very good downloadable information about cetaceans in UK and
Irish waters.
http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk
Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)
WDCS is perhaps
the world's most active charity today, dedicated to the conservation and welfare
of cetaceans. This elegant site features conservation, research and education
projects and campaigns, plus some opinions about how to deal with cetaceans.
http://www.wdcs.org Aberdeen
University Lighthouse Field Station
The Lighthouse Field Station is located
in Cromarty, where it provides a base for the Department of Zoology's long-term
studies of the ecology of harbour seals and bottlenose dolphins in Scotland's
Moray Firth. The site provides information on all the research carried out from
the Field Station, and includes lists of publications and abstracts. The main
Zoology Department site (http://www.abdn.ac.uk/zoology/) provides information
on related research in Aberdeen, and information on undergraduate and postgraduate
courses and research opportunities.
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/zoology/lighthouse/ Gower
Marine Mammal Project
The GMMP is a voluntary project based in South Wales.
This site details the group's acoustic research activities with harbour porpoises
in in the Bristol Channel - well worth a browse.
http://www.gmmp.org.uk Shetland
Sea Marine Mammal Group (SSMG)
Established in 1993, the SSMG co-ordinate
and collect records of sea mammals in Shetland waters and publish an annual report
on cetaceans and a regular newsletter covering all aspects of cetaceans
in Shetland.
http://www.wildlife.shetland.co.uk/marine/seamammalgroup.html
International Cetacean Organisations (alphabetically listed) American
Cetacean Society
The oldest whale conservation group in the world. Founded
in 1967, it is a non-profit, volunteer membership organisation with regional U.S.
chapters and members in 41 countries. ACS works to protect whales, dolphins, porpoises,
and their habitats through education, conservation and research. The site provides
information on ACS activities and on its journal, "Whalewatcher".
http://www.acsonline.org Antarctic
Wildlife Research Unit (AWRU)
The site describes the ecological research
being done by AWRU on marine mammals and marine birds in Australia, the Southern
Ocean and Antarctica. The website includes contact details, profiles on staff
and students at the AWRU, details of the current research programmes, links to
collaborating institutions, recent publications and links to funding sources.
http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/awru/AWRU.htm European
Cetacean Society (ECS)
The largest European association of whale and dolphin
scientists, ECS aims to exchange information between dolphin and whale researchers
inside and outside of Europe. Whilst basically a scientific organisation, many
members are just interested in whales and dolphins without being professional
biologists.
http://www.europeancetaceansociety.eu Groupe
de Recherche sur les Cétacés (GREC)
Located in Antibes (France),
GREC is a small, non-profit, independent research organisation conducting field
research (using visual and acoustic surveys) in the Mediterranean & French
Polynesia. Written in both english and french, the site provides extensive literature
on the group's current and long-term research activities led by distinguished
cetologist Alexandre Gannier. Check out the gallery section featuring more than
20 Mediterannean cetacean species...
http://www.cetaces.org Irish
Whale and Dolphin Group
Dedicated to the conservation and better understanding
of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Irish waters through study, education and
interpretation.
http://www.iwdg.ie Marine
Mammal Research Program (US)
The site of the famous Texas A&M University
at Galveston. Description, personnel, projects, and publication list. One of the
places that made the history of cetacean research.
http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/mmrp Minke
Whale Research (Great Barrier Reef, Australia)
Southern Hemisphere research
into the annual winter migration of dwarf minke whales.
http://www.minkewhale.org Mote
Marine Laboratory (US)
Not only cetaceans at Mote. The Mote Aquarium,
together with the laboratory's educational programs, is intended to help make
the marine world more understandable and accessible to the public. It includes
pages on cetacean rehabilitation programmes, bottlenose dolphin "Gulliver" impressive
travels etc.
http://www.marinelab.sarasota.fl.us OrcaLab
Orcalab is a land-based whale research station nestled against the evergreen
forest of Hanson Island in the waters of the "Inside Passage" of Northern Vancouver
Island in British Columbia, Canada. Its purpose is long-term study of the orcas
which inhabit this area and evaluation of human impacts on them.
http://www.orcalab.org ORES
Foundation for Marine Environment Research
Led by Canadian zoologist and
behaviourist Ned Lynas, ORES is a dynamic international research organisation
investigating the ecology and habitat conditions of whales, dolphins and porpoises
in Canadian waters. Specifically, the group is interested in the feeding and foraging
techniques of rorquals and their population ecology, especially minke whales,
through a self-developed identification method based on natural markings.
http://www.ores.org
Protection of the Amazon River Dolphin
A site dedicated to ensuring
the survival of the wonderful pink dolphins that inhabit the River Amazon and
its tributaries from Bolivia and Peru through to Columbia and Brazil.
http://www.isptr-pard.org/index.html Sarasota
Dolphin Research Program (US)
The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program conducts
high-quality scientific research and provides training and educational opportunities.
It focuses on the biology, behaviour, ecology, health, and population dynamics
of coastal bottlenose dolphins.
http://www.sarasotadolphin.org Sea
Shepherd Conservation Society (US)
On the front lines, defending the world's
marine mammals. Headed by Captain Paul Watson, this controversial anti-whaling
group believes in direct action to save the whales.
http://www.seashepherd.org Society
for Marine Mammalogy (US)
The home page of Society for Marine Mammalogy
contains a list of current officers, constitution and by-laws, information about
their journal (Marine Mammal Science), a membership application form, recent issues
of the SMM Newsletter, and Presidential letters.
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm Spanish
Cetacean Society (in Spanish)
La SEC es la Sociedad Española de Cetáceos
y nace como tal el 26 de mayo de 1999. El principal objetivo de la Sociedad es
aunar los esfuerzos y fomentar la cooperación de todos los investigadores y organizaciones
no gubernamentales que operan en el territorio español en el campo de la investigación
de mamíferos marinos y tortugas marinas. La SEC tiene como fines el estudio, conservación
y divulgación de los cetáceos y otras especies marinas y su hábitat. Para ello
promoverá la investigación, las actividades de conservación, la realización de
publicaciones, conferencias y todas aquellas actividades que potencien los fines
perseguidos.
http://www.cetaceos.com Swiss
Cetacean Society
SCS is an environmental non-profit organisation devoted
to the preservation of marine mammals, holding the
conviction that the establishment
of efficient protection measures is needed to begin with a better scientific knowledge
of the animals in their natural habitat. With this aim in mind, SCS distributes
in Switzerland general information about marine mammals to the public, encourages
access to specialised training, and assures, abroad, the logistics at sea of scientific
and environmental programmes.
http://www.oenology.ch/scs/
Tethys Research Institute
Founded in 1986, the Tethys Research
Institute is a non-profit NGO dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment.
It focuses on marine animals and particularly on cetaceans inhabiting the Mediterranean
Sea, and aims at protecting its biodiversity by promoting the adoption of a precautionary
approach for the management of natural resources.
http://www.tethys.org
Vivamar
Based in Slovenia in the Northern Adriatic Sea,
this small dolphin research and conservation group are dedicated to the understanding
and protection of cetaceans in these threatened Mediterranean waters.
http://www.vivamar.org The
Wild Dolphin Project (Bahamas)
A small research organisation dedicated
to the observation and study of wild dolphins in the Bahamas. Founded in 1985
and directed by Dr. Denise Herzing, the Project focuses on documenting the life
history and communication system of both Atlantic spotted dolphins and bottlenose
dolphins. Through the use of non-invasive technology the project works with identification
photographs and video with correlated sound to study and interpret the lives of
these dolphin societies.
http://www.wilddolphinproject.org
Other Miscellaneous Marine & Marine Mammal
Sites Cetacean and Mammal Stock Photography at Foto Search
At Fotosearch you can browse freely through nearly 1200 beautiful dolphin
stock photographs. Browsing through the library is free, and there are no access
charges, registration requirements, or usage limits. The site also offers a wide
variety of cetacean, mammal, and whale stock photography.
http://www.fotosearch.com
EurOcean
A recently created focal point for information in Europe
on marine science and technology, the EurOcean Internet portal intends to be an
electronic platform of communication and information for all actors with interest
in
marine science and technology in Europe. Aiming to be the IOC regional
portal for Europe, the portal currrently provides information on marine research
infrastructures, and national and European RTD programmes.
http://www.eurocean.org International
Whaling Commission
The IWC keeps under review and revises as necessary
the measures laid down in the Schedule to the International Convention for the
Regulation of Whaling, which govern the conduct of whaling throughout the world.
These measures provide for the complete protection of certain species; designate
specified areas as whale sanctuaries, set limits on the numbers and size of whales
which may be taken, prescribe open and closed seasons and areas for whaling, and
prohibit the capture of suckling calves and female whales accompanied by calves.
The site provides information about IWC history, purpose, members, activities,
publications, and on the IWC Journal of Cetacean Research and Management.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice
Journals - Where to Publish?
A site to help select journals
when considering where to publish papers. Now includes links to over 70 journal
homepages, with easy access to instructions to authors, submission details, tables
of contents etc. http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/sh/journals.htm
Marine Species Alphabetical Listing
Extensive alphabetical listing
of online information about marine species, compiled by Wesley R. Elsberry. Lots
of links.
http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/elsberry/marspec/ms_blem.html MARMAM
(e-mail discussion list)
MARMAM is an edited e-mail discussion list focusing
on marine mammal research and conservation for the scientific community. Anyone
may subscribe to the list. Here you can find out how to subscribe, unsubscribe,
submit a message etc.
http://is.dal.ca/~whitelab/marmam.htm NetVet
Marine Mammals
Even more links
http://www.zi.biologie.uni-muenchen.de/~st2042/marine.html Oceania
Project
Based out of Byron Bay, Australia, the Oceania Project offers
research cruises to observe humpback whales around Hervey Bay, Queensland.
http://www.oceania.org.au/index.html
Phocoena.org
A superbly constructed site dedicated to porpoise
science and conservation.
http://www.phocoena.org/ Planet
Cetacea
A great little site put together by Joanna Woods, aged just 12!
http://www.planetcetacea.co.uk SaveWave
dolphin savers
Specifcally focusing on the problem of dolphin bycatch,
SaveWave is an organization offering solutions to ecological problems in the oceans.
The site provides information on the company's Dolphin Saver products, a range
of ultrasonic-emitting microcomputers that can be easily attached to commercial
fishing gear to reduce bycatch. Visit the site and see how you can help them raise
awareness of these issues.
http://www.savewave.net
Strategies for Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Science
A link with all the answers to the most frequently asked questions about this
choice of vocation. Also provides an excellent list of contacts.
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~smm/strat.htm WhaleNet
(in 5 languages)
A vast educational website focusing on whales and marine
research. WhaleNet is an interactive education project sponsored by Wheelock College
in Boston, Massachusetts with support from the National Science Foundation. Impressive
index of links.
http://whale.wheelock.edu Whalephoto
Berlin
This is a website project for whale images of various species run
Goerge McCallum. Many field researchers have beautiful images of the species they
study, but these often never reach the wider audience. The idea behind this website
is to build up a phot archive specialising in whales and marine life that will
provide a showcase for photographers/researchers; putting them directly in touch
with interested magazines, publishers etc. The website is constantly under coinstruction
with new images being added every week.
http://www.whalephoto.de The
Whale Watching Web
One of the most extensive sites on the web for everything
you ever need to know about whales and dolphins, their biology, where to see them
and how to support them.
http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale Marine
Mammal Rescue Groups British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)
Formed by divers in 1988 in response to the mass mortality of common seals
in the Wash area of East Anglia, BDMLR is a UK charity, comprised of members of
the public, who assist the CRRU in Scotland with the rescue of sick, stranded
and injured marine wildlife.
http://www.bdmlr.org.uk Centre
de Recherche sur les Mammifères Marins (CRMM)
Based in La Rochelle, France,
the CRMM is a research laboratory conducting scientific studies on marine mammals
and managing marine mammal collections. In addition to information on marine mammals
from the French coasts, the site provides guidelines for dealing with stranded
animals.
http://crmm.univ-lr.fr Centro
Studi Cetacei (CSC)
The site of the Italian Strandings Network. Now in
the English language too.
http://www.centrostudicetacei.org/English.html Marine
Animal Rescue Society (MARS)
The site includes a new message board, rescue
updates, information on how to become a member or volunteer, and links to other
marine mammal sites.
http://www.marineanimalrescue.org/ Marine
Mammal Stranding Center (US)
A private non-profit organisation based in
Brigantine, New Jersey. Since the centre was founded in 1978, it has responded
to over 2000 calls for stranded whales, dolphins, seals, and sea turtles that
washed ashore on New Jersey beaches.
http://www.mmsc.org Mote
Marine Laboratory (US)
Includes pages on cetacean rehabilitation programmes.
http://www.marinelab.sarasota.fl.us/ National
Seal Sanctuary (UK)
Based in Gweek, Cornwall, the national seal sanctuary
has over 40 years experience in seal rescue, rehabilitation and release.
http://www.sealsanctuary.co.uk
Project Jonah (NZ)
Project Jonah New Zealand was founded in
1973 and became an incorporated society in 1978. Its main purpose is to assist
in national and international efforts to save marine mammals from extinction due
to commercial whaling and over-fishing. In the last 10 years, Project Jonah has
evolved into an educational and training organisation dedicated to the protection,
rescue and promotion of marine mammals.
http://www.wildside.gen.nz/PJ/pjhome.html Royal
Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (RSPCA)
The RSPCA fights
for animal welfare in the UK and throughout the world – campaigning on a
variety of issues including issues concerning marine mammals, bycatch and
rescue.
http://www.rspca.org.uk
Scottish Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (SSPCA)
Founded in 1839, the SSPCA is Scotland's oldest and largest animal welfare
charity. It aims to prevent cruelty to animals and promote kindness and humanity
in their treatment.
http://www.scottishspca.org Seal
Rehabilitation & Research Centre (SRRC)
The SRRC has 24 regular staff
members: a vet, a biologist, an administrative department, seal nurses, information
staff, technical and scientific staff. In addition to the permanent team, there
is also room for many dozens of volunteers and trainees from all over the world.
Direct seal care is the most important activity of the centre, but scientific
research is also a highly important area of the SRRC's work. Activities abroad
have been carried out helping to care for threatened marine mammals all over the
world and providing operational assistance in disasters where marine mammals have
become victims.
http://www.zeehondencreche.nl Texas
Marine Mammal Stranding Network
A non-profit volunteer based organisation
dedicated to the understanding and conservation of marine mammals. The Network
rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals that strand along the Texas Coast, providing
food, medical treatment and 24-hour-a-day observation. The site provides information
on the group's research, education, rescue, rehabilitation and release activities.
http://www.tmmsn.org
UK Animal Rescue Directory
Directory of animal rescue web sites. Pets
and wildlife. Homes wanted and offered. Fast loading site. Regularly updated.
http://www.animalrescuers.co.uk
Other Animal Welfare / Marine Conservation Groups Born
Free Foundation
International wildlife charity working with compassion
to prevent cruelty, alleviate suffering and encourage everyone to treat all individual
animal's with respect. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and is
dedicated to the conservation of rare species in their natural habitat, and the
phasing out of traditional zoos.
http://www.bornfree.org.uk Breach
Marine Protection
Anti-whaling / marine protection campaign group, making
the world a safer place for marine creatures.
http://hometown.aol.com/breachenv/home.htm
British Marine Life Study Society (BMLSS)
Formed in June 1990,
BMLSS focuses on the marine life surrounding the British Isles, using a language
suitable for the general public. The site features news and pictures sections,
a discussion group about the marine wildlife of the North-east Atlantic Ocean
and many interesting links and reportage.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/BMLSS/homepage.htm
Care for the Wild International (CFTWI)
Founded in 1984 by
renowned wildlife vet Bill Jordan, CFTWI provides immediate aid to wildlife in
distress anywhere in the World. Working with local people and government bodies
in an attempt to alleviate the suffering of wild animals, the organisation continues
to successfully tackle the problems of suffering and exploitation of wildlife
both in Britain and abroad.
http://www.careforthewild.com Dolphin
Care UK
Check out this dedicated website aiming to help stop the needless
deaths of dolphins around our UK coastline. The website has information for anyone
interested in dolphins and their welfare and the environment.
http://www.dolphincareuk.org Environmental
Investigation Agency (EIA)
The EIA is an independent, international campaigning
organisation committed to investigating and exposing environmental crime - read
about some of their past successes!
http://www.eia-international.org Greenpeace
Dedicated to the protection of the environment by peaceful means, Greenpeace
is nothing more or less than the sum of its supporters - depending entirely on
the support of individuals to carry on with their non-violent campaigns to protect
the world we live in. Thanks to the moral and financial support of over 2.5 million
people in 158 countries, Greenpeace continues to be the world's most effective
environmental organisation.
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk International
Dolphin Watch (IDW)
A non-profit organisation, founded by Dr Horace
Dobbs, dedicated to the study and care of dolphins, especially their relationship
with humans and protection of the marine environment for the benefit of the dolphins.
http://www.idw.org International
Fund For Animal Welfare (IFAW)
IFAW was founded in 1969 to stop the cruel
commercial slaughter of harp and hood seals. Since then, the organisation has
expanded its campaigns to embrace all animals and have been recognised as "one
of the most effective organisations for animal welfare in the world"
http://www.ifaw.org International
Wildlife Coalition
A wildlife protection organisation fighting to save
endangered species, protect wild animals and preserve habitat and the environment
through wildlife rehabilitation, working for better environmental laws, wildlife
education and directly confronting the abusers of wild animals and the environment
in the courts, in the marketplace, in the corridors of power and on the ground.
http://www.iwc.org Marine
Conservation Society (MCS)
The Marine Conservation Society is one of our
leading UK charity dedicated to protecting the marine environment and its wildlife.
This site is divided into major sections: the Marine World, containing information
on species, habitats, and conservation issues; Marine Action, detailing MCS's
work, events diary, press releases and how visitors can get involved; and Support
pages, detailing how visitors can help MCS and join the group.
http://www.mcsuk.org Protect
Our Seas
Dealing with the global threats facing cetaceans, this informative
site provides extensive information on the current legislative measures for the
protection of these marine mammals. The author Sarah Hillel is a recent graduate
in Environmental Law from De Montfort University, UK, where she wrote her MSc
thesis on the legal protection of small cetaceans in UK waters.
http://www.protectourseas.netfirms.com/
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Check out the website of the
world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organisation, with
around 5 million supporters and a global network of 27 national organisations,
5 associates and 21 programme offices.
http://www.panda.org/ Scottish
Conservation Organisations Moray Firth Partnership (MFP)
A voluntary organisation made up of representitives or partners from industry,
the local authorities, conservation bodies, recreational users, local residents
and many others, all with an interest in the future well-being of the Moray Firth.
The Partnership's overall aim is to help people find ways of working together
to safeguard the Moray Firth's natural, economic and social resources, now and
for future generations.
http://www.morayfirth-partnership.org Scottish
Natural Hertitage (SNH)
Aiming to help people enjoy Scotland's natural
hertitage responsibly, understand it more fully and use it wisely so that it can
be sustained for future generations. This site outlines how SNH is organised,
what they do, where to find them etc. and also includes access to the current
Annual Report and other documentation.
http://www.snh.org.uk Scottish
Wildlife Trusts (SWT)
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is the largest of the
46 Wildlife Trusts and 52 Urban wildlife groups which make up The Wildlife Trusts
partnership, working to protect and conserve the UK's wildlife and wild places.
http://www.swt.org.uk
Seal Conservation Society (SCS)
A non-profit chartiable organisation
set up in the spring of 1996 with the aim of protecting and conserving pinnipeds
worldwide by promoting the conservation, welfare and study of the 33 living pinniped
species.
http://www.pinnipeds.org
Research Project Opportunities LEARN
(LINK Environmental & Academic Research Network)
Scotland's unique
research network - bringing together education and the environmental sector -
archives a large catalogue of project titles put forward by environmental organisations
suitable for research projects or dissertations. If you want some great work experience,
contact with an organisation and real life research work, then this site is for
you. And projects don't just cover "environmental" subjects at this
URL, but also involve politics and policy, design, IT, tourism, planning and many
more. Check it out!
www.scotlink.org/learn MARMAM
(e-mail discussion list)
An edited e-mail discussion list focusing on marine
mammal research and conservation for the scientific community. Some of the best
jobs and research internships are posted to this list and anyone may subscribe.
http://lists.uvic.ca/mailman/listinfo/marmam
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