Since 2001, the Sea Watch Foundation has been running, with funds from the EU Interreg project and the Countryside Council for Wales, research projects in Cardigan Bay aimed at monitoring the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of the Bay and Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Line-transect distance-sampling surveys have also been conducted in the Celtic Deep and St George’s Channel since 2004 with the aim of describing distribution and abundance of common dolphins and baleen whales. Throughout these years, a number of MSc and BSc students have participated in our on-going studies collecting data for their thesis, or analyzing those already archived by Sea Watch in previous years.
Several MSc or BSc project are offered each year.
In addition, other projects can be considered if they fit within the current research program. The students are under the supervision of one or more Sea Watch staff, depending on the project selected. Sea Watch offers places on the research boat and access to the equipment used for the data collection, as well as space in the Welsh office with free internet connection. Our databases are available for the students, in exchange for which they are required to help with the data collection and inputting on computer during the field season.
If you are interested in applying to do you MSc or BSc thesis with the Sea Watch Foundation, please contact:
Dr Peter Evans
Scientific Director Sea Watch Foundation Ewyn y Don Bull Bay Amlwch Isle of Anglesey LL68 9SD Telephone: 01407 832892 Email: peter.evans@bangor.ac.ukFor projects specifically in Cardigan Bay, contact:
Katrin Lohrengel
Email: katrin.lohrengel@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
