Manta Bowl Research and Conservation Project Contact: [email protected] Manta Bowl Research and...
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Website: www.lamave.org Contact: [email protected] Manta Bowl Research and Conservation Project Who is LAMAVE? The Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) is the largest independent non-profit non-government organization dedicated to the conservation of marine megafauna and the marine environment in the Philippines. We strive for conservation through scientific research, policy and education. Introduction to the project: Manta Bowl is the most famous manta dive in the Philippines, where both species of manta ray occur. Reef manta (Manta alfredi newly classified as Mobula alfredi) is the most common, seen daily around the shoal while the oceanic mantas (Manta birostris newly classified as Mobula birostris) are seen occasionally. This sea mount, located offshore the island of Ticao (Masbate) is a reported cleaning station and a feeding area, where many filter feeder species like whale sharks and devil rays are also regularly seen. Despite the importance of Manta bowl for the conservation of these species, no protection is granted to this incredible site. The project goal is to provide support data on the manta presence and habitat use to the local governments, stakeholders and authorities to push for the protection of this habitat and the further development of sustainable marine wildlife tourism interactions. The Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines is setting up a long term monitoring project in Manta Bowl in collaboration with the Ticao Island Resort. The project will pilot in the month of August 2017 where survey Project: Manta Bowl Research and Conservation Project. Season dates: Municipality of Ticao, Masbate, Philippines Season dates: 1 st August 2017 to 31 st August 2017 Cost per month: $800 USD Key Requirements: Scuba diving certification PADI Rescue (or equivalent) with at least 100 dives and experience in strong current, one month commitment
Transcript of Manta Bowl Research and Conservation Project Contact: [email protected] Manta Bowl Research and...
Website:www.lamave.orgContact:[email protected]
MantaBowlResearchandConservationProject
WhoisLAMAVE?TheLargeMarineVertebratesResearchInstitutePhilippines(LAMAVE)isthelargestindependentnon-profitnon-governmentorganizationdedicatedtotheconservationofmarinemegafaunaandthemarineenvironmentinthePhilippines.Westriveforconservationthroughscientificresearch,policyandeducation.
Introductiontotheproject:MantaBowlisthemostfamousmantadiveinthePhilippines,wherebothspeciesofmantarayoccur.Reef
manta(MantaalfredinewlyclassifiedasMobulaalfredi)isthemostcommon,seendailyaroundtheshoalwhiletheoceanicmantas(MantabirostrisnewlyclassifiedasMobulabirostris)areseenoccasionally.Thisseamount,locatedoffshoretheislandofTicao(Masbate)isareportedcleaningstationandafeedingarea,wheremanyfilterfeederspecieslikewhalesharksanddevilraysarealsoregularlyseen.DespitetheimportanceofMantabowlfortheconservationofthesespecies,noprotectionisgrantedtothisincrediblesite.Theprojectgoalistoprovidesupportdataonthemantapresenceandhabitatusetothelocalgovernments,stakeholdersandauthoritiestopush for the protection of this habitat and the further development of sustainable marine wildlife tourisminteractions.TheLargeMarineVertebratesResearchInstitutePhilippinesissettingupalongtermmonitoringprojectinMantaBowlincollaborationwiththeTicaoIslandResort.TheprojectwillpilotinthemonthofAugust2017wheresurvey
Project:MantaBowlResearchandConservationProject.
Seasondates:MunicipalityofTicao,Masbate,Philippines
Seasondates:1stAugust2017to31stAugust2017
Costpermonth:$800USD
KeyRequirements:ScubadivingcertificationPADIRescue(orequivalent)withatleast100divesandexperienceinstrongcurrent,onemonthcommitment
techniques and equipment will be standardized and built and the shoal explored and mapped. Active (e.gUnderwaterVisualSurvey)andpassive(e.gRemoteUnderwaterVideoSurvey)surveyswillbeconductedacrossthebowlandnearbyareas.
Training/whatyoulearn
• Equipmentmaintenanceandpreparation• Dataentryandcleanup• DeploymentofremoteunderwatervideobySCUBAdiving• CollectingmantarayphotoidentificationbySCUBAdiving(whenpossible)• Enhancecitizenscienceengagementofdiveoperators• Givepresentationaboutmantaconservationinlocaldiveshops• Assistingininformation,education&communicationcampaigns
Dailylife/TypicalWorkingDay
• 6:00am-Upandready• 7:00am–Leavingtothestudysite(maximumtimeatsea8hours)• 9:00am–dive• lunch(ontheboat)• 12:00–dive• 1:00pm–backtobase:equipmentmaintenanceanddataentry• 4:00pm–Freetime• 7:00pm-dinner
VolunteerRequirementsPleaseensureyoumeetthefollowingcriteria:
Equipmentrequired RecommendedgeneralpackingList• MinimumAge:20• Scuba diving certification: PADI Rescue (or
equivalent) with at least 100 dives andexperienceinstrongcurrent.
• Willingtocommitforafullmonth(timetableplannedontheone-monthfreevisa)
• Diving equipment not provided (if necessaryavailableforrentfromlocaldiveshop)
o mask, regulators, BCD, fins, divecomputer)(also available for rentlocally)
o Safetydevices(SMB,whistle,signallingmirror,NautilusLifelineGPSVHFsafetyradiopersonaloravailableforrent)
• Towel• Smalldrybag/ziplockbagforelectrical• Long(smart/jeans)trousers(forformal
occasions)• Sunglasses• Sunscreen(notallowedwhensnorkellingor
diving)• Insectrepellent• Casualclothing• Swimwear• Raincoat• Waterproofcamera(fordaysoff)• ProtectiveHat
InsuranceAllvolunteersarerequiredtohavemedicalinsurance.Thestudysitesfortheprojectsareoftenbeinremoteareas.AllmedicalservicesinthePhilippinesneedtobepaidforbyindividualvolunteers.CostsvaryfromPHP50foraconsultationatthelocalhospitaltoPHP8000forafullCTIscaninmosthospitals.Volunteersthatcontractacontagiousdisease,thatmayputothervolunteersandstaffatrisk,maybeaskedtodepartfromtheprojectstudysiteforhealthreasonsuntilappropriatehealthclearance.
DressCode
• Personaldivinginsurance• Willingtoworklongandirregularhoursoutat
sea• Adaptable to very basic amenities and share
accommodation• FluentinEnglish• Able towork independently and as part of a
team• Stronginterestinmarinemegafauna,research
andconservation
• Thin,longsleevedtopsandtrousersrecommendedtoprotectagainstbitinginsects
• PersonalFirstAidKit• Torch
VolunteerscontinuetorepresentLAMAVE,evenafterworkisfinished,therefore,weenforceadresscodethatisconsistentandinoffensivetothelocalcommunityandculture.Shorts-hotpantsandveryshort-shortsareforbidden.Shortsmustbeatleastmidthighinlength.Shortsthatreachjustabovethekneearepreferred.Tanktops-“wife-beater”and/orlowslungsleevelessshirtsexposingmidsectionareforbidden.Pleaseseeexamplesbelow:
The$800amonthContributionBeinganon-profitorganization,werequestacontributionof$800USDpermonthtohelpcovertheproject’scosts:food,accommodation(shared),scientificdivingandresearchgear.aLAMAVEuniform).TheteamwillbebasedatTicaoIslandResortontheIslandofTicao,Masbate.
Traveltoandfromthesiteisnotincluded,butwillbecoordinatedwiththeteamleader(meetingpoint,schedules).
OthercostsVisas
Onenteringthecountrymostvisitorsareallowedtostayinthecountryfor30dayswithoutapplyingforavisa,butpleasecheckthetermsforyournationality.Thetimetableofthisprojectaimstomatchwiththisone-monthfreevisaperiod.However,ifyouplantostayinthecountryafteryourfreevisaisoveryoumusttraveltoanImmigrationofficetorenewyourvisa.Thefirstrenewallastsfor30daysandcostsapproximately3000PHP.Ifyouplantostayevenlonger,youwillneedtorenewagainandwillberequiredtopurchaseani-card(atouristidentitycard)withyourvisa.Thiswillcostapproximately6000PHPforthei-cardanda1-monthextension.*Pleasenotethisinformationwascorrectasofthe30thJune2017andmaybesubjecttochange.
RulesandregulationsGroundsfordismissal
Volunteersmaybeaskedtoleavetheprojectiftheydisplayinappropriatebehaviourorattitudethatdisruptswork,thelivingenvironmentorportraysanegativeimagefortheorganization.Groundsfordismissalcanalsobeasaresultofreleaseofsensitiveinformationtomedia/socialmediaplatforms.DismissalisatthePrincipalInvestigatorsdiscretion.Theuseofdrugsduringtheplacementisprohibitedandwillresultinimmediatedismissal.
Daysoff
Eachteammemberwillbegivenadedicateddayoffeachweektorelaxortravel.DaysoffcanbespenttakinginthemanywondersanduniquecultureofthePhilippines.
Holidaysandvisitors
YouwillbecontractedtoassistLAMAVEfora1month,thereforeshouldyouwishtohavetimetoexplorethePhilippinesfurther(whichwestronglyadviseyoudo!)pleaseplantimebeforeorafteryourstaywithus,asduringthemonthplacementwedonotallowvolunteerstotakeadditionaldaysoff.
HowtoApplyEmailusaC.Vandacoverletterspecifyingscubadivingcertificationandnumberofdiveslogged,tovolunteer@lamave.orgwithMANTAintheemailsubject.Formoreinformation,[email protected]
Rememberto:
• Statewhichprojectyouareapplyingforintheemailsubjecte.g.Manta• Telluswhyyouwanttojointheteamandanyotherrelevantinformationinyourcoveringletter.
