Location
Parque natural del Estrecho, Andalusia, España.

Description
Tarifa is the most southern point of Europe’s mainland and is only 14 kilometres away from the African continent. It is located in the very middle of the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean join. Our field of research is therefore unique.

The Strait provides a great variety of food for a significant whale population.

• Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis),
• Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba),
• Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
• Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas)
• Sperm Whales (Physeter macrocephalus),
• Orcas (Orcinus orca) and
• Fin Whales (Balaenoptera physalus).

Also interesting is the migration of tuna fish between Atlantic and Mediterranean from spring to fall and that of lot of bird species between Africa and Europe. Cork-tree forests and prairies comprise the main vegetation.

Wintertime can be pretty cold (down to 7°C at night) but from October-March firmm España is closed. During summer temp. moves between 20-45 °C without any rain from May to September.

Good country roads guarantee accessibility, Tarifa is an important touristic place of the region with still a lot of nature and an existing Natural Park (of the cork-tree forests) that shall be extended, including the waters of the Strait until Morocco.

Projects: survey of the Pilot Whale population including photo identification, survey of Fin Whales migrating between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, photo identification of Bottlenose Dolphins and analysis of the data of the past 6 years.

Organisation
Puposes and goals
The foundation for information and research on marine mammals - firmm ® was originally established in Switzerland and dedicates its work to the protection of whales, dolphins and their natural habitat, the ocean. Since its founding in 1998, firmm® España has been working as a platform for the exchange of information, educational programs and scientific research in Tarifa (Andalusia) in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Understanding and fascination for marine mammals can grow and be spread out of such a platform, whose purpose is to protect and maintain the natural habitat of marine life, the oceans of this world. We therefore want to create similar platforms in various parts of the world, where scientists and those otherwise interested can work hand in hand, gathering data and information.
We want to present the results to a broad public in many different ways. The foundation is strongly interested in co-operation with governmental institutions, schools, public organisations and media.

The aims of the founders
The founders would like to show new ways of respectful and ecological approaches to the oceans and their inhabitants, so that future generations of human beings as well as animals will find an environment worthy to live in. In order to achieve that, 4 employees and about 5 volunteers work together with the president of the foundation.

Volunteer Activities
Monitoring, reception, working with animals/ ecosystems, observation, domestic activities, registration of data, working with local communities, construction work, cultural heritage, image processing, translation work, etc..

Besides our marine biologists and other personnel, volunteers from different countries, with various backgrounds and speaking at least 3 different languages help to fulfil our high standard of above-mentioned services.
Characteristics
Other volunteers present
Working in a team
Independent
Informal
Outdoor
Physical
Desk work

Guidance
No/minimal guidance (employees of the project focus on nature conservation and or research, volunteer is expected to be independent during work and time off)

Disclaimer/waiver
Please read the disclaimer

Accomodation
Apartment
Transport from accommodation to workplace is arranged

Qualifications
Age: Minimum age: 25 years old
Language: Perfect command of: German/ Spanish/ and good command of: English, others: French, Portuguese, Italian etc.
Other: Good physical condition, some environmental knowledge, experience in giving lectures, being able to swim and drive a car, mental independence.

What to bring along
Visa (if not from the EU) and passport.

Working days & hours
6-8 variable hours a day
6 days a week.

Minimum period
2-3 months, between May and October

Arrival & departure
Arrival and departure is possible at any time, should be organized by volunteers

Costs
Per months: 200-300 Euro depending on style of living
Costs included: Apartment
To be arranged by volunteer:
Airport transfer
Meals
Travel/luggage/accident insurance

Registration
Please contact at least 3 months prior to start of volunteer work: firmm98@aol.com

Information
Do you have any further questions about the project, accommodation, safety, transport, health and cancellation of a reservation, payment or other questions? www.firmm.org

firmm Headquarter
Massholderenstr. 48,
CH-8143 Stallikon,
Switzerland
Tel.: +41 01 700 15 21
fax: +41 01 700 61 40

firmm Spain
Pedro Cortés 4,
E-11380 Tarifa,
Spain
Tel.: +34 956 627 008
fax: +34 956 681 424
e-mail: firmm98@aol.com