Useful Information for Albanian sea Turtle project volunteers

Athens Stay
The nature of the work during the stay in Athens, mostly consists of office based duties for preparation of the expedition (letter writing, computer orientated tasks etc).

Free accommodation at the office consists of a small private guest room with a single bed and fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. Sheets and Towels are provided. The office is right in the centre of Athens and close to many historical sites and all amenities.

Working days are 6-8 hours per day Monday to Friday, with weekends free. Good English language skills are important.

Expedition Period
During the research period the volunteer will gain significant experience on environmental related issues, research, and boat handling. The volunteer will assist the research team on their tasks. Please read the general responsibilities section below.
Can I have a description of my duties?
Your tasks include; scientific observation data entry, sea turtle observation and identification from the boat, handling the ropes and electrical anchor, steering the boat, cleaning indoor and outdoor boat areas, docking operations, maintenance operations, meal preparation, cleanup, logistic support (e.g. ordering of food supplies, team and accommodation essentials etc). Scuba diving or snorkelling skills, are a strong advantage.

How many people will be living on the boat?
Six, there are four cabins (with two beds each) and two toilets with showers. You have to be prepared to share your cabin with someone (same sex).

In case of health or accident problems what are my options?
You should issue your own travel insurance. There will be a first aid pharmacy on board but for more serious problems people are advised to visit the closest Medical Centre. We shall always keep radio contact with the port police, health centres etc. If you are facing serious health problems please DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS POSTING.

What is the weather over there?
In Albania we may face rough seas. Do you get easily seasick? If you do, please DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS PLACEMENT. We most certainly will have to face rain and cold. You should be prepared for bad weather conditions (warm clothes etc). When the weather is very bad, the boat will stay in the port.

Is there any physical labour involved with my job responsibilities?
There is no physical labour involved that a normal healthy individual cannot handle. Living on a boat surely implies more risks than living on land but you will not get involved in any dangerous activities.

PROJECT NAME:
Rapid Assessment Survey of important marine turtle and monk seal habitats in the coastal area of Albania

I. INTRODUCTION:

The Strategic Action Programme for the Conservation of Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean Region (SAP BIO) is a logical base for implementing the new Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean Sea (1995). The SAP BIO is providing the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Conventions, the international and national organisations, the NGOs, the donors and all the other actors involved in the protection and management of the marine and coastal biodiversity a framework to intervene and to implement concrete and coordinated actions at national and regional level. Furthermore, SAP BIO complies with the approaches of the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, which recommend concrete actions.

The Albanian government has identified and prepared four National Action Plans (NAPs) in the framework of the SAP BIO. One on these NAP aim at the proclamation of the Marine National Park of Karaburuni area, which will be the first Marine Park in Albania.

Albania is also a signatory country to the Millennium Declaration and one of the Millennium Development Goals is to “Ensure environmental sustainability” through integration of “the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes reverse the loss of environmental resources and maintain biological diversity”.

MEDASSET – The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles – is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1988, working for the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats throughout the Mediterranean. It has been involved in conservation and scientific research programmes, public awareness, environmental education and lobbying decision-makers.

II. OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Project title: Rapid Assessment Survey of important marine turtle and monk seal habitats in the coastal area of Albania

II.1. The project aims to improve the protection of the marine and coastal biodiversity of the Albanian coast and promote the establishment of the Karaburuni Marine National Park.
More specifically it aims:
- To survey and clarify the sea turtle status at sea (feeding grounds) in the Patok and Karaburuni areas thus improving the protection of marine turtles.
- To identify, monitor and map potential monk seal shelters along the South coast of Albania.
- To build partnerships and networks of local stakeholders to support and strengthen community and NGO capacity to address environmental problems, promote sustainable development by developing demonstration activities to ensure environmental sustainability; by awareness-raising, training and networking of the population groups and social and economic actors; and to establish linkages between them and groups around the Mediterranean basin.

II.2. It is expected that:
- Through the rapid assessment survey of the geomorphology, fauna and flora of the benthos in the Patok area, qualitative and quantitative data will be gathered to explain why sea turtles frequent this area, thus assisting in tracing migratory patterns and in developing protective legislation. With the participation of local scientists and university students and through demonstration and training activities, scientific expertise will be transferred and linkages between them and other scientific institutions around the Mediterranean basin will be strengthened.
- Through the parallel implementation of an environmental awareness programme with the active participation of local volunteers and NGOs’ representatives, the environmental sensitisation and awareness of local people and fishermen and the capacity of local NGOs to generate awareness – raising programmes will be increased and networking with international NGOs and other social and economic actors will be improved.
- Through a rapid assessment of the status of Monk Seals along the Albanian South coastline, monk seal shelters will be mapped, potential habitats will be identified and a contribution to the sensitisation of the local people to the protection of the species will be achieved.

III. ACTIVITIES

OBLIGATION OF THE ALBANIAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT (MOE):
To provide logistic support and the necessary research and diving permits,
To revise and validate the final report of the Rapid Assessment Survey of important marine turtle and monk seal habitats in the coastal area of Albania.

OBLIGATIONS OF MEDASSET:
To conduct the Rapid Assessment Survey according to the above terms of references and present the results of the survey in the form of written report in English language within the agreed schedule.

III.1. Environmental aspects

A. Rapid assessment survey of the Monk Seal shelters.
1. Previous information gathered from local fishermen surveys (Dedei, Z., 2004, unpublished) will be updated using Questionnaires and interviews with local fishermen. Based on that information, areas of interest (caves with open water or underwater entrance) will be identified. Using a small inflatable boat, the caves will be visited. Using updated survey data sheets (Functioning of the Greek Base of the Monk seal Register, (1995), Elliniki Etairia, EU Contract 4-3010(92)7829) potential monk seal shelters will be identified and mapped using GIS techniques.
2. Data will be collected regarding the presence of other important mega fauna (dolphins and whales) during the research period.

B. Rapid assessment survey of the sea turtle population in Karaburuni and Patok areas:
1. The fieldwork will focus on Rapid Underwater Site Assessments (RUSA) at various locations in the Karaburuni and Patok areas based on the information gathered from fishermen surveys (Questionnaires and interviews with local fishermen) and previous scientific data (see references in project proposal). A series of random dives will be conducted at different locations in selected areas. In case we have more than 60 sea turtle direct sightings in any of the study areas then the Line Transect method (Buckland et all 1993) will be applied to determine the sea turtles population size (Distance 5.0 software) in the specific area.
2. A photographic and video record of turtles encountered will be kept, e.g. underwater filming of behaviour.
3. The project will also carry out a feasibility study regarding satellite tracking of sea turtles from Albanian foraging grounds back to their nesting beaches. The reverse of current studies that track nesting turtles to their foraging and over-wintering areas. It is well known (Haxhiu, I. various reports) that sea turtles are accidentally being caught on a regular basis in the nets of Albanian fishermen. We will examine the possibility of a joint satellite tracking programme between Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn”, at the Aquarium of Naples, Italy and University of Tirana (Prof. Idriz Haxhiu).
4. The programme will try to set up procedures for dealing with the transfer of injured sea turtles to the “Turtle Point’ Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Naples (Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn”, at the Aquarium of Naples, Italy).

C. Rapid assessment survey of the benthos in Karaburuni and Patok areas.
1. Benthic land formations and composition of the seabed in relation to marine flora and fauna, pollution etc (recorded by expert divers and sonar equipment applying GIS techniques), aiming to produce draft maps in order to compare feeding habits with geographical formations.
2. Other biotic (benthic fauna and flora) and abiotic (sea temperature) parameters will also be recorded.

III.2. Sociological aspects
Through the production and distribution of educational leaflets, scientific demonstration techniques, exchange of expertise, discussions with stakeholders (fishermen, local authorities, NGO representatives, students, etc.):
- public awareness will be raised,
- training of the population groups and social and economic actors will be achieved,
- linkages between them and groups around the Mediterranean basin will be improved thus ensuring environmental sustainability.

III.3. Geographical areas:
The rapid assessment survey of the status of Monk Seal shelters will cover the South coast of Albania from Butrint National Park to Karaburuni Peninsula. The Karaburuni gulf and Patok lagoon will be surveyed to assess the status of the sea turtles at sea (potential feeding and over wintering grounds). Fishermen surveys (information collection) and environmental awareness will be conducted to fishing ports and villages (Saranda, Vlore, Shengjin, Porto Romano etc) where the boat will moor to spend the night.
The project will begin from the island of Corfu heading to Saranada and the Butrint National Park moving up to Karaburuni and then to Patok study areas.

III.4. Logistics:
The rapid assessment survey for identification and monitoring of sea turtle foraging grounds in the Karaburuni and Patok areas and of monk seal status, is planned to take place over 30 days, using a boat with the capacity to house 10 (ten) people. The team will include two or three marine biologists (sea turtle, Monk seal and benthos specialists), Albanian-speaking scientists, local and international volunteers. Data on sea turtles and monk seals will be collected during the day, leaving the evening for environmental awareness campaigning and information collection (Questionnaire surveys) in the local ports and towns. During the course of the project, the boat will be used as accommodation and field study base.

III.5. Other Stakeholders involved in the project:
- University of Tirana (will provide local scientific expertise and students),
- Local NGOs (will be involved with the public awareness programme),
- GEF/Small Grant Programme (will cover the expenses for the activity at the national level and the cost of local experts),
- Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn”, at the Aquarium of Naples, Italy (will be involved on the establishment of procedures for dealing with the transfer of injured sea turtles and satellite tracking programme).

IV- DURATION

The project will take place from the 15th October 2005 to 15/20th November 2005.
The rapid assessment survey of the Monk Seal shelters is expected to last three days. It is expected that the Karaburuni gulf will be surveyed for twelve days and the Patok lagoon for five days. An allowance has been made for ten extra days for sailing and to adjust for unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, which would cause delays in our work.