Ricardo Sagarminaga van BuitenMarine Biologist and Co-Founder of Alnitak
Anyone can be a guardian of the sea.
Research Expeditions in the Spanish Mediterranean
Join the Alnitak team in the Tramuntana – the spectacular northern mountainous coastline of Mallorca, and embark on a scientific expedition focusing on dolphin and sea turtle conservation. In parallel, you will actively work alongside artisanal fishermen and other sailors to improve fishing techniques and minimise the threat of ghost gear. When it isn’t possible to work at sea, we will be building up an old mountain house nearby, making it into our Alnitak basecamp for years to come.
Join the crew on a marine expedition destined to monitoring the Western Mediterranean’s iconic species such as dolphins and marine turtles, as well as learn as much as possible first-hand about the threats that they face, like ghost fishing and plastic pollution. In 2024, our expeditions focus on the northern coast of Mallorca, where the Mediterranean meets the imposing Tramuntana mountain range, a World Heritage Site (UNESCO).
This is a truly immersive experience: you will live and work alongside the Alnitak crew for a week, spending entire days at sea when the conditions allow, often above depths of over 1000 metres, a prime habitat for species such as striped and Risso’s dolphins or loggerhead turtles.
The marine species studied by Alnitak are legally protected by EU legislation and numerous other multilateral agreements. Still, there are major knowledge gaps, plus a need to monitor management strategies. Even Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are only pieces of paper unless effective measures are in place, and these measures are constantly revised. Improvements are proposed based on data that teams such as Alnitak collect.
This work contributes to Alnitak’s MEDTOP (Mediterranean Top Pelagics) database, collecting information on whales, dolphins, turtles and human impacts since 1990. However, the main focus is the “OASIS” project, which looks at sea turtle ecology, ghost gear presence and effects, and developing a sustainable fishing scheme alongside artisanal fishers.
Building knowledge on pelagic species and their threats will allow the organisation to inform policymakers and reach out to stakeholders to try to find real-life solutions on a large scale.
On bad sea days, together with the Alnitak team you will spend time at the “Can Canyelles” rustic house in the mountains nearby, for theoretical presentations, data entry, and improving the building so it can become an Alnitak base camp for years to come, among other activities.
Alnitak’s successful citizen science program has seen over 4000 volunteers, scientists and collaborators from 102 nations come on board and be a part of the quest for marine conservation that began in 1989. In 2024, you can add your contribution to this ongoing mission.
Endeavour for the Protection of Dolphins, Whales and Sea Turtles
OceanCare endeavours to improve the management and conservation status of dolphins, whales and sea turtles in the Mediterranean and, therefore, cooperates with Spanish partner organisation Alnitak’s programs.
This 2024, OceanCare and Alnitak are looking for volunteer research assistants who wish to actively participate in research and conservation.
Programme Info and Booking
Participation cost covers Alnitak membership and includes living on site in Can Canyelles, time and costs associated with conducting research, three meals a day included, and all the training required.
Alnitak welcomes those who have never experienced working at Sea, and practically any age. Expect early starts and some moderate physical work – this isn’t a pleasure cruise!
Course language: English as a first language, Spanish as a second.