Associazione Me.Ri.S. partners with the IMarEST to advance cetacean protection
Associazione Mediterraneo Ricerca e Sviluppo (Me.Ri.S.), a research organisation centred around the protection of marine mammals and their environment, has partnered with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) to further cetacean research and education.
Associazione Me.Ri.S. is a non-profit organisation that conducts research activities relating to cetaceans in the water off Agrigento Province, Italy, into the Sicily Channel, monitoring cetacean population numbers to improve conservation efforts and both quantify and reduce anthropogenic impacts on marine mammals inhabiting the region.
In addition to research, it also promotes education and scientific training through research expeditions, training courses, internships and university theses. The association also encourages wider public engagement through citizen science, facilitating ecotourism activities (whale and dolphin watching), offering adults and children the opportunity to participate in recording sightings of cetaceans and other marine species. These activities are intended to disseminate knowledge of the sensitivities of these animals and the wider problems of the marine environment.
The partnership will look to align such projects with the IMarEST’s Marine Mammals Special Interest Group (SIG) to promote cetacean research, while also contributing to both the Associazione Me.Ri.S. and the IMarEST’s voluntary commitments towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14.
The IMarEST’s NGO Partnership scheme is open to all non-governmental organisations operating in the marine science and conservation sector and supports capacity building and professional development through access to complimentary membership benefits, knowledge-sharing, online promotion and free membership for volunteers. They are designed to help support the work of NGOs to positively contribute towards the delivery of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (in particular SDG14 Life Below Water).
To find out more on the benefits of an NGO Partnership, please visit the Marine Partners web page or contact [email protected].