Balearic Islands Marine Expedition

Hop aboard the Toftevaag – a beautiful wooden ketch turned into a research vessel - and join an international crew of scientists and conservation specialists that will be undertaking an acoustic and visual survey of open water species around the Balearic Islands this summer in Spain.

• Join a 6-day or 7-day marine expedition on board a reasearch vessel as part of the crew.
• Take part in a scientific effort working towards the development of a new, large scale Marine National Park in the Balearic Islands (Spain).
• Sail the turquoise waters surrounding Majorca and Cabrera Island while you learn about marine biodiversity and contribute to its conservation.

These 6-to-7 day marine expeditions are part of a road map for the design of a new, large scale Marine National Park of over 100.000 hectares in the Balearic Islands - a “Hope Spot” of Mission Blue – now officially the largest National Park in Spain.

• The islands’ surrounding waters are a hot spot of biodiversity and home to unique habitats for great pelagic species, such as sperm whales, fin whales, pilot whales, dolphins, sea turtles, tunas, sharks and seabirds.
• Alnitak's citizen science program has allowed to ensure the continuity of Toftevaag’s surveys since 1990, providing national and international frameworks with one of the most extensive scientific data sets for conservation of marine biodiversity. Volunteers make this possible by covering their share in survey costs and by actively assisting scientists in the survey work. With a ratio of 4 scientists to 8 volunteers, on-board the Toftevaag you'll be part of a team, developing fascinating science, zooming right in on the amazing marine ecosystem.
• You will participate in the photo identification of dolphins, satellite tracking of turtles and filming all creatures from the smallest plankton to the fin whale, whilst enjoying the magic of life on board a historic vessel based in the beautiful National Park of the Archipelago of Cabrera.
• Out in the open seas we are not alone, but we sail among satellites, gliders, buoys and our satellite tagged turtles. Using tagging technology, we can look closely at the marvels of the ecosystem, also monitoring different forms of pollution and risk to biodiversity. The information we collect about the ecosystem is shared with the Integrated Oceanographic Observation System of www.socib.es. 
• You do not need any sailing experience to join these expeditions. All you need is to pack light and a lot of positive team spirit and passion for the sea. Each expedition lasts 7 days.
• The dates of the Balearic Expeditions in 2019 are now available!