Applications are now open for 2025. Please note that we do NOT accept applications outside of the designated application window or for time periods not listed in the advertisement.
The Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project is based in New Quay, West Wales, and supports the conservation management of the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and grey seal populations of Cardigan Bay, monitoring their abundance, distribution, reproductive success and population structure using a combination of vessel-based, land-based and acoustic surveys.
In recent years, Sea Watch has taken on a number of aspiring marine biologists from all around the country to allow them to gain an insight into the work of a conservation charity. Sea Watch’s work experience program is open to students from GCSE level upwards and placements may last between 3 days and 2 weeks.
Work is highly weather dependent and depending on the time spent with Sea Watch, experiences will vary but most work experience students will learn about and take part in:
- Data entry
- Land based cetacean surveys
- Opportunistic surveys from wildlife boat trips
- Public awareness events
- Blog writing
The Sea Watch field season runs from April to October. Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate work experience outside this period.
The 2024 field season is divided into 4 research periods:
Period 1: 7th April – 1st June
Period 2: 2nd June-20th July
Period 3: 21st July-7th September
Period 4: 8th September-2nd November
We can accommodate 2 students for each period, please note in your application the period you are applying for, as well as the proposed dates and duration of your work experience within your chosen period.
Please be aware that we cannot provide accommodation or financial support for work experience students and are unable to supervise students outside of office hours or during lunch hour. Students under the age of 18 will require a signed consent form from a parent or guardian to allow them to take part in field work such as land based and boat based surveys.
To apply, please download the application form and return it to katrin.lohrengel@seawatchfoundation.org.uk by the 31st January 2025 with decisions being made by the end of February.
Due to the large amount of applications we receive we are unfortunately unable to give individual feedback for unsuccessful applications.
