Help me protect cetaceans with Oceanomare Delphis

Christopher Marinaccio Start Date: Jun 6, 2024 - End Date: Oct 5, 2024
  • Ischia, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

My Travel Story

by: Christopher Marinaccio Start Date: Jun 6, 2024 - End Date: Oct 5, 2024
This summer I will be volunteering my time for Italian non-profit organization Oceanomore Delphis as a Research Assistant to help preserve cetaceans and their critical habitat off the west coast of Italy.

I will be spending 3 weeks aboard the research vessel using acoustic monitoring and photo-identification methods to track and identify sperm whales, fin whales, pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, striped dolphins and the Risso’s dolphins.

I’m seeking financial help to get to the research vessel on the island of Ischia.

My goal is to raise funds simultaneously for the non-profit organization and for my travel route by donating 50% of all funds raised directly to the organization. In essence, for every $2 donated, $1 will fund Oceanomare Delphis and $1 will fund my travel to the research location.

About Oceanomare Delphis - Information from CEO & Founder Barbara Mussi, and website https://oceanomaredelphis.org/en/

What is the main goal of the Organization?

Oceanomare Delphis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea.

Simply put, our main goal is to identify critical cetacean habitats to protect them.
Our day-to-day operations help us define the population density of cetaceans residing around Ischia. This is done by:
  • estimating the size and trend of populations
  • analyzing the social structure of populations
  • studying the use of the environment and distribution in the area
  • determining the impact on cetaceans from fishing and naval traffic operations
  • describing the acoustic repertoire of cetaceans

What is the story behind the start of the organization?

We began our operations in 1991 participating in some of the first wildlife surveys in Italian seas. Barbara Mussi, the CEO and Founder of Oceanomare Delpis, decided to make the island of Ischia her base to undergo a study of cetaceans in the islands of the Pontine and Campanian archipelagos. The area had never been the subject of systematic research on marine mammals but had been noted for its particular biodiversity.

How would raising $1400 USD or more help advance the organizations goal? What would you plan to use it for?

Fundraising is critical for us. Our revenue is only generated from donors and participants staying aboard the research vessel. With an extra $1400 or more, we would use it to contribute to an upgraded camera for photo-identification data collection. Any extra would go towards the cost of fuel for our research vessel used for cetacean monitoring, and contribute to purchasing a new dingy.

To learn more about Oceanomare Delphis, visit their website https://oceanomaredelphis.org/en/

For transparency purposes, I have provided a full breakdown of my travel expenses.

Travel expense breakdown;
Flight JFK to FCO – Main Economy $1056 + Allianz Flight protection $84.42 = $1140.42
Italia Rail Train from Roma Termini – Napoli Centrale - $34 + $9 Rail Aid = $43

Alilauro Ferry from Port of Napoli to Ischia Return $52
World Nomads Travel Insurance Standard Plan = 133.07

Total travel expense $1,368.49
Total goal to raise for Oceanomare Delphis $1,368.49

Total goal $2736.98.
  • Ischia, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

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