This project is a collaborative conservation focussed volunteer project, to provide young people with the opportunity to actively contribute to the conservation of whale sharks, turtles and coral reefs as well as the education and economic development of the local population.

Utila Project update January 2012

Project Highlights

1. Whale Shark Conservation

Humans are depleting the global shark population. The number of sharks being killed for their fins is fast approaching 100 million per year. These 'finners' do not care about what sharks they kill for their fins. The only thing they care about is money, and for US$700 per kg, there is no surprise that that 800,000 tons of shark fins are being sold every year. There is the need to add to the conservation effort of sharks around the world. More research is needed to find out important information about the biology of individual shark species and how current practices will dramatically endanger their population.

In collaboration with locally run NGOs, you will be involved in the conservation of Whale Sharks, the world's largest fish. Our work includes photo ID, sexing and recording encounters. You will be also be cooperating with the Utila Whale Shark Research project. This involves digitally tagging the whale sharks to put together an extensive video and photographic library. You will also be able to work alongside the local tourism industry, obtaining their photos and sighting details in order to establish an identification database so that we can track the whale sharks.

2. Coral Reef Conservation

Coral Reefs are home to 25% of the oceans plant and animal species even though they take up less than 1% of the ocean floor. Coral reefs are one of the most productive and biologically diverse of all marine ecosystems. They are a valuable resource for tropical coastal communities providing social and cultural benefits as well as substantial commercial benefits through industries such as fisheries, tourism and recreation. 35 million acres of coral reef has been destroyed by human activity with10% of the world's reefs dying within 1999 and 2003. If this rate of destruction continues, then an estimated 70% of the world's reefs will have disappeared by 2050.

You will be trained and then tested so that you we be an expert in the identification of tropical reef fish and to recognise coral damage. You will then be going out onto the Mesoamerican Reef surrounding Utila, the second largest barrier reef in the world, and performing surveys. These surveys will then be logged into a global database, which over time is helping to develop a picture of the state of the planet's reef systems. This is vitally important work that everyone can become involved with.

You may be also called in to work for another NGO on the island to help them with their survey work. We take every opportunity to work with others if they need our help; we are all on the same team!

3. Reptile Conservation

We work in collaboration with the Utila Iguana Station. Since 1994, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Senckenberg Nature Research Society have worked jointly to preserve the Utila Spiny-Tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri), which lives only on the island of Utila, and its mangrove habitat. Several other organizations, including Honduran NGOs, joined their efforts and in 1997 the Iguana Research and Breeding Station (IRBS) was founded. Since 1994 more than 500 volunteers have assisted with work at the station.

The breeding season is one of the most interesting periods. It is at this time that the females lay their eggs and volunteers carefully collect them in order to incubate them artificially under optimal conditions. In addition volunteers collect females from different beaches around the island and bring them to the station to lay their eggs. These are returned them to the mangroves once they have done so. This allows the increase of the genetic pool of the iguanas in the station and to give the females an opportunity to lay before a hunter catches them. Breeding season is from February to August.

4. Raising Awareness

Your time with the AWF will also be spent raising awareness with locals and tourists alike.

In June 2011 Honduras declared a 92,665 square mile permanent shark sanctuary. It is important to inform locals and visiting tourists alike of the importance that we protect every species of shark the world over. If we do not start to act immediately we could witness the global extinction of sharks.

Whilst on this project you will also be going out and taking to people, who should know what is happening to the world's coral reefs and turtles and why it must be prevented. Through your conservation efforts we can involve tourists and other NGOs to positively act towards protecting marine environments globally.

Diving

We recommend that our volunteers are certified PADI Divers. Whilst you are on Utila, you will be able to take advantage of our diving offer. If you haven't dived before, you will be able to take the PADI Open Water course as part of the package. If you already have your Open Water qualification, we will provide you with your Advanced Open Water qualification. For some of the survey work we undertake, we need our divers to hold at least the Advanced Open Water qualification, as we will be diving up to 30 metres.

The Island

Utila, is a friendly, kick-back kind of place to visit. Just about everything you might want to do is within walking distance. Walking along the sandy paths, seeing the spectacular aqua blue ocean, and feeling the warm tropical air is about as good as it gets. The main language spoken is English (with an interesting dialect), bust most islanders speak Spanish as well.

The island of Utila is famous for its scuba diving. The world's second-largest barrier reef runs alongside Utila. The Meso-American Barrier Reef is over 1000 km long and home to over 500 species of fish, 1000 manatees, and a large amount of resident dolphins.

At the weekends when you fancy a break from the salt water, you should explore the island, visit freshwater pools, bat caves, mangroves and much more.

Getting around Utila is easy. There is one main street that runs the length of the island. It is lined with an eclectic array of shops, restaurants, dive centres and ice cream parlours.

The food is incredible and the bars are open late into the night for dancing and exchanging stories with locals and travellers alike.

There is so much to do on the island, so grab your sandals and look around!!!

The Accommodation

You will be staying in a shared accommodation, in the heart of the main Utila Town, ten minutes from the airport. Here you will have access to laundry services and a bar area. The house backs onto the Caribbean Sea, and the diving boat leaves from the private jetty.

It is a fantastic house with excellent facilities; perfect for your time working with us.

Price Breakdown

In order to put together successful conservation teams we run 6 week placements, as a minimum, throughout the year. We feel it is necessary to run the placements for this amount of time as it allows the teams to gel, and become experts in the techniques they are undertaking.

After the six week period, if you wish to stay with the project you may do so at a reduced rate. Prices include induction pack, project t-shirt, food, accommodation dive equipment hire and diving throughout each week*.

Risk Assessment

Care has been taken to ensure that the safety of the volunteer is the priority of the Utila Marine project.

Where will your money go?

A core fundamental of the AWF is to be transparent with the money you invest in us. The fees you pay to be a part of the Utila Marine Project will be divided up between research and the local community.

Research

Marine research is underfunded, and this is a global issue. The money that comes into the AWF will be spent on buying improved equipment for our collaborators, which you will be using as part of your research. This money will be stretched as far as possible to ensure that all the money you pay really makes a big difference.

Local Community

Our intention is to involve the local community in all we do. We aim to get young people from the surrounding communities involved with our research. The money will be used to train them up and give them the opportunity to work with us to maintain their seas for future generations.

We also invest money in local communities. We have the potential to offer micro-financing packages as well as running workshops for children to highlight the state of the world's marine and terrestrial life, giving them the insight they need to make a difference throughout their lives.