Experts from the Macaronesia Network of Inter-regional and Multi-disciplinary Transfer of Knowledge and -Technologies for the protection, surveillance and monitoring of cetaceans in the marine environment and sustainably analyse and explore the associated tourism activity project (MARCET) took part in the MSM68-2 oceanographic campaign on the oceanographic vessel Maria S. Merian for 11 days, setting off from the port of Emden, Germany, heading for Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde.

The objective of the project in this campaign was to create new working synergies on board with the other researchers from GEOMAR and the Max Planck Institute, and to take the opportunity to engage in whale-watching activities across the area selected for research during the voyage.

Although weather conditions were not ideal, the main objective was achieved thanks to the opportunity to be able to use an oceanographic vessel to watch whales and sea-birds. Photo-identification was used to recognise four different species of cetaceans and six sea-birds and bonds were forged with the other participants in the campaign. The trip ended with the organisation of an international conference to open the Ocean Science Centre of Mindelo, where the objectives and main results of the MARCET project were presented.

The MARCET Project is co-funded by the INTERREG V A Spain-Portugal (MAC 2014-2020) /cross-border Co-operation Territorial Co-operation Programme by means of the priority strand “Promote research, technological development and innovation”.