The Associació Cetàcea is composed by a team which considers of a great importance the welfare of the animals that inhabit the Catalan coast, their conservation and the preservation of the habitats where they live. It is an interdisciplinary group, with different training and formation and great knowledge and background on the marine conservation and protection.

 

Anna Conde

Passionate about the sea and the oceans and fascinated by the species that inhabit them. marine biologist, specialised in sustainability and management of marine ecosystems, sailor and boat skipper. A as a biologist on board a research vessel I’ve worked and joined different marine conservation, education and training projects. As a volunteer, I have been involved in a cetacean stranding rescue team in New Zealand and photo-identification projects in the Canary Islands.

I believe that it is indispensable to know and understand the marine species and their populations and how marine ecosystems work in order to raise awareness about their conservation and fight for a more sensitive society towards the conservation of the marine environment. Cetàcea carries out a very important task related to the marine protection and conservation and I feel very fortunate to be involved in their projects.

 

Barbara Roldán

I work in the field of communications, and since many years I combine my job with the participation in environmental projects. Lover both of sea and mountains, I believe that human activities are having an unsustainable impact in nature; and we need to do somethig if we want to continue enjoying it. That’s why I think that there’s a very important task of raising awarness, one of my main task in the association.

 

Eli Badosa

Ever since I was a child I have had a great admiration and curiosity for the marine life, especially for cetaceans. These were the main reasons that made me decide to become a biologist, as I understood that I wanted to devote my life to protect and preserve the oceans and the living beings that inhabit them.

I went to Açores to do the final project of my undergraduate studies. There, I studied the residency patterns of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in São Miguel Island, with the help of great professionals and at the same time, I collaborated in a photo-identification study of cetaceans. When I came back to Catalunya, I knew that I wanted to be involved in a similar project, and thus I decided to join Associació Cetàcea, because I consider that they are carrying out a very good job on research on cetaceans, and at the same time I am fully identified with the values of the organisation. For instance, explaining that the only way to study and observe these animals is to do it in their natural habitat: the sea, and never in places where they are deprived of their freedom. Although there is more people every day that are aware of their problems, there is still much work to be done to end with dolphin captivity and to keep fighting for their conservation and the conservation of the habitats they live in.

Now Associació Cetèaca give me the opportunity to do my bit in sharing the importance to protect our sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and to improve my skills on cetacean photo-identification. For all these reasons, and for being allowed to join this small great family, I will always be grateful.

 

Eva Rizo

I am a biologist, my passion has always been and still is the environment and all species inhabiting it. All the jobs I’ve had so far had some common aspects: the environmental awareness, protection and conservation. Throughout my life, especially as an educator, I’ve tried to raise awareness about the importance of the natural environment and the species that inhabit it, the threats that they face and how we can contribute to protect it, without depriving them of their liberty in order to protect them. Education and training are the key to understand that we all are part of a complicated and vulnerable system and, today more than ever, we should do everything to protect it.

For that reason, I would like to thank Associació Cetàcea its essential mission in the protection of the marine environment, and specially that I had been given the opportunity to contribute to its protection and to spread the word to those willing to listen.

 

Gonzalo Jara

As many other people, my interest for the marine animals and ecosystems started in my early years. Since I was a child, I spent many hours reading my nature books or watching again and again the documentaries I recorded from the television. Although I have always felt closer to the marine fishes, I think that cetaceans are as amazing as fishes. I still remember the first time I ever saw whales; it is an unforgettable experience that everyone should experience once if we want to awake their awareness.

Professionally, I work in design, illustration, photography and diving, but thanks to Cetàcea’s unbelievable project, I have been able to get closer to the marine mammal universe, its photography and the fight for their conservation. I enjoy every encounter with cetaceans like a child and I would like to share this moving experience. Come and meet us!!

 

Laura Almarcha

I was born in Barcelona and since I was a kid I wanted to become a veterinarian. My parents showed me, that among other wonderful values, the love for other animals. Thanks to that, I reached my goal and I am now a veterinarian specialised in domestic animals. I am passionate about the sea. I have done courses on scientific diving, veterinary clinic of marine mammals and on response to marine animal stranding. Although I am fascinate by all animals, I especially love cetaceans and I am committed to their protection and the environment they live in. Thus I became a volunteer in Associació Cetàcea. I am very interested in their photo-identification project, but also in their dedication to the protection of marine ecosystems. I have been fighting for a long time to close al dolphinaria, and I hope that my dream will come true soon.

 

Maria Serrano

Since I was little, I’ve always had a lot of curiosity and respect for the sea and everything lives in there. I’m passionate about marine vertebrates, especially cetaceans. That’s the reason why I studied Biology at the University of Barcelona and now I’ve done a Masters in Oceanography and marine environmental management. I’ve been involved in several research projects in Spain studying different species and I have also done some veterinary and marine mammal identification courses.

I’ve always felt that I wanted to investigate these animals in order to know as much as possible about them in order to improve their conservation status. I started to work with Associació Cetàcea as a volunteer in the Photo-identification project. One day, they suggested me to join the technical team and I didn’t hesitate to accept it. I love our philosophy, always respecting the sea. I am very grateful and happy for the opportunity that I’ve been given. Now I’m able to continue learning about these animals, creating new research projects but also environmental education projects. I consider that we should put our efforts in the future generations, educating them and raising awareness about the importance of conservation from the youngest to the oldest. Doing our best, we can achieve our common goal, protect the marine environment.

&nbsp

Montse Valls

Psychologist and ethologist. I have loved marine fauna since I was a kid. I grew up learning to enjoy the sea by snorkelling in the Costa Brava, by watching Thalassa and admiring Jacques Cousteau. I confirmed my passion volunteering in rehabilitation centres of marine fauna and taking part in diving courses and other activities that kept me in contact with the conservation and rescue of marine species. I currently am participating in research on animal behaviour. I also expect to apply all my knowledge in helping Cetàcea on researching the behaviour of marine mammals.

 

Natàlia Fernández

Since I was a child, I pointed out ways and knew that my life would be dedicated to animals. Activist since I can remember my dream was to be a marine biologist specializing in cetaceans; But life complicated things to me and I chose to study another branch not related to the animals. Over the years I felt a void in my life and decided to combine my work with studies of large marine vertebrates and primates. I graduated as a veterinary assistant, environment educator and forest and marine interpreter. Currently I am studying a master’s degree in primatology.

Who knows me, knows too that my world is the ocean and the dense jungles, I’m always hanging on the branches or at the same time mounted on any boat. There I find peace, strength and illusion to protect the inhabitants of my beloved Earth. The Associació Cetàcea has given to me the opportunity to collaborate with them as a volunteer, it is amazing to be able to work with this team of people so good professionals and at the same time so great people.

 

Oriol Giralt Paradell

My fascination and admiration for the sea and all the creatures that inhabit it, drove me to pursue a bachelor degree in biology with a specialization in the zoology-ecology branch and later a masters degree in marine biology. After finishing the degree I have been expanding my knowledge by working on the rescue and rehabilitation of marine animals in Catalunya, taking part in photo-ID projects of dolphins and whales on Maui, Hawaii, and taking part in courses about conservation, rescue and biology of marine species. I also am an Open Water Diver, which has allowed me to study and admire many marine habitats and species. Now, the Associacio Cetàcea gives me the opportunity to combine both my knowledge and my background with my passion for the sea. I invite you to join us in this adventure.

 

Ricard Marcos

My interest in the ocean comes from ornithology. The observation of marine birds such as sea gulls, terns or shearwaters led me to wonder about what else lives in the ocean. Searching for organisations or groups focusing their activities on the Catalan coast, I found Cetàcea and their projects about cetaceans interested me deeply. When the chance to collaborate in the photo-identification project arose, I didn’t hesitate even for a moment and I confirmed my attendance for the first meeting of volunteers.

 

Vicki Miller

My love of the ocean started as a child when I spent every weekend and every school holiday at the beach surfing or exploring the rock pools on the Illawarra Coast of Australia. While studying a BSc at the University of Sydney I grew obsessed with tropical marine ecosystems during field trips to the Great Barrier Reef and while working a summer as crew on a whale watching and snorkelling boat in Hawaii. After graduating I spent time working on a coral reef conservation project in the Seychelles where I became a certified “coral geek”. I continued my journey on to Catalonia where I worked in the assistance and rehabilitation of marine animals for over 3 years. I am a Scuba Instructor and I love sharing my passion for the ocean with anyone who will listen.