Tenerife Whale & Dolphin Conservation

Purpose of the Project

Whales and dolphins have been around for millions of years and are crucial to the marine environment, so we should work to preserve their health and wellbeing. Whales and dolphins are a natural resource in the Canary Islands. There are about 500,000 whale watching tourists every year and more than 84 whale watching boats in the Islands.

So if you’re a marine life enthusiast and want to contribute to the important work of conservationists in Tenerife then this is the project for you! We need volunteers to join the project that are committed to ensuring the conservation of a number of endangered cetacean species. The baseline data you collect will contribute towards the long-term management of the area and assist in promoting marine conservation in the wider Mediterranean region. There are still a number of key cetacean populations that are residential and reproduce in the region, and so the protection of these magnificent creatures is paramount.

Currently the whales and dolphins face a number of threats including habitat degradation, injury from ships and commercialised fishing equipment, prey depletion caused by overfishing, and noise and health effects resulting from increased in-water pollution rates.

Your Role

This project will give you the perfect opportunity to learn more about these fascinating creatures and gain valuable experience in conservation as you spend your days working alongside the Island’s threatened whale and dolphin populations.

There are resident communities of pilot whales and dolphins which remain here throughout the year, which can be observed on perhaps 80% of the days of the year. As one of the top whale and dolphin watching destinations in the world, the south-west coast of Tenerife is a truly outstanding location for the observation of free-living whales. There are also a total of 24 other species migrating through Canarian waters at different times of the year from the giant blue whale to the majestic killer whale.