2017 Call for Field Assistants

Information package 2017 Call for field assistants

Thank you for your interest for Sharks And Rays Australia’s 2017 call for field assistants. Please read this document before filling in the Field Assistant Application form at www.SharksAndRaysAustralia.com/application Details about our research can be found at www.SharksAndRaysAustralia.com/research

Why should you join our trips?

By joining our trips you will have the unique experience of helping us work with sawfish and other sharks and rays. As sawfish commonly inhabit very murky waters, which are also inhabited by salt water crocodiles, and do not usually come to the surface like dolphins or whales, there is no other way to see them other than working with them for the purpose of research. Your money directly funds our research – without YOU this work would not be possible.

We will be using scientific methods to capture these animals, take non-invasive samples from them for various research projects, and tag them so that we can track their future movements. This also means that the methods you will be helping us with, are not something you would normally experience even on a fishing tour to Cape York.

Each expedition will be unique, and unlikely to be repeated with such a small group of participants. Field teams consist of the expedition leader, Dr Barbara Wueringer, one staff member and up to eight field assistants. Each expedition will run for 11 or 14 days, depending on location.

On a research expedition you will: - Visit some of the remotest regions in Australia - Help collect data on some of the rarest and least understood species on the planet - Work in a small team, side by side with other fieldwork assistants, scientists and Indigenous Rangers - Learn field methods to capture and release sharks, rays and sawfish (incl. gill netting) - Be introduced to handling, tagging and releasing of sharks, rays and sawfishes - Learn about the animals that you work with and likely become addicted to working with them! We are also happy to provide letters of reference to expedition participants if required. Please let us know in advance if you will require that!

Field Assistant Duties - Help to prepare the car, boat and trailer for sampling trips INFO FORM V2 (NOV 2016) 1 - Setting, checking and retrieving gear including gill nets and drum lines - Recording catch data, environmental parameters - Help with the handling, measuring, tagging, and sampling of animals caught in nets - Conduct limited surveys to describe terrestrial ecosystems near sampling locations - Share camp duties (like preparing food, maintaining camp & gear, maintaining fresh water supply)

Field Assistant Requirements - At least 18 years old - Available for one trip (preferably two if applying for a ‘team leader’ position) - Fluent in English - Physically fit. Our trips take us into remote areas, where you will spend long hours on a small boat, and camp in the bush. You will be exposed to the elements (sun, rain). - Comfortable camping in a remote setting with very limited or no facilities available. - Can swim. We will be working in remote rivers and coastal areas that are inhabited by many different species of sharks, sawfish and also two species of crocodiles, so swimming/snorkeling/diving is NOT a part of these expeditions. However, as you will be spending a lot of time on a small boat, and you need to be able to swim in case of emergency. - Strong interest in elasmobranch (sharks and rays) biology, research and conservation - Have a travel insurance for the trip and medical cover for emergencies - Able to work under supervision and as part of a team - Willing to work long hours - A degree in marine science or biology is preferred. Additional qualifications that are of advantage are listed in application

Expedition description

Expedition locations are described on our homepage at www.saw.fish/exp17 The exact sampling locations (rivers) are to be announced and depend on the availability of Indigenous Rangers to work with us, and access to the land.

Expedition overview (11 day expedition, 14 day expedition includes longer drive): Days Activities Day 1 Leave Cairns in the morning, camp along the way Day 2 Drive (whole day), arrive at Rangers Office, meet and greet, evening set up camp Day 3 Morning: Induction into boating & research methods, launch boat. Afternoon/Evening: Team 1 samples (gill nets, drum lines) while Team 2 & 3 prepare dinner Day 4 Sampling day: 3 teams rotate sampling other teams are on camp duty Day 5 Sampling day: 3 teams rotate sampling, other teams are on camp duty Day 6 FLEXIBLE DAY: pack up camp, move to next sampling location, presentation in local schools Evening: set up camp Day 7 Sampling day: 3 teams rotate sampling, other teams are on camp duty 2 INFO FORM V2 (NOV 2016) Day 8 Sampling day: 3 teams rotate sampling, other teams are on camp duty Day 9 Morning sampling, Evening pack up camp Day 10 Drive Day 11 Return to Cairns, clean gear

Please be advised that: - Our best sampling times are around sunrise and sunset, with each sampling session lasting about 5 hrs. - We are likely to move our camp at least once during sampling times, to avoid re- captures which are stressful to animals. - Camping: we are likely to camp in the bush, on Indigenous or private land. We will have to ‘take our facilities with us’, including a basic shower / toilet tent. The first and last night of camping is likely in a campground (we love hot showers too)

See www.saw.fish/exp17. As mentioned above, this payment just covers our expedition costs. To see what’s included please read on.

This payment includes: - Pickup from your hotel on the day of the trip, and transport from Cairns to the research site and back in our cozy research vehicle (Toyota Hilux and Landcruiser Troopcarrier) - Camping for all nights during expedition. A single dome swag and inflatable mattress will be provided for each participant. - Meals, snacks, drinks, water but not ALCOHOLIC drinks. - Mosquito repellent

This payment does not include: - Airport pick up or drop off or your accommodation in Cairns before and after the trip. Please ensure at least one additional day in Cairns upon our return. - Souvenirs, tickets for tours or galleries on the ‘flexible day’ - Alcoholic beverages - Fieldwork clothing and PPE (see policy regarding this below) - Your pillow and sleeping bag - Your comprehensive accident, trip cancellation, trip interruption insurance - For some trips we provide the option for you to fly to the nearest meeting point, instead of driving over with us (Normanton, Weipa, Kowanyama). These flights are optional and not included in the price. Please let us know if you would like to have more information about this option.

Sharks And Rays Australia’s Policies

INFO FORM V2 (NOV 2016) 3 Our policies are provided here for your information only. It is important that you familiarize yourself with them. If your inquiry leads to an expedition booking, you will be required to agree to them by signing.

Animal ethics and working with wild animals 1. As we are targeting sawfish/sharks/rays to capture, tag and release on our expeditions, you are very likely to encounter these animals. However, as we are working with wild animals, we cannot guarantee these encounters. We do not provide refunds in case you did not get to work with the species you aimed to work with. 2. We want you to be aware of the fact that all handling of these animals performed on our trips is necessary in order to conduct our research on their biology. We do not encourage unnecessary stress to our target species. In a perfect world these animals would not be endangered through human activity and we would not have to study them in order to protect them. Our methods are widely used, have been approved by an Animal Ethics Committee, and are designed to reduce stress by minimizing handling time. 3. After our training you will be allowed to help us immobilizing the animals and measure them, but unless you have previous research experience you will not likely be allowed to immobilize the head of large animals, tag animals or take DNA samples.

Personal gear and Personal Protective Equipment requirements Trips will only be cancelled before they have commenced, if there are any unplanned weather conditions that are likely to impact on our safety (cyclones, flooding, etc). As our expeditions run in the dry season, these are unlikely to occur. For your own comfort and safety, you will be required to bring the following personal gear on an expedition: - Thin, long pants and long sleeve shirts to protect you from sun, mosquitoes and sand flies, and the abrasive skin of sharks. Preferably quick dry materials. - Wet weather gear including a rain jacket. - Sunglasses (we recommend polarized sunglasses which minimize reflections on the water, and a sunglass strap) and a hat. - Closed toe shoes that are lightweight (e.g. Keens, dive booties, Crocs) to be worn on the boat and during animal handling. - Sunscreen. This is a personal item due to skin reactions/allergies. - Gloves to be used for handling animals and bait. They will get wet and dirty. - A water bottle. - Head torch with spare batteries. - Warm clothing depending on season. - Our space in the cars is limited, please pack soft bags and not huge suitcases! We will provide mosquito repellent. You could also get a bugshirt (www.bugshirt.com).

Other policies: - ALCOHOL: Please be aware that many of our research sites are near Indigenous Communities or on Indigenous land, where alcohol restrictions/bans apply. - We have a zero drug policy on our trips. The expedition will be immediately terminated if we find anyone in possession of illegal drugs.

Booking and cancellation policy: 4 INFO FORM V2 (NOV 2016) We intend to be fair but at the same time prevent losses to SARA. Due to the nature of our remote expeditions, we depend on advance payment by field assistants. 1. You need to make a down payment (A$ 400) within 10 days of sending us your signed booking form (this is not the online application form), to save your spot on the trip. 2. We only accept payments to be transferred into our bank account. All transfers to be made in Australian Dollars. 3. Cancellations after the down payment was made forfeit the down payment. 4. The full payment is required 40 days before the trip commences. Otherwise you lose your down payment and spot on the trip, or in case there is still a space, a late fee of A$ 150 will be charged. 5. Cancellations after payment of the full payment forfeit the full payment. 6. No show on trips forfeits the full payment. 7. We reserve the right to cancel the expedition if we are unable to maintain the number of required participants to run the trip. All payment will be refunded in this case. 8. We also maintain the right to cancel the expedition if the weather or other conditions (e.g. flooding) would affect the safety of the participants. All payment will be refunded in this case. 9. There are no refunds given for early expedition termination due to weather, sickness, or any other circumstance beyond our control, once the expedition has commenced.

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