Award for Relentless crew

The Biological Conservation Research Foundation (Bicref) best cetacean sightings records award was this year won by the crew of Relentless on Bongani, led by skipper James George, taking part in the Rolex Middle Sea Race (RMSR).

Bicref has been making available sighting folders to every participating yacht and has been running this project, in collaboration with the Royal Malta Yacht Club, since 2000.

Relentless’ crew brought in the longest list of sighting reports, which included different cetacean species and turtles.

RMSR contributed to the collection of data on dolphin and whale sightings through the 607 nautical mile path taken by its participating sailing boats’ crews.

The sighting information gathered goes to supplement the long-term scientific field research on cetaceans in the central Mediterranean region led by conservation biologist Adriana Vella who has been running this research since 1996.

Both Dr Vella’s Conservation Biology Research Group at the University of Malta and Bicref are partners of the ACCOBAMS community.

For further information visit e-mail: bicref@gmail.com or www.bicref.org.