Established in 2001, the
Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC) was initiated in an effort to
provide vital pan-European monitoring data on the distribution and
abundance of whales and dolphins (cetaceans) and seabirds by
bringing together marine conservation organisations operating in
adjacent areas of ocean. ARC is a growing partnership bringing
together scientists from a number of conservation research groups
operating from multiple European countries including England,
Netherlands, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Spain. As the
lead organisation in ARC, MARINElife plays a pivotal role in
coordinating data analysis across the partnership and presenting
research to decision makers and funding organisations.
The marine research groups have been independently carrying out systematic surveys for marine wildlife using similar research methodology, from commercial ferries in the 'Atlantic Arc' waters between France, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and the UK, since the early 1990s. By pooling research findings, the ARC partners aim to generate a larger and more powerful body of data which can be used to provide species updates on a European scale.
We also work with organisations wishing to initiate ferry-based research in their own countries and facilitate them joining ARC.
For more information about ARC please contact:
Dr Tom Brereton, ARC Coordinator
Email: tom.brereton@marine-life.org.uk