MONICET is an innovative project at a global level based on whale watching and recording of observations on an Internet platform accessible to all, “combining knowledge and development in business context.”

The information was provided by the Regional Secretary for Science, Technology and Equipmen, who presided over the presentation of the project on Monday afternoon. For José Contente, it is important that the knowledge generated at the University of the Azores (UAC) “be pragmatic, efficient and useful for companies that already exist as well as for the ones that might be created in the future, hence providing youngsters with more skilled employment opportunities.”

According to the government official, this project marks the beginning of a new approach to scientific research. In addition to being ground-breaking and innovative at a global level, this project aims to demonstrate that researchers at the University of the Azores are willing to transfer scientific knowledge to companies and the fact that the University of the Azores considers research in business context as a new challenge for the Azores in the short-term.

Moreover, the MONICET project is also intended to develop a standard methodology for collecting data from sightings at sea, from vessels, and ashore, from whale watching towers; and to create a website with dynamic links to the sightings database, allowing the introduction and consultation of data by the participants of the consortium and the provision of information to the public in general.

José Contente spoke at the presentation ceremony of the features developed under the MONICET project, including the methodology and tools for data visualisation and stressed that “it is time to think, create and produce useful knowledge to society, citizens and companies.”

For the Regional Secretary, the emergence of other projects based on the transfer of scientific knowledge to companies, particularly to those that enhance our natural resources, will contribute to the creation of a new pillar in the Azorean economy.

“We can only boost this economy if we have the notion that knowledge can provide an important contribution, not only in traditional areas already installed in the Azores, by stimulating new challenges, new areas of exploitation of our natural resources, with the concern to know them better, ensuring the sustainability of companies as well as their capacity to generate skilled employment and stimulate the regional economy,” stated the Regional Secretary.

The MONICET project is made up of a consortium of 2 companies (Picos de Aventura e Terra Azul) and a university research centre (CIRN), being supported by the Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures. This initiative is intended to to establish methodologies and create the necessary infrastructure for the construction of a long-term database containing whale sightings collected by whale watching operators in the Azores.

The project envisages the creation of an online database (www.monicet.net) containing information on the sightings, which will enable the access of participants to this Internet database for scientific purposes and activity planning. Part of this data will also be made available to the public in the form of maps containing the geographic distribution of various species and the respective charts.

In addition, companies and researchers will have at their disposal
more powerful visualisation tools so that they may better plan their activities and contribute to the conservation of cetaceans in the Azores.