In order that your records can have scientific value, be validated and integrated in the NEMA database, we need some details:
1) Photograph
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A photograph is essential for our team to be able to identify the species correctly.
Its quality is not important, but should include the complete organism. When in doubt, take several pictures!
2) Location
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Always describe the location as accurately as possible. It is not necessary to send GPS coordinates, if you have better!
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But indicate in which zone it was, or distance from a point of reference.
Records in the open sea, indicate at least the approximate distance to land and direction with some locality on land.
3) Date
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Please indicate the date on which you observed the species, which may be different from the date on which you sent your observation.
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An advantage of this approach is that we can also collect past records, thus reconstructing the arrival process of some species. If you have an old photograph of some species of interest in the “chest”, don't hesitate to contact us!
4) Method
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Indicate under what circumstances you found the species.
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If it was already dead, was just photographed or if was captured, including the respective method of capture.
5) Scale
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If possible, include some type of object in the photograph with the organism, in order to function as a scale and allow an estimate of the size.
Preferably an object that is possible to know its exact size, such as a coin, a bottle cap, or better still a tape measure. Alternatively, place your hand close to the organism, paying attention to the handling of poisonous or stinging species.
Photography , location and date are the three minimum elements that allow us to validate an observation.
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An observation is complete by including information about the circumstance in which it found the species and inclusion of an object for scale.
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Any other additional data is always welcome, such as depth where the species was or was captured, water temperature , or any behaviour of the species observed at the time.
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If there is any reservation regarding possible public disclosures of your name associated with the registration, or location of the observation, please indicate that when sending your observation. That way, the registration will remain anonymous !
The following example of an observation received by NEMA, illustrates what we can call a 5 star observation:
✅ Photography: ok
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✅ Location: just after the entrance to the Alvor harbour, at the left on the sand banks
✅ Date of observation: 02 February 2020
✅ Method: caught by hand, was buried in the sand
✅ Scale: super ok
Thanks to the observer Samuel Alves for the observation.