Skip to main content

LEADERSHIP

Find out about our southern marine treasures and what we are doing to manage them here. 

OUR LIVING MARINE TREASURES

“Environmental Leadership” is the third element of the Institute’s strategy that acts to connect and strengthen our overall work. With over 25 years of dolphin research – we know our resident dolphins through fin identification and regular surveys; our data-base is extensive and ever-expanding! We also know that our supporters feel proud of our work. It is a tangible way for them to be able to say “Yes, I’m helping these dolphins now, and for their future“.

DRI began in the late 1980’s by people who were concerned about the local dolphins and their marine environment. The Institute has grown in to the well-managed, sustainable, not-for-profit conservation organisation that is the ‘go-to’ organisation for just about all-things dolphin in Victoria.

Contact the Education Team

Acting internally to guide our:

  • research programs to build over a quarter of a century of research to not only develop the national dolphin health project, but also ask questions relevant to management, and develop the next generation of scientists;
  • education programs to shape perceptions and behaviour: to build environmental stewardship for our southern marine treasures with a whole ecosystem and catchment view from young and old;
  • ‘i sea, i care’ Ambassador program to work with young leaders who  deliver relevant environmental messages for our partners and wider community.

Acting externally to influence environmental stewardship, policy and decision making through:

  • Creating opportunities for the community to become involved such as the Two Bays Whale Project and citizen science.
  • Being active as a leader in the community and media in marine and coastal matters;
  • Participating in environmental forums and processes. For example; Port Phillip Environmental Management Plan Review, State of the Bays Reporting, Port of Hastings Environmental Reference Panel, Port Phillip Channel Deepening EES, Cleaner Yarra and Bay Plan, Victorian Coastal Strategy development, Regional Coastal Plan development, and Review of Victorian Coastal Act;
  • Developing strong partnerships and associations with agencies, organisations and individuals with common and complementary interests and roles;
  • Membership of key entities:  Central Coastal Board, Western Port Biosphere, Western Port Catchment Committee, National Whales Roundtable.

There is no other organisation quite like the Dolphin Research Institute. We have provided a sustained contribution to scientific understanding, marine education and environmental leadership over a quarter of a century.

DRI is a recipient of the following awards:

  • National Banksia Environmental Award (Marine and Coastal Category) (1997);
  • Victorian Coastal Award of Excellence (Species Protection) ( 2002);
  • Leader Newspapers Sustainable Business Award (2007);
  • Victorian Coastal Award of Excellence (Environmental Partnerships) (2013);
  • Acknowledgment of Excellence Award (Mornington Peninsula Shire Council) (2018).

READ OUR LATEST
LEADERSHIP NEWS

Environmental LeadershipStranded Dolphins – What To Do
09/08/2024

Stranded Dolphins – What To Do

THIS PAGE HAS RECENTLY MOVED PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A STRANDED, INJURED OR ENTANGLED ANIMAL INCLUDING DOLPHINS.
DRI Researcher 0
Love0
ActionDolphinsEnvironmental LeadershipInformationRescueMarine Wildlife Emergencies – What To Do
08/08/2024

Marine Wildlife Emergencies – What To Do

Unfortunately it is not unusual to come across entangled, stranded or deceased marine life. These situations are considered wildlife emergencies, whether the animals are washed up on beaches or floating…
DRI Researcher 0
Love0
DRI NewsEnvironmental LeadershipInformationSustainable LivingPosition on Wind Farms
17/05/2024

Position on Wind Farms

Position on Windfarms The Dolphin Research Institute have carefully formed a position statement on the development of windfarms in the Gippsland Declared Area (GDA) of eastern Bass Strait based on…
DRI Researcher
Love0
DRI NewsEnvironmental LeadershipPeopleDolphin Distancing Community
24/03/2023

Dolphin Distancing Community

Thank you to our wonderful Dolphin Distancing community (listed below), who are helping to create a safer marine environment for our dolphins. Your support means the world to us. Together…
Leanne Nguyen
Love0
ActionDolphinsDRI NewsEnvironmental LeadershipDolphin Distancing
06/12/2022

Dolphin Distancing

Victorians are lucky to have an incredibly diverse range of marine life right in our backyards, from tiny shrimp living on pier pylons to highly mobile resident bottlenose and common…
Leanne Nguyen
Love0
EducationEducation ProgramsEnvironmental LeadershipPADUA CLEANS UP AT MORNINGTON!
18/08/2022

PADUA CLEANS UP AT MORNINGTON!

We had a great day yesterday with Padua Year 9 students talking all things dolphins, single use plastic and how they can act to help their local environment! 
Jacqui Younger
Love0