Marine Mammal Observer
Encyclopedia
A marine mammal observer (MMO) is a professional in environmental consulting
who specialises in whale
s and dolphin
s.
In recent years there has been increased concern for the effect of man-made noise pollution
in the ocean, particularly upon cetaceans - which are known to be sensitive to sound. As a result, environmental regulations have been introduced in an attempt to minimise negative impacts on marine wildlife. These guidelines have focused on the oil industry's seismic exploration for offshore oil. They centre on the practice of delaying or shutting down the use of air-guns if a whale or dolphin is sighted nearby. An MMO will implement these regulations in the field.
When on board the seismic vessel, the MMO's job is two-fold:
Spotting, and identifying, animals involves long hours of visual surveys. Detecting cetaceans with hydrophone
s is known as Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), and this is an increasingly common technique used in addition to visual surveys. Ensuring adherence to guidelines requires a thorough knowledge of the regulations, understanding of the operations and the ability to communicate effectively with the crew. MMOs usually have a strong background in marine biology
and conservation
. Increasingly, the oil industry is employing a 'best practice' attitude to environmental commitment and voluntarily taking on MMOs as independent observers in areas where no government regulations exist. In some circumstances guidelines may be open to interpretation or the environmental conditions unique and the MMO will be called upon to advise on a sensible mitigation protocol.
As well as the seismic exploration industry, MMOs may also be required during; oil rig decommissioning, where disused oil platform pilings on the seabed are removed by large amounts of explosives, marine construction projects and; military trials of powerful new active sonar
systems.
Typically MMO duties are funded by the company surveying. There is rumor of legislative change in some jurisdictions as to this changing (need source).
Noise from human activity in the ocean environment is likely to increase - and become a bigger environmental issue
. Discussion of how to minimize the negative effects of noise upon whales, dolphins and other marine-life will no doubt continue between industry, government agencies, military, environmental organisations and academics. It will be the MMO who puts this into practice in the field.
Guidelines for Mitigation Measures during seismic surveys
Environmental consulting
Environmental consulting is often a form of compliance consulting, in which the consultant ensures that the client maintains an appropriate measure of compliance with environmental regulations...
who specialises in whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
s and dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s.
In recent years there has been increased concern for the effect of man-made noise pollution
Noise pollution
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
in the ocean, particularly upon cetaceans - which are known to be sensitive to sound. As a result, environmental regulations have been introduced in an attempt to minimise negative impacts on marine wildlife. These guidelines have focused on the oil industry's seismic exploration for offshore oil. They centre on the practice of delaying or shutting down the use of air-guns if a whale or dolphin is sighted nearby. An MMO will implement these regulations in the field.
When on board the seismic vessel, the MMO's job is two-fold:
- To spot sensitive wildlife species
- To ensure adherence to the guidelines.
Spotting, and identifying, animals involves long hours of visual surveys. Detecting cetaceans with hydrophone
Hydrophone
A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound. Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when subjected to a pressure change...
s is known as Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), and this is an increasingly common technique used in addition to visual surveys. Ensuring adherence to guidelines requires a thorough knowledge of the regulations, understanding of the operations and the ability to communicate effectively with the crew. MMOs usually have a strong background in marine biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
and conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
. Increasingly, the oil industry is employing a 'best practice' attitude to environmental commitment and voluntarily taking on MMOs as independent observers in areas where no government regulations exist. In some circumstances guidelines may be open to interpretation or the environmental conditions unique and the MMO will be called upon to advise on a sensible mitigation protocol.
As well as the seismic exploration industry, MMOs may also be required during; oil rig decommissioning, where disused oil platform pilings on the seabed are removed by large amounts of explosives, marine construction projects and; military trials of powerful new active sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
systems.
Typically MMO duties are funded by the company surveying. There is rumor of legislative change in some jurisdictions as to this changing (need source).
Noise from human activity in the ocean environment is likely to increase - and become a bigger environmental issue
Environmental issue
Environmental issues are negative aspects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement that started in the 1960s, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism.-Types:...
. Discussion of how to minimize the negative effects of noise upon whales, dolphins and other marine-life will no doubt continue between industry, government agencies, military, environmental organisations and academics. It will be the MMO who puts this into practice in the field.
External links
- Marine Mammal Observer Association
- http://www.jncc.gov.uk
- http://www.mms.gov
- http://www.iagc.org
- Qualified Marine Mammal Observer
Guidelines for Mitigation Measures during seismic surveys
- Ireland http://www.npws.ie/en/media/NPWS/Publications/Marine/Media,5176,en.pdf
- New Zealand http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/conservation/native-animals/marine-mammals/marine-mammal-acoustic-disturbance-code.pdf
- Canada http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans-habitat/oceans/im-gi/seismic-sismique/statement-enonce_e.asp
- Australia http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/pubs/seismic-whales.rtf
- Gulf of Mexico http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/regs/ntls/2007NTLs/07-g02.pdf