Marine Mammal Observer Association partners with the IMarEST

Marine Mammal Observer Association (MMOA) has partnered with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), the world’s largest international marine professional body, to help influence policy and improve understanding of issues relating to marine mammals.

The MMOA is a membership-based association that assembles marine mammal professionals who implement mitigation measures to protect marine life during industry operations. The Association acts as a knowledge sharing forum for the exchange of leading industry ideas and networking and to encourage the continuing professional development of its members.

Their members’ expertise is used to construct position statements and to feed back to regulatory authorities and industry, ultimately aiming to shape policy and standards mitigating the adverse effects on marine mammals from offshore human activities.

Shell Exploration and Production, a supermajor oil company, adopted the MMOA position statements and best-practice guide for contracting suitably qualified Marine Mammal Observers and Passive Acoustic Monitoring Operators and has partnered with the Association for their Balkanide 3D seismic survey project.

The partnership between MMOA and the IMarEST will help facilitate the formation of a new IMarEST Special Interest Group on marine mammals and to further the Institute’s mission of safe and sustainable oceans.

Organisations wishing to work more closely with the IMarEST can contact [email protected].