David O'Hara
Senior Vice President
Marine life mitigation - PSOs, MMOs and PAM
Mitigating the risks to marine mammals and other protected species is crucial to a successful seismic project. RPS had deep expertise in providing mitigation solutions including Protected Species Observers (PSOs), also known as Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs), and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM).
Protected Species Observers (PSOs) and Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs)
RPS deploys PSOs and MMOs with expertise in global regulatory requirements and industry best practices and standards. RPS observers are the most well-qualified and highly trained professionals in the industry. We provide full-time, shore-based project management to clients during the planning and operation stages, a consistent and reliable methodology in the field, and high-quality, standardised data collection and reporting procedures. The combination of expert guidance in monitoring, mitigation and reporting requirements in the survey planning phase in addition to full-time project support to the PSO/MMO and clients in the field minimises potential operational downtime wherever possible and decreases the risk of potential compliance incidents on your program.
- Highly-qualified degreed professionals with strong backgrounds in the natural sciences
- Expert knowledge in current regulations
- Local content available in most countries
- Industry-standard safety certifications
Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM)
RPS has developed a strong capability in providing highly trained personnel and robust systems of equipment for acoustic monitoring in a variety of applications including energy, academia and renewables. In addition to visual protected species surveys conducted by PSOs or MMOs, Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) systems are an effective tool for monitoring marine mammals that spend most of their lives below the water surface. PAM Operators monitor and record biologically produced sounds in aquatic environments. PAM systems can be deployed where visual coverage is compromised or where 24-hour monitoring is required. It is a proven, useful supplementary tool for many species where visual surveys are not sufficient for detection. RPS is a leader in providing the latest technologically, proficient and field-tested PAM systems, and expert in-house PAM Operators.
RPS Passive Acoustic Monitoring Operators
- Knowledgeable technicians with expertise in operating the leading acoustic hardware and software
- Experience in installing, operating, and troubleshooting systems
- Highly-qualified individuals with strong backgrounds in the sciences
- Expert knowledge of regulations
- Effective communication skills with multi-tiered personnel
- Worldwide experience
- Industry-standard medical and safety certificates
Technical Expertise
- Able to develop and implement new project equipment deployment strategies on a variety of vessel types
- Proficient in maintenance and troubleshooting of technical equipment
- Experience with in-field testing of innovative PAM technology
- Skilled in numerous PAM software packages, including: PAMGuard, Spectrogram 16, IFAW Ishmael, etc.
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