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Marine ecological and megafauna surveys, monitoring and research

Marine ecological and megafauna surveys, monitoring and research

Getting the right data takes careful planning and scientific design.

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Blue Planet Marine is actively engaged in a wide range of research. From project design and planning to field work, logistical support and supply of equipment and personnel.

A clear understanding of your research questions is imperative. This will help you determine what data to collect, how and when to collect them, and how to analyse them. Get this right and you’ll save yourself time, stress and money.  BPM has the technical knowledge, experience, and the right personnel and equipment to help with your next research project.

We have spent years training and specialising in all forms of marine ecological research and monitoring so we can supply our clients with:

  • Survey design, advice, planning and active fieldwork including baseline monitoring and habitat mapping

  • Land-based, sea-based and aerial surveys

  • Satellite tagging (suction cup and anchoring systems) and biopsying

  • Data analysis and reporting

  • Logistical assistance and equipment

Whatever your research needs we have the right experience, tools and people. Talk to us today about your project requirements and let us help you get the best data possible!

Recent Projects

  • Collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division in undertaking acoustic and visual surveys for Blue Whales in the Bonny Upwelling.
    Australian Antarctic Division.
  • Pilot studies to test aerial survey methods and land-based survey locations for population surveys of breeding stock ‘D’ of humpback whales (Western Australia).
    Australian Marine Mammal Centre.
  • Effects of mussel farm extension on dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds – expert evidence and advice on effects and management options.
    Admiralty Bay Consortium, NZ.
  • Monitoring of aquatic ambient noise and the associated pressure impacts on marine megafauna in Port Curtis and Port Alma, East Australia.
    Gladstone Port Corporation.
  • Review of multibeam echo sounder surveys and potential impacts on marine mammals.
    Marlborough District Council.
  • Provide expert advice on monitoring and research programs for Māui dolphin, associated with offshore activities.
    Golder NZ.
  • Abundance estimation of breeding stock ‘D’ of humpback whales (Western Australia): a pilot study to design optimal survey methods and determine location.
    Australian Antarctic Division.
  • Provision of a risk assessment and development of a rescue plan for marine mammals potentially caught inside a bund closure at Fisherman’s Landing, Brisbane.
    Gladstone Port Corporation.
  • Technical assessment: Trans-shipping and mother-shipping operations in small pelagic fisheries in Australian waters.
    Department of the Environment, Australia.
  • Supply of vessel and crew for the blue whale research project in the Great Australian Bight.
    Australian Marine Mammal Centre.
  • Controlled exposure experiments to determine the impacts of seismic surveys and the effectiveness of soft-starts on cetaceans (Funded by: E&P Sound and Marine Life Joint Industry Programme; United States Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; International Association of Oil & Gas Producers; International Association of Geophysical Contractors).
    BPM was a collaborator on this project, entitled BRAHSS.
  • Undertaking humpback whale satellite tagging activities to determine migratory destination and movement patterns.
    Australian Antarctic Division.
  • Multidisciplinary research programme on the humpback whale breeding grounds of the Great Barrier Reef – photo-ID, genetic analysis and bioacoustics.
    Joint project with University of Queensland and Oregon State University.
  • Satellite tagging of humpback and southern right whales in Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.
    Australian Antarctic Division.
  • MMO and PAM Operator services and systems for numerous 3D, VSP, and check-shot seismic surveys in NZ and Australia.
    OMV, PGS, Woodside Energy, RPS, STOS, Chevron, TGS-Nopec, Schlumberger, NZOG, Anadarko, PTTEPAA, Hess, Jan De Nul, BMA, MED.
  • Technical Review of the Ichthys Onshore LNG Facilities Underwater Noise Management Plan.
    INPEX.
  • Provision of vessels and trained dive crews for control and monitoring of crown of thorns starfish on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
    Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
  • Development of a real-time cetacean positioning and tracking system, which allows the incorporation of both visual and acoustic data for seismic surveys.
    Collaborative project with the University of Newcastle.
  • Provision of a plan to mitigate the potential for collision with bottlenose dolphins – NZOPA Powerboat Race.
    Far North District Council.
  • Provision of MFO training and environmental compliance monitoring for the Gorgon LNG Project.
    Chevron Australia.
  • Technical review of the Pluto Turtle Monitoring Plan and lighting audit to assess impacts on turtles, Pluto LNG Project.
    Woodside Energy.
  • Vessel charter and crew services for deployment of wave gliders off Darwin, Australia.
    Liquid Robotics.
  • Development of a Marine Mammal Impact Assessment for a 3D MSS in the Taranaki Basin.
    Todd Energy.
  • Development of the National Recovery Plan for marine turtles in Australian waters.
    Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPAC), Australia.
  • Assessment of the environmental impacts of a proposed pearl oyster operation on whales, dolphins and turtles, Port Stephens, NSW. Environmental impact assessment report including appearing in the NSW Land and Environment Court as an expert witness in relation to this case.
    NSW Department of Environment and Conservation.
  • Expert statement and evidence before the EPA regarding the potential effects on marine mammals of Chatham Rock Phosphate’s proposed marine consent to mine phosphorite nodules on the Chatham Rise.
    DOC
  • Vessel-based surveys for the assessment of the current status of cetaceans and feasibility of a whale watching industry in Samoa.
    DEH.
  • Independent review the draft Great Keppel Island Resort Pre-construction Surveying Program.
    FRC Environmental.
  • Vessel, crew and logistical support for a survey of uninhabited islands of the Torres Strait: turtles, reptiles, seabirds and vegetation.
    Torres Strait Regional Authority.
  • PAM Operator services and systems for numerous 3D, VSP, and check-shot seismic surveys in NZ and Australia.
    OMV, PGS, Woodside Energy, RPS, STOS, Chevron, TGS-Nopec, Schlumberger, NZOG, Anadarko, PTTEPAA, Hess, Jan De Nul, BMA, MED.
  • Provision of dedicated MMOs and MMO training for contractors for VSP operations on the Northern Australia
    PTTEPAA.
  • Review of multi-beam echo-sounder surveys and potential impacts on marine mammals.
    Marlborough District Council, NZ.
  • Estimate of the risk of vessel strike to marine mammals in Australian waters.
    Australian Government.
  • A review of the whale, dolphin and seal watching industry in Jervis Bay Marine Park including a review of the current permit system and potential impacts of this commercial industry.
    NSW Marine Park Authority.
  • Bespoke MMO training services.
    Geoscience Australia.
  • MMO Training services and provision for pile driving operations on the Calliope Wharf Upgrade Project at Devonport Naval base.
    Downer
  • Validation of Sound Transmission Loss Modelling (STLM) and acoustic monitoring for a marine seismic survey near the Maui field in Taranaki, New Zealand.
    Shell Taranaki Ltd.
  • Provision of vessel and crew for deploying underwater baited video cameras to investigate effects of ocean warming on coral trout.
    James Cook University.
  • Analysis and reporting of all observer data collected during seismic surveys in New Zealand waters under the New Zealand Code of Conduct.
    DOC.
  • Development of a draft coordinated research strategy to collect information required to assess the national conservation status of Australian tropical inshore dolphins.
    SEWPAC.
  • Humpback whale satellite tagging, photo-ID and genetic sampling at the Kermadec Islands.
    University of Auckland.
  • MMO Training services and provision for pile driving operations on the America’s Cup Infrastructure Project.
    Wynyard Edge Alliance
  • Aerial surveys off South Australia to assess the diversity and distribution of cetaceans, with a focus on great whales (e.g. baleen whales plus sperm whale), and in particular blue whales.
    IFAW.
  • Vessel-based survey within the Great Barrier Reef to validate modelling data on the identification of breeding grounds in the Great Barrier Reef.
    Australian Antarctic Division.
  • Desktop technical review of marine megafauna detection systems.
    Chevron.
  • Development of the National Conservation Management Plan for blue whales in Australian waters.
    Department of the Environment (DOE), Australia.
  • MFO Training services and provision for dredging operations on the Amrun (South of Embley) Project.
    Jan De Nul.
  • Provision of VSP MMO crew training for the Exmouth Plateau-Gorgon drilling programme.
    Chevron Australia.
  • Expert statement and evidence before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) regarding sand mining off Taranaki.
    Trans-Tasman Resources.
  • MMO Training services and provision for pile driving operations on the Cruise Berth Project at Port Lyttelton.
    LPC
  • Report to identify and assess the current mitigation techniques for marine mammal and seabird capture employed in set net fisheries domestically and internationally, and recommendations as to their applicability to the New Zealand situation.
    DOC.
  • Vessel Charter Services to support land and sea management activities in and around Torres Strait.
    Torres Strait Regional Authority.
  • Bespoke MMO and training services for Marine & Civil pile driving activities.
    Marine and Civil.
  • Expert advice on the proposal to leave the remains of the MV Rena on Astrolabe Reef – potential impacts on marine mammals.
    Department of Conservation (DOC), NZ.
  • Consultancy advice on the report: Peters & Stockin 2016 Responses of bottlenose dolphins to vessel activity in Northland.
    Department of Conservation.
  • Development of an aerial survey design for estimating the abundance of Hector’s dolphins (joint venture between colleagues at Cawthron Institute, Marine Wildlife Research, and Proteus Wildlife Research Consultants).
    Ministry of Primary Industries.
  • Review of the NZ Guidelines for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Marine Mammals from Seismic Survey Operations and Reference Document with respect to new research findings, international best practice and recent legislation changes within NZ. Analysis and reporting of submissions on the review.
    Department of Conservation.
  • Ground-based estimates of New Zealand sea lion pup production and mark recapture studies of pups at the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands.
    Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand (NZ).

Quality, Safety And Environment

All of BPM’s work is subject to our QSE system, which is modelled on ISO 9001, AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 14001.

For this project [deploying baited underwater videos to investigate the effects of ocean warming on coral trout], Phantom was probably the best possible vessel we could’ve used. The flexibility and size of the outer deck space is awesome ... Very professional and effective boat handling. Everyone on board went out...
Professor Morgan Pratchett
James Cook University

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