MMO, MFO & PAM Operator Personnel

Environmental Consulting in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific

Marine Mammal Observer (MMO), Marine Fauna Observer (MFO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operator personnel

Blue Planet Marine (BPM) is a leading supplier of Marine Mammal Observer, Marine Fauna Observer and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) services to marine seismic, dredging, pile driving and marine construction operations in Australasia and the South Pacific. We are committed to assisting our clients fulfil their environmental, social and regulatory requirements.

Our services include:

Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) and Marine Fauna Observers (MFOs)
Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operators and Systems
Survey Environmental Advisors (SEA)
Environmental Compliance Assessments

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

BPM has a proven track record with a strong, core team of experienced MMOs, MFOs and PAM operators who have logged more than 10,000 operational days in Australian and New Zealand waters. We provide government, industry and NGOs with independent, high quality and informed services.

PAM SPECIALISTS

Our team is highly skilled in Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM). We supply robust PAM systems, including at least 100% backup of all equipment. Our PAM systems are tailored for each project to ensure they are sensitive to the vocalising frequencies of cetaceans likely to be encountered and meet required specifications.

PREMIER PERSONNEL

BPM’S MMOs, MFOs and PAM Operators are trained, experienced and qualified professionals. We endeavour to select people with experience working in local waters and tailor our teams for each project. Our clients trust us and know they have the right knowledge, experience and systems in place to produce the best results.

HIGH QUALITY SERVICE

As well as our quality personnel, we deliver a premium and comprehensive service that doesn’t break the bank. This includes the use of: a real-time cetacean positioning and tracking system in conjunction with acoustics; high quality equipment and systems proven in the field; comprehensive reporting to meet client and government requirements; inhouse scientific expertise and knowledge; extensive and regular client liaison; and infield support for our personnel.

SUPERIOR RESULTS

We provide our clients with premier marine environmental services. We do this by:

Investing in and supporting our team
Working closely with and listening to our clients
Using and investing in technology and quality equipment
Delivering to project scope on time and on budget
Superior reporting and QA
Participating in research and publishing scientific papers
Incorporating constant improvement into our work and systems

RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRADITIONAL OWNERS, IWI AND HAPU

We have employed and worked with a range of traditional Owners around Australia and Māori iwi and hapu observers who affiliate with North and South Island iwi in New Zealand. In addition, we have attended Hui on behalf of clients, presenting independent assessments of seismic survey operations and marine mammal mitigation techniques.

GOVERNMENT-APPROVED

BPM has NZ Government-approved training courses to certify inexperienced and experienced MMOs and experienced PAMOs as ‘Trained’ or ‘Qualified’ under the NZ Code of Conduct.

Recent Projects

Development of a draft coordinated research strategy to collect information required to assess the national conservation status of Australian tropical inshore dolphins.

SEWPAC.
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.
Development of the National Recovery Plan for marine turtles in Australian waters.

Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPAC), Australia.
Review of multi-beam echo-sounder surveys and potential impacts on marine mammals.

Marlborough District Council, NZ.
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.
MMO Training services and provision for pile driving operations on the America’s Cup Infrastructure Project.

Wynyard Edge Alliance
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.
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.
Provision of vessel and crew for deploying underwater baited video cameras to investigate effects of ocean warming on coral trout.

James Cook University.
Provide expert advice on monitoring and research programs for Māui dolphin, associated with offshore activities.

Golder NZ.
Vessel charter and crew services for deployment of wave gliders off Darwin, Australia.

Liquid Robotics.
Provision of MFO training and environmental compliance monitoring for the Gorgon LNG Project.

Chevron Australia.
Provision of a plan to mitigate the potential for collision with bottlenose dolphins – NZOPA Powerboat Race.

Far North District Council.
Monitoring of aquatic ambient noise and the associated pressure impacts on marine megafauna in Port Curtis and Port Alma, East Australia.

Gladstone Port Corporation.
Supply of vessel and crew for the blue whale research project in the Great Australian Bight.

Australian Marine Mammal Centre.
Estimate of the risk of vessel strike to marine mammals in Australian waters.

Australian Government.
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-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.
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.
Development of the National Conservation Management Plan for blue whales in Australian waters.

Department of the Environment (DOE), 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.
Independent review the draft Great Keppel Island Resort Pre-construction Surveying Program.

FRC Environmental.
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.
Technical review of the Pluto Turtle Monitoring Plan and lighting audit to assess impacts on turtles, Pluto LNG Project.

Woodside Energy.
Bespoke MMO training services.

Geoscience Australia.
Vessel, crew and logistical support for a survey of uninhabited islands of the Torres Strait: turtles, reptiles, seabirds and vegetation.

Torres Strait Regional Authority.
Undertaking humpback whale satellite tagging activities to determine migratory destination and movement patterns.

Australian Antarctic Division.
Vessel-based surveys for the assessment of the current status of cetaceans and feasibility of a whale watching industry in Samoa.

DEH.
MMO Training services and provision for pile driving operations on the Cruise Berth Project at Port Lyttelton.

LPC
Vessel Charter Services to support land and sea management activities in and around Torres Strait.

Torres Strait Regional Authority.
Expert statement and evidence before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) regarding sand mining off Taranaki.

Trans-Tasman Resources.
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 assessment: Trans-shipping and mother-shipping operations in small pelagic fisheries in Australian waters.

Department of the Environment, Australia.
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.
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.
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).
Bespoke MMO and training services for Marine & Civil pile driving activities.

Marine and Civil.
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.
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.
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 VSP MMO crew training for the Exmouth Plateau-Gorgon drilling programme.

Chevron Australia.
Consultancy advice on the report: Peters & Stockin 2016 Responses of bottlenose dolphins to vessel activity in Northland.

Department of Conservation.
MFO Training services and provision for dredging operations on the Amrun (South of Embley) Project.

Jan De Nul.
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
Analysis and reporting of all observer data collected during seismic surveys in New Zealand waters under the New Zealand Code of Conduct.

DOC.
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.
Satellite tagging of humpback and southern right whales in Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.

Australian Antarctic Division.
Desktop technical review of marine megafauna detection systems.

Chevron.
MMO Training services and provision for pile driving operations on the Calliope Wharf Upgrade Project at Devonport Naval base.

Downer
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.
Collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division in undertaking acoustic and visual surveys for Blue Whales in the Bonny Upwelling.

Australian Antarctic Division.
Technical Review of the Ichthys Onshore LNG Facilities Underwater Noise Management Plan.

INPEX.
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.
Review of multibeam echo sounder surveys and potential impacts on marine mammals.

Marlborough District Council.
Development of a Marine Mammal Impact Assessment for a 3D MSS in the Taranaki Basin.

Todd Energy.
Humpback whale satellite tagging, photo-ID and genetic sampling at the Kermadec Islands.

University of Auckland.
Effects of mussel farm extension on dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds – expert evidence and advice on effects and management options.

Admiralty Bay Consortium, NZ.
Provision of dedicated MMOs and MMO training for contractors for VSP operations on the Northern Australia

PTTEPAA.

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.

OMV in New Zealand have been working with Blue Planet Marine (BPM) in the role of Cetacean Monitoring, during their many seismic surveys in the region for the last 8 years. During that time, BPM proven to be a service provider of the highest order, for their particular field of...

Matiu Park and Michael Lord

OMV New Zealand

MMO, MFO & PAM

MMO, MFO & PAM Operator Personnel

Marine Mammal Observer (MMO), Marine Fauna Observer (MFO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operator personnel

Recent Projects

Quality, Safety And Environment

Our Clients Appreciate our dedication and support