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Technical Support

Technical support

For the development of applications for referrals, permits and resource consents including specialist technical advice and expert evidence

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Our team has a proven track record of successfully delivering towards our clients’ environmental objectives. Whether it’s developing Environmental Impact Assessments, Referrals applications, or desk-based research, advice and reporting, we have the capacity, the knowledge and the expertise to assist you.

Human activity can impact on the marine environment, yet this can be reduced with the help of careful planning and environmental management.

Our team can provide you with technical advice and expert evidence including for resource consent processes as Expert, Independent Witnesses and independent review of applications for Regulators. We have extensive experience in providing evidence for a wide range of planning and legal processes in Australia and New Zealand and in supporting clients to successfully achieve approvals for their activities.

From businesses seeking technical advice and expert evidence to Governments requiring management plans, research capabilities, practical scientific input and policy advice; our separate divisions of research and consulting can provide the perfect balance in establishing effective, long-term environmental management.

Recent Projects

  • Effects of mussel farm extension on dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds – expert evidence and advice on effects and management options.
    Admiralty Bay Consortium, NZ.
  • Vessel Charter Services to support land and sea management activities in and around Torres Strait.
    Torres Strait Regional Authority.
  • 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.
  • MMO Training services and provision for pile driving operations on the Calliope Wharf Upgrade Project at Devonport Naval base.
    Downer
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • Provision of a plan to mitigate the potential for collision with bottlenose dolphins – NZOPA Powerboat Race.
    Far North District Council.
  • Satellite tagging of humpback and southern right whales in Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.
    Australian Antarctic Division.
  • 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.
  • Supply of vessel and crew for the blue whale research project in the Great Australian Bight.
    Australian Marine Mammal Centre.
  • Review of multi-beam echo-sounder surveys and potential impacts on marine mammals.
    Marlborough District Council, 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.
  • MMO Training services and provision for pile driving operations on the America’s Cup Infrastructure Project.
    Wynyard Edge Alliance
  • Expert statement and evidence before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) regarding sand mining off Taranaki.
    Trans-Tasman Resources.
  • Development of a Marine Mammal Impact Assessment for a 3D MSS in the Taranaki Basin.
    Todd Energy.
  • Bespoke MMO training services.
    Geoscience Australia.
  • Technical Review of the Ichthys Onshore LNG Facilities Underwater Noise Management Plan.
    INPEX.
  • Technical review of the Pluto Turtle Monitoring Plan and lighting audit to assess impacts on turtles, Pluto LNG Project.
    Woodside Energy.
  • Bespoke MMO and training services for Marine & Civil pile driving activities.
    Marine and Civil.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Desktop technical review of marine megafauna detection systems.
    Chevron.
  • Review of multibeam echo sounder surveys and potential impacts on marine mammals.
    Marlborough District Council.
  • 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.
  • Provision of vessel and crew for deploying underwater baited video cameras to investigate effects of ocean warming on coral trout.
    James Cook University.
  • Estimate of the risk of vessel strike to marine mammals in Australian waters.
    Australian Government.
  • Technical assessment: Trans-shipping and mother-shipping operations in small pelagic fisheries in Australian waters.
    Department of the Environment, Australia.
  • Monitoring of aquatic ambient noise and the associated pressure impacts on marine megafauna in Port Curtis and Port Alma, East Australia.
    Gladstone Port Corporation.
  • Development of a draft coordinated research strategy to collect information required to assess the national conservation status of Australian tropical inshore dolphins.
    SEWPAC.
  • 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.
  • Provide expert advice on monitoring and research programs for Māui dolphin, associated with offshore activities.
    Golder NZ.
  • Provision of VSP MMO crew training for the Exmouth Plateau-Gorgon drilling programme.
    Chevron Australia.
  • Humpback whale satellite tagging, photo-ID and genetic sampling at the Kermadec Islands.
    University of Auckland.
  • Analysis and reporting of all observer data collected during seismic surveys in New Zealand waters under the New Zealand Code of Conduct.
    DOC.
  • Independent review the draft Great Keppel Island Resort Pre-construction Surveying Program.
    FRC Environmental.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Consultancy advice on the report: Peters & Stockin 2016 Responses of bottlenose dolphins to vessel activity in Northland.
    Department of Conservation.
  • Development of the National Conservation Management Plan for blue whales in Australian waters.
    Department of the Environment (DOE), Australia.
  • Development of the National Recovery Plan for marine turtles in Australian waters.
    Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPAC), Australia.
  • Collaboration with the Australian Antarctic Division in undertaking acoustic and visual surveys for Blue Whales in the Bonny Upwelling.
    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.
  • Provision of dedicated MMOs and MMO training for contractors for VSP operations on the Northern Australia
    PTTEPAA.
  • Provision of MFO training and environmental compliance monitoring for the Gorgon LNG Project.
    Chevron Australia.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Vessel charter and crew services for deployment of wave gliders off Darwin, Australia.
    Liquid Robotics.
  • Undertaking humpback whale satellite tagging activities to determine migratory destination and movement patterns.
    Australian Antarctic Division.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • MFO Training services and provision for dredging operations on the Amrun (South of Embley) Project.
    Jan De Nul.
  • Vessel, crew and logistical support for a survey of uninhabited islands of the Torres Strait: turtles, reptiles, seabirds and vegetation.
    Torres Strait Regional Authority.

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.

Blue Planet Marine provided excellent service for our operation out of Darwin, Australia. The captain and crew were nothing but critical in the success of our mission. They were professional and always willing to help. Launching and recovering Wave Gliders are not easy tasks to accomplish, but the Blue Planet...
Derek Cuny
Senior Field Engineer
Liquid Robotics

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