Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Marine Mammal Observer Training - 1 Day Course (09:30 - 17:30)  - £100 per person

JNCC Approved Trainer:   Alison Gill  BSc, MSc

Course Dates: we offer a flexible service in terms of dates while Alison is land-based.  Contact us with your requirements and we will arrange a date.   

Please email for details of next course

Course Details This Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) registered course is required for you to work as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) in UK Continental Shelf waters during offshore projects such as seismic surveys, pile-driving for offshore wind farms and decommissioning projects involving the use of explosives.

* Please note that you only need to attend a one day training course to receive a JNCC MMO certificate as approved by the JNCC. We do not grade personnel on this course as this is not required by the JNCC. Persons likely to win contracts working as MMOs are those which have additional biological or environmental qualifications and/or have experience of working at sea. To work as an MMO in some areas of the UK where marine mammals are more abundant you will be required to have experience of working with marine mammals whether this is formally as a researcher or through voluntary work. Although we do not vet people attending our courses we would expect that persons wishing to work as MMOs to already have this experience or will endeavour to do so after this course. Alternatively you may be personnel from the offshore industry sector who may like to attend a one day course in order to gain more knowledge of marine mammal observation during offshore operations.   See below for detailed course content

Rates

Price: £100 per person  - this is the charge for attending a class in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.  Price includes a light lunch, tea and coffee.

Every attendee will be issued a detailed course manual  and will receive a certificate on completing the course satisfactorily.

If you require a group rate or wish for Alison to visit your establishment please email info@intelligentocean.com for a quote.

We offer a special rate should you book the PAM Training Course and the JNCC MMO Course together which is £180 for both courses (the PAM Training Course will be held the day after the JNCC MMO Training).
 

Location

Classes will be held in the town of Kings Lynn in Norfolk at the "Globe Hotel" on the corner of Tuesday Market Place in the centre of town .  Address is: The Globe Hotel, King Street, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. PE30 1EZ.

Click  here for Globe Hotel Website

Click here for a map of the course location.

Kings Lynn is on the train line from London, Kings Cross with a regular hourly service. There is also a good train service from London Stansted.

Click here for a list of local guesthouses and hotels in Kings Lynn.

Tea, coffee and a light lunch will be provided for  free of charge. Alternatively you can provide your own lunch or visit one of the local hotels, cafes or pubs during the lunch hour. 

Car Parking

Please note there are no car parking facilities at the Globe Hotel. There are several car parks in the town within walking distance of the course.  Please note the cost of these vary and that some have restricted times you can stay.

Please click here for a map of car parks in Kings Lynn town centre. The long stay car parks are the cheapest. 

We recommend the car park on Church Street (marked with a red cross) on the map as this always has spaces and is reasonably priced at £3.20 for a whole day.

For tariffs of other car parks - follow this link to the Kings Lynn Council Website.

Course Content 

09:30 - 11:00

Why is there work for Marine Mammal Observers?
Who are the JNCC?
Marine Mammal Terminology     
Marine Mammals and Noise
The Importance of Sound to Marine Mammals
Impacts of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammals Physical Effects
Behavioural Disturbance
Masking           
Indirect effects
Seismic Surveys
Decommissioning oil wellheads and associated structures
Wind farms and tidal turbine construction

11:00 - 11:30   Coffee Break

11:30 - 13:00

Sound Levels produced during offshore operations
Explaining Source Levels and Received Levels of Sound    
Sound Levels during Seismic Surveys          
Sound Levels during Explosive Operations   
Sound Levels during Pile Driving       
Protecting Marine Mammals during Offshore Operations     
Mitigation Zones (Exclusion Zones)   
Soft Start Procedure (Ramp-ups)     
Additional Role of the Marine Mammal Observer      
Marine Mammal Survey Techniques 
Visual Monitoring        
Sighting Cues

13:00 - 14:00 Lunch Break

14:00 - 15:30

Identifying Marine Mammal Species 
Range Estimation Techniques          
Passive Acoustic Monitoring (brief introduction)
Marine Mammal Observation Onboard Vessels       
Who employs you?                
Understanding the Industry    
Having the right equipment    
Personnel onboard vessels   
Working with ship’s personnel       
The importance of good communication       
Choosing the best viewing platform for observations           
Organising suitable watch schedules           

15:30 - 16:00  Tea Break

16:00 - 17:30

JNCC Guidelines      
Data Sheets   
Marine Mammal Observer Reports   
Training Scenario
Questions and Discussion