We are looking for 32 volunteers to help with a final phase of a marine mammal observer study. Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th July 2006 and then Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th July 2006. You would only be asked to attend 2 days in total! Some members volunteered last time, and were a great help! The biggest problem is that we need people who have had NO training in marine mammals and this is what we are finding a problem as all the people i know are trained! If you know any one who would like to be trained and does not live too far away from Southampton can you please read below and contact Susan Cannings at Southampton Solent University, England. Thanks Yvonne Miles Research Study Ocean Eye is a Research Programme, in response to the Government's commitment to providing accurate population assessments of marine mammals and effective reduction of noise disturbances under national and international law. Methods of minimising disturbance from sources such as seismic or military activity rely on the acoustic and visual detection of marine mammals. However, there has been little research that has investigated visual observations and the factors, which effect observer's abilities to detect marine mammals at sea. This study examines the efficiency of visual observers in detecting marine mammals without having to go to sea. The Ocean Eye project opens the door to the development of an innovative new approach that could see improved visual search effectiveness and detection accuracy by Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs), reduced impact of disturbance on marine mammals and cost-efficiency improvements for operators. What will participating in the study involve? You will be asked to: Undertake a pre test of your ability to spot a marine mammal Listen to a talk about marine mammals Complete a background questionnaire to provide details of any wildlife observer training and experience you may have. We prefer you to have no training at all, but are happy if you do any water-based activities. Complete a two week Eye training session on line (some volunteers must have access to a computer and the internet for a period of 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon) Undertake a post test of your ability to spot marine mammals Sign a consent form if you wish to take part in the study. Each volunteer will be randomly assigned a number indicating your turn in the assessment process. Some volunteers will be trained to spot marine mammals and have an eye training session (carried out on line), some will have no training or only part training. Each volunteer will be pre tested and post tested on the simulator. There may be a wait until it is your turn. Tea and coffee (and lunch in some cases) will be provided, and a volunteer coordinator will be with you until it is your turn. He/she will be happy to answer any questions you may have, but will not be able to give you any more details about the study itself. When it is your turn, you will be taken in to the Ship's mess to acclimatise to being aboard the ships bridge for 10 minutes. The Bridge Officer will greet you. She will explain the equipment and ask you to conduct a 20-minute watch on board the ship. When this is complete, you may either leave or wait for colleagues in a separate waiting area, but you will be asked to not re-join the other volunteers until everyone has completed their watch. Your task You are a marine mammal observer aboard the bridge of the research vessel 'MV Norsim'. Your job is to notify the Officer of the Bridge whenever you see something you consider to be a marine mammal. You will be the marine mammal observer on watch for a 20-minute session. During the course of the sessions, you may see any of the marine mammals or blows on your identification chart, or nothing at all. If you do see something, you will be asked to Call out what you see immediately, and Indicate the position of your observation with a laser pointer. (You will be given the laser pointer on the Bridge and instructions on how to use it safely). The Officer of the Bridge will note your observation thank you and ask you to continue watching. If you are happy to take part in this study, please complete the questionnaire and sign the consent form. If you would like details on the outcome of the study please tick the box on the Consent form. Please let Susan Cannings know if you require transport to the Warsash Maritime Centre where the training and simulator tests will take place. All Details please contact Susan.Cannings@solent.ac.uk or Yvonne@this60.freeserve.co.uk -- Yvonne Miles 80 Garland Road Poole Dorset BH15 2LD Yvonne@this60.freeserve.co.uk 01202 682313 0790 5021 631