MPSC is holding a training course in Boston, MA that provides Protected Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on June 8-9. This class will include a vessel trip to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, one of the top whale-watching locations in the world! Currently, humpback, fin, sei and minke whales have been quite active in the area. The vessel trip will provide the opportunity to practice the skills discussed in class regarding locating and identifying marine mammals and sea turtles. Attendees will also be able to practice wildlife photography using manual settings on digital SLR cameras, and distance estimation using binoculars with reticles. This course will also host a special guest speaker from NMFS, who will discuss PSO roles, regulatory framework, MMPA, and more. This training is approved by the federal agencies Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in coordination with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to provide Protected Species Observer certification for seismic surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, and is a long-standing industry standard which may often be accepted in various other regions or industries where monitoring and mitigation for protected species is needed. The course examines the regulations for reducing seismic survey impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles, how to visually locate and identify the animals, and objective documentation of animal behavior for reporting to regulatory agencies. Student/recent graduate and government or non-profit discounts are available. Lunch is provided each day, along with various identification guides and regulatory documents (yours to keep), advice on applying to PSO positions, the vessel trip, and the professional certification. MPSC will also be holding PSO Training in Monterey, CA on June 1-2. Additional information for either course may be found online at http://www.protectedspeciesobservers.com/, by contacting me at ABostwick@psocertifications.com, or by phone at 832-523-2402. Thank you, Angela Bostwick Founder / Marine Protected Species Consulting ProtectedSpeciesObservers.com https://Facebook.com/ProtectedSpeciesObservers/