The Sound and Marine Life Joint Industry Programme (JIP) of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) has posted a new Request for Proposals (RFP) about passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) on its web site. In part, the RFP says this: --------------------------------------------- Current fixed PAM technology requires further development in order to provide an effective long term monitoring tool (detection, classification and localisation) and therefore increase its usefulness to Industry and the scientific community. There are a number of autonomous buoy systems currently in use, all of which collect data over extended periods of time, which are then collected and analysed post data recording. A potential area of interest may be the development of highspeed data links from fixed PAM installations to vessel or shore-based stations for real-time data processing and analysis of acoustic data over wide areas. The OGP E&P Sound and Marine Life JIP is requesting proposals that address: * Compiling a detailed inventory of fixed PAM technologies and methods that are currently available and potential new technologies and methods currently being developed. * Conducting a critical review and assessment of fixed PAM capabilities and their application during E&P activities offshore. * Identifying potential areas of further development in order to improve both effectiveness and accuracy of detecting/classifying/ localising marine mammals at sea. --------------------------------------------- To learn more, see the JIP web site at http://www.soundandmarinelife.org