High Qualified ACCOBAMS MMO (Marine Mammals Observer) training with certification, 22-28 July 2019, Pelagos sanctuary, Savona, Italy. Menkab el respire del mare and Moidjio CRCAD are offering a 7 days Marine Mammal Observer course with “High qualified MMO” certification for the ACCOBAMS region. The course is accredited by ACCOBAMS and will allow you to become part of a growing professional activity in need of high-qualified experts. More and more industrial and military activities are identified as creating disturbance to marine life and mitigation procedures are put together in order to limit the impact of such activities on marine life. In order to implement mitigation procedures, ACCOBAMS has created guidelines specific to it region. To implement these guidelines on impacting activities such as Seismic surveys, Bathymetry survey, pile driving, sonar activities, pipe-line laying, explosive use, dredging, sub-water buildings, a team of Observer are placed onboard to advise, observe and report on compliance with ACCOBAMS guidelines. Our course is accredited by the ACCOBAMS permanent secretariat and will provide the professional with a full insight of the MMO career and responsibilities with a 7 days intensive course, including 4 days at sea to take the chance to encounter and learn about all the species of the Pelagos sanctuary and 3 days intensive Courses. To integrate a training to become an ACCOBAMS highly qualified MMO, the candidate should, at least, be graduated in biology or ecology, or demonstrate a commitment to environment and its conservation. Personal path should demonstrate a minimum of 30 days at-sea as observer (real spent in favourable condition at sea at work), and the candidate should be able to recognize the different species and understand the behaviour of animals at sea. Period could be continuous or cumulative. Be able to communicate in English language. To become “Highly qualified MMO”, the candidate should be able to demonstrate 90 days experience in the relevant role as MMO or/and PAM operator. ACCOBAMS trainers will provide certificate of the training and candidate should be able to provide records of relevant experience to employers or regulators if necessary (eg. : seaman’s book or letters of reference). The candidate should provide all necessary information to the trainer organism (dates, places, species encountered, type of work done at sea). The course fee is of 400 Euros per person and there is possibility to lodge at nearby B&B at special Menkab friend rate of 30 Euros per night. Course content: 1- Presentation of the High Quality MMO/PAM certificate of ACCOBAMS 1.1 ACCOBAMS: a tool for the conservation of biodiversity in the Mediterranean and Black Sea 1.2 Process and Objective of the ACCOBAMS Certification for Highly Qualified MMO/PAM 2- Introduction to under water acoustics 2.1 What is sound? 2.2 Seismic waves 2.3 The sonar equation 2.4 Octaves and one third octave 3- Introduction to marine mammals and acoustics 3.1 Marine mammal in the ACCOBAMS area 3.2 Cetacean biology and distribution in the ACCOBAMS area 3.3 Marine mammal distribution and critical habitats 3.4 Cetacean vocalizations and hearing 4- Introduction to human activities generating impulsive noise 4.1 Overview of oil and gas industry use of sound-active exploration 4.2 Other activities generating impulsive noise of major concern for marine wildlife conservation 4.3 Further anthropogenic noise sources 4.4 Spatial extent of noise producing human activities in the Mediterranean Sea 4.5 Impact of noise on marine mammals 5- Introduction to existing regulations and ACCOBAMS Guidelines 5.1 Introduction to international and European environmental law 5.2 International Treaties dealing with marine mammal conservation and/or noise mitigation 5.3 European regulations dealing with marine mammal conservation and/or noise mitigation 5.4 Regional TREATIES dealing with marine mammal conservation and/or noise mitigation 5.5 National legislations 5.6 ACCOBAMS Guidelines 5.7 Presentation of existing guidelines in the world 5.8 Operational points of the different guidelines 6- Introduction to the role of MMO/PAM 6.1 Pre-survey phase 6.2 Survey phase 6.3 Practical aspects about the equipment for cetacean detection 6.4 Detection of cetaceans/other species 6.5 Communication with crew 6.6 Data entry 6.7 Practical aspects of PAM on fixed stations and seismic vessels 6.8 Post- survey phase 7- Introduction to the “life style” onboard 7.1 Offshore survival and safety 7.2 MMO medical condition requirements 7.3 Life style and organisation onboard 7.4 Data confidentiality In order to register, please contact our team with your interest at: moidjio@hotmail.com<mailto:moidjio@hotmail.com> or arcimenkab@gmail.com<mailto:arcimenkab@gmail.com> Menkab website: http://www.menkab.it<http://www.menkab.it/> Moidjio website: http://www.cetaceansconservation.org<http://www.cetaceansconservation.org> <https://www.cetaceansconservation.org/>