Conference and Workshops on Passive Acoustics for Monitoring Marine Mammals at Sea PAMGUARD is convening a conference on passive acoustics for monitoring marine mammals at sea and will be introducing, demonstrating and providing hands on experience with the PAMGUARD software, which is an integrated open source software package for processing and analysing either real time or archived input data from both towed and fixed hydrophones. The PAMGUARD project is a research activity currently supported by the OGP E&P Sound and Marine Life JIP (originally supported by the Industry Research Funders Coalition (IRFC)) The meeting will be held over two days 28th and 29th March 2007 at Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh UK. A one day conference on 28th will be followed by a day of focused workshops and hands on training sessions. The event will be of interest to participants from a range of organisations including- Commercial, Scientific and Military operators of sound sources in the marine environment. PAMGUARD is a tool for underwater acoustic monitoring that can be used for a range of activities, including marine mammal monitoring for mitigation and research purposes. Its open source and modular architecture mean it can be readily adapted to user requirements. Marine biology researchers and academics PAMGUARD is a flexible and adaptable tool that can be used for many research activities including population surveys and behavioural studies. Regulators PAM (Passive Acoustic Monitoring) is a developing method for monitoring marine mammals at sea, which has been used as an element of mitigation requirements for various activities offshore. This event will provide an opportunity to discuss the strengths and shortcomings of PAM as a monitoring tool and include discussions related to providing long-term support, maintenance and future development of PAMGUARD. Marine Mammal Observers and PAM operators The incorporation of PAM in offshore monitoring activities will require MMOs and/or PAM operators to acquire additional skill sets, in order to interpret both visual sightings and acoustic detections of marine mammals in the field. There are advantages in having a single software interface for users in order to improve the effectiveness of both operator training and therefore use of PAM in the field. This event is an opportunity to learn more about this new technology, be amongst the first to receive training with PAMGUARD and to contribute your own practical field experience to its further development. MMO/PAM service providers This event will provide an opportunity to consider the strengths and shortcomings of PAM as a monitoring tool and include discussions related to providing long-term support, maintenance, training and future development of PAMGUARD. Equipment developers and providers This conference is an opportunity to discuss the use of existing equipment or future developments in conjunction with PAMGUARD and include discussions related to providing long-term support, maintenance and the future development of PAMGUARD. Software Developers As PAMGUARD develops beyond the establishment phase there will be increasing opportunities for developers to provide new functionality. PAMGUARD is an open source programming environment that is proving particularly suitable for developing new acoustic detection and localisation applications. Student competition A competition to develop new modules within PAMGUARD will be announced at the conference. Register There will be limited availability of spaces for the focused workshops and hands on training sessions being held on the 2nd day of the event, so please register your interest by the end of January to secure a place. To register your interest in this event and provisionally secure a place for the focused workshops and hands on training sessions, please join the PAMGUARDMeeting list by either sending an email to PAMGUARDmeetin-subscribe@googlegroups.com <mailto:PAMGUARDmeetin-subscribe@googlegroups.com> Or following this link <http://groups-beta.google.com/group/pamguardmeetin/boxsubscribe?p=FixAddr&e mail=&_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fgroups-beta.google.com%2Fgroup%2Fpamguardmeetin% 2Fmanage_promote> A more detailed announcement with a list of presentations and workshops will be made in the coming weeks. Registering now will ensure that you receive all further notices, will provisionally secure you a place and assist us with planning the event. Further information regarding PAMGUARD can be found at www.pamguard.org <http://www.pamguard.org>.