MPSC is holding a training course in Galveston, TX which provides Protected Species Observer (also known as Marine Mammal Observer) certification on September 28-29. This class will include a tour of the Texas A&M University at Galveston's Sea Life Facility, a marine research and sea turtle rehabilitation laboratory, and also a private vessel trip. During the tour of the Sea Life Facility, we will discuss care of sea turtles and identifying traits of the different species of sea turtles found in the Gulf. The vessel trip will provide opportunity to practice the protected species monitoring identification techniques discussed in class; students will also be able to practice manual settings for wildlife photography using digital SLR cameras, and will learn to estimate distance using binoculars with reticles. 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 is often accepted in various other regions or industries (such as renewable energy, construction, dredging) 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. A discounted rate is available for students/recent graduates, members of non-profit organizations and government/veterans. Lunch is provided each day, along with various identification guides and regulatory documents (yours to keep), advice on applying to PSO positions, the tour of the sea turtle rehabilitation facility, the vessel trip, and the professional certification. MPSC is also holding a PSO Certification course in Newport, Oregon on October 5th-6th. Additional information may be found on the MPSC website 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/