MARINE MAMMAL OBSERVER AND PASSIVE ACCOUSTIC … · Odontoceti Delphinidae Stenella longirostris Spinner Dolphin Data Deficient Odontoceti Delphinidae Stenella coeruleoalba Striped

TOTAL Myanmar EOM1792/DG/SP/AZ/jj

Report No. : EOM1792 RPS Energy, Nelson House, Author(s) : Donal Griffin Coombe Lane, Axminster, Simon Poles Devon. EX13 5AX, UK. Azli Zainal T +44 (0)1297 34656 F +44 (0)1297 33277 E [email protected] Date 18th May 2018 W www.rpsgroup.com

MARINE MAMMAL OBSERVER AND PASSIVE ACCOUSTIC MONITORING

REPORT

YADANA & SEIN 4D SEISMIC SURVEY

OFFSHORE MYANMAR FOR

TOTAL E&P MYANMAR

VESSEL: POLARCUS ALIMA

http://www.rpsgroup.com/

TOTAL Myanmar/EOM1792/DG/SP/AZ/jj

CONTENTS Title Contents Page Number

1. SUMMARY 1

2. INTRODUCTION 2

2.1. SURVEY AND LOCATION 2 2.2. MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS 3 2.3. SPECIES OCCURRENCE 4

3. EQUIPMENT AND METHODS 5

3.1. VESSEL DETAILS 5 3.2. SEISMIC EQUIPMENT AND SOUND EMISSIONS 8 3.3. MARINE MAMMAL SURVEY METHODS 9

3.3.1. Visual Monitoring 9 3.3.2. Acoustic Monitoring 10

4. RESULTS 13

4.1. VISUAL EFFORT 13 4.2. ACOUSTIC EFFORT 13 4.3. SIGHTING CONDITIONS 13 4.4. DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE 16

4.4.1. Marine Mammals and Turtles 16 4.5. FIGURE ARRAY ACTIVITY AND MARINE MAMMALS AND TURTLES 17

4.5.1. Marine Mammals 17 4.5.2. Marine Turtles 17

5. COMPLIANCE WITH GUIDELINES 18

5.1. SOFT-STARTS 18 5.2. MITIGATION ACTIONS 18

6. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 19

6.1. CONCLUSIONS 19 6.2. RECOMMENDATIONS 19

7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 20

8. REFERENCES 21

TOTAL Myanmar/EOM1792/DG/SP/AZ/jj

APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 APPENDIX 2 JNCC Guidelines APPENDIX 3 APPENDIX 4 JNCC Entire Project Report FIGURES FIGURE 1 Geographical Location of Survey Area FIGURE 2 Survey Lines for 2018 Yadana & Sein 4D Seismic Project FIGURE 3 The M/V Polarcus Alima, Acquisition Vessel for 4D and

Undershoot Operations FIGURE 4 The M/V Vyacheslav Tikhonov Source Vessel during Undershoot

Operations FIGURE 5 M/V Maria-G FIGURE 6 M/V Tegas Tara FIGURE 7 M/V Ultra Jaya FIGURE 8 Source Output Evolution during Automated Soft-Start FIGURE 9 PAM Cable Deployment Method FIGURE 10 PAM Station in Seismic Instrument Room FIGURE 11 Beaufort Wind Force during Observation Effort FIGURE 12 Swell Height during Observational Effort FIGURE 13 Sea State during Observational Effort FIGURE 14 Sightings Map TABLES TABLE 1 Summary of Mitigation Guidelines used for 2018 Yadana & Sein

4D Survey TABLE 2 Species Occurrence in Survey Area TABLE 3 Details of 2018 Yadana &Sein 4D Survey & Support Vessels TABLE 4 Acoustic Source Basic Specifications TABLE 5 Shift Pattern for Visual Observations by the MMOs TABLE 6 Summary of all Sightings

MMO Photographic Plates Marine Mammal Observational Procedure for Support Vessels

TOTAL Myanmar/EOM1792/DG/SP/AZ/jj 1

1. SUMMARY A 4D seismic survey was conducted by Polarcus on behalf of Total E&P Myanmar over the Yadana and Sein oil fields. The centre of the Yadana and Sein complex is 46.2 nm south of Baragua Point on the southern coast of Myanmar. The survey area was situated in Block M5 and carried out from 28th March to 20th April 2018. This report presents details of the marine fauna encountered and compliance with adopted mitigation guidelines for minimising the seismic disturbance to marine fauna. The seismic survey was carried out by the M/V Polarcus Alima as the primary source and acquisition vessel. The M/V Vyacheslav Tikhonov acted as the secondary source vessel for undershoot operations. Standard JNCC Guidelines for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from geophysical surveys (August 2017) were followed during this project with no further environmental amendments introduced by the client or the Myanmar government. Two Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) were deployed to cover daylight hours during the total duration of the survey. Visual Observations during the survey totalled 374hrs 53mins. One PAM Operator was deployed to cover hours of darkness and reduced visibility. Acoustic observations during the survey totalled 244hrs 57mins. During the survey the seismic array was activated on 164 separate occasions; this total is comprised of 36 guns tests and 128 lines. Soft-start procedures preceded all lines referred to above and from 36 gun tests, only 8 reached full power and required a full soft-start procedure. A total 146 pre soft-start searches were performed, all of which were monitored by one of the MMO or PAMO team. Of these soft-starts, 75 occurred during daylight hours (51.4%) and a further 5 (3.4%) at dusk. These pre soft-start watches were monitored by the duty MMO. 71 (48.6%) soft-start pre-searches were carried out by the PAM operator during hours of darkness. During the course of the survey, 2 marine mammal and turtle 7 sighting events were recorded, amounting to an estimated 28 individual animals in total. A relatively low diversity of marine fauna was observed during the survey, considering the range of marine mammal and turtle species which are recorded as being present in the area (references). Despite favourable surveying conditions for the majority of the project, only 9 observations were made during daylight hours and no detections during hours of darkness. Individuals which could not be identified to the species level were recorded to the lowest level of certainty. No mitigation procedures were applied during the entire survey. During the survey no instances of non-compliance were recorded, JNCC guidelines (August 2017) were adhered to at all times. Further recommendations to the mitigation guidelines were suggested for future projects.


2. INTRODUCTION 2.1. SURVEY AND LOCATION The 2018 Yadana & Sein 4D survey area is situated in Block M5, approximately 46.2nm south of Baragua Point on the southern Myanmar coast (FIGURE 1) This is the third seismic project in this block after a previous 4D survey in the area in 2012 and a 3D survey covering the Yadana field in 1993. Sail lines were carried out in a North/South orientation apart from 13 lines in each of the 3 surveys which were carried out under a 90o heading (FIGURE 2).

FIGURE 1 Geographical Location of Survey Area


FIGURE 2 Survey Lines for 2018 Yadana & Sein 4D Seismic Project

2.2. MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS Myanmar currently has no statutory guidelines for minimising the risk of acoustic disturbance/injury to marine fauna. In this absence, Total E&P Myanmar adopted the UK based JNCC guidelines for minimising the risk of injury to marine mammals from geophysical surveys (August, 2017). A summary of the JNCC guidelines can be found in Table 1 below.

Source mitigation zone 500 m Pre-watch period 30 minutes (in shallow waters <200m) Soft-start procedure Yes 20 – 40 minutes Soft-start delays Yes 20 minutes (for marine mammals and turtles) Shut-down during production No

Species covered All marine mammals and turtles for soft-start delays only

TABLE 1 Summary of Mitigation Guidelines used for 2018 Yadana & Sein 4D Survey


2.3. SPECIES OCCURRENCE

Sub- order

Family Scientific name Common name IUCN Category

Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale Endangered

Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera physalus Fin Whale Endangered

Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera borealis Sei Whale Endangered

Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera edeni Bryde’sWhale Data Deficient

Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera omurai Omura’s Whale Data Deficient

Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera acutorostrata Northern Minke Whale Least Concern

Mysticeti Balaenopteridae Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale Least Concern

Odontoceti Physerteridae Physeter macrocephalus Sperm Whale Vulnerable

Odontoceti Kogiidae Kogia breviceps Pygmy Sperm Whale Data Deficient

Odontoceti Kogiidae Kogia sima Dwarf Sperm Whale Data Deficient

Odontoceti Ziphiidae Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Least Concern

Odontoceti Ziphiidae Mesoplodon densirostris Blainville’s Beaked Whale Data Deficient

Odontoceti Ziphiidae Indopacetus pacificus Longman’s Beaked Whale Data Deficient

Odontoceti Delphinidae Orcinus orca Killer Whale Data Deficient

Odontoceti Delphinidae Globicephala macrorhynchus Short-finned Pilot Whale Data Deficient

Odontoceti Delphinidae Pseudorca crassidens False Killer Whale Data Deficient

Odontoceti Delphinidae Feresa attenuata Pygmy Killer Whale Data Deficient

Odontoceti Delphinidae Peponocephala electra Melon-headed Whale Least Concern

Odontoceti Delphinidae Tursiops truncatus Common Bottlenose Dolphin Least Concern

Odontoceti Delphinidae Tursiops aduncus Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin Data Deficient

Odontoceti Delphinidae Sousa chinensis Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Near Threatened

Odontoceti Delphinidae Stenella attenuata Pantropical Spotted Dolphin Least Concern

Odontoceti Delphinidae Stenella longirostris Spinner Dolphin Data Deficient

Odontoceti Delphinidae Stenella coeruleoalba Striped Dolphin Least Concern

Odontoceti Delphinidae Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser’s Dolphin Least Concern

Odontoceti Delphinidae Steno bredanensis Rough-toothed Dolphin Least Concern

Odontoceti Delphinidae Orcaella brevirostris Irrawaddy Dolphin Vulnerable

Odontoceti Phocoenidae Neophocaena phocaenoides Finless Porpoise Vulnerable

Sirenia Sirenidae Dugong dugon Dugong Vulnerable

TABLE 2 Species Occurrence in Survey Area


3. EQUIPMENT AND METHODS 3.1. VESSEL DETAILS The M/V Polarcus Alima was employed as the primary source and acquisition vessel for the majority of this project (FIGURE 3). The M/V Vyacheslav Tikhonov (FIGURE 4) was used as the source vessel during the undershoot operations during which time the M/V Polarcus Alima acted as the acquisition vessel only. There were 3 support vessels employed for this project: The M/V Maria-G (FIGURE 5), M/V Tegas Tara (FIGURE 6) and the M/V Ultra Jaya (FIGURE 7).

FIGURE 3 The M/V Polarcus Alima, Acquisition Vessel for 4D and Undershoot Operations


FIGURE 4 The M/V Vyacheslav Tikhonov Source Vessel during Undershoot

Operations

FIGURE 5 M/V Maria-G


FIGURE 6 M/V Tegas Tara

FIGURE 7 M/V Ultra Jaya


Details M/V Polarcus Alima

M/V Vyacheslav Tikhonov

M/V Maria-G M/V Tegas Tara

M/V Ultra Jaya

Length (m) 92.0 84.2 53.8 61.3 40.0 Breadth (m) 21.0 17.0 13.8 13.8 10.0 Draught (m) 7.5 6.0 3.8 4.5 3.0 Call Sign C6XK4 UBSH6 3FMM5 9WLH9 9WRQ8 Max. Speed (kns) 15 17 12 12 12 Max. Personnel 60 45 50 60 34 Built 2010 2011 2009 2011 2015

TABLE 3 Details of 2018 Yadana &Sein 4D Survey & Support Vessels 3.2. SEISMIC EQUIPMENT AND SOUND EMISSIONS The geo-streamers were towed at an acquisition depth of 6m, and the streamer configuration was 10 x 2550m. Separation between the streamers was 50m resulting in a total spread of approximately 600m including the 2 barovanes. The M/V Polarcus Alima towed 2 gun arrays with 2 sub-arrays at a depth of 5m. Shot Point Interval (SPI) was 12.5m operating in flip-flop mode. The separation between the sub-arrays was 7m and a separation of 25m between each gun array. The type of seismic source employed was the BOLT 1900 LLXT and 1500 LL. The effective volume of the array was 2 x 2340 in³ (TABLE 3). The soft-start procedure used during this survey was fully automated. A chart showing the volume ramp-up procedure is provided in FIGURE 8.

No. of Source Sub-Arrays 2 No. of Gun Strings 4 No. of Individual Sources 48 including 12 spares Shot Point Interval 12.5 m (Flip-flop) Operating Pressure 2000 psi Maximum Operating Volume 2340 in³ Flip-flop Maximum Source Output (zero to peak) 62 bar-m Maximum Source Output (peak to peak) 69.9 bar-m Peak Frequency 50 Hz Source Length 14m

TABLE 4 Acoustic Source Basic Specifications


FIGURE 8 Source Output Evolution during Automated Soft-Start

3.3. MARINE MAMMAL SURVEY METHODS The MMOs conducted visual observations for marine mammals during daylight hours whereas seismic operations during the hours of darkness were monitored using PAM equipment by the PAM Operator. These watches were conducted during vessel transit to the survey area, seismic gear deployment as well as during data acquisition. Pre-shooting watch periods were prioritised by the MMO and PAM personnel on board. 3.3.1. Visual Monitoring Apart from during undershoot operations, a team of 2 experienced MMOs carried out visual observations throughout the survey and vessel transit on board the M/V Polarcus Alima. During undershoot operations however, 1 MMO was transferred to the M/V Vyacheslav Tikhonov to carry out visual observations and monitor source output. During this period, each MMO adopted a flexible working pattern to ensure all pre soft-start and pre-gun test watches were fully monitored. When 2 MMOs were present a continuous watch for marine mammals was undertaken from approximately 05:50hrs to 18:45hrs local time. A split watch rotation was adopted with watch periods of 3hrs (TABLE 4). Incidental marine mammal observations were also carried out by the officer on watch (OOW) on each of the support vessels. The MMO team provided a guidance sheet and a table to be completed and sent to the MMO team on board the M/V Polarcus Alima of sightings made by these vessels. See APPENDIX 3 for sightings table and instructions for these vessels.


Local Time MMO on Watch 05:50 – 09:00 Simon Poles 09:00 – 12:00 Donal Griffin 12:00 – 15:00 Simon Poles 15:00 – 18:00 Donal Griffin 18:00 – 18:40 Simon Poles

TABLE 5 Shift Pattern for Visual Observations by the MMOs Continuous searches for the presence of marine mammals and turtles was carried out from the bridge with a height above sea level of 13.8m. The distance from the centre of source to the designated observation point (bridge) for the MMOs was 261m. The mitigation area (500m) surrounding the centre of the gun array formed a circle passing 210m in front of the bow, 700m past the stern.

Visual searches were performed with the naked eye and with 7 x 50 binoculars to ensure good range coverage. DSLR cameras (Nikon D3200 with a 70-300mm lens and a Canon 700D with 50-500mm zoom lenses) were also used to take photographs for further identification and reference. The distance of a sighting to the vessel and source was determined using reticules in binoculars and also using the known distances to seismic equipment and radar targets. Cues used to locate marine mammals and turtles included:

• Sightings of backs, fins or heads • Blows from large whale species • Splashes/disturbed water • Feeding seabirds (often associated with feeding cetaceans) • Oily slicks at the surface – indicative of recent/current feeding activity • Locations of fronts and other oceanographic features where marine fauna often

congregate • Floating objects/debris – marine turtles often observed associated with these objects

Where definitive cetacean species identification could not be made (due to significant distance from the vessel, poor light, sea state, fleeting views and/or similarity of species), the identification was narrowed down and recorded to the lowest practicable taxonomic level. Species identification was aided by reference to field guides (Carwardine, 1995; Carwardine, 2006; Shirihai & Jarrett, 2006; Weir, 2006). 3.3.2. Acoustic Monitoring One PAM Operator was employed during the survey period to monitor during hours of darkness which is approximately between 18:30hrs and 6:00hrs. The PAM system on board M/V Polarcus Alima was a “Nighthawk III” system, supplied by MSeis Ltd based in East Brent, Somerset, UK. The PAM cable comprised of 2 sections, the tow cable and the deck cable. The tow cable consisted of a 4 element hydrophone array, each element having a flat frequency response 0–140 kHz, and a 250m streaming cable. The array was spooled on winch SPR 4 on the portside and was deployed approximately 140m behind the vessel along lead-in nine (FIGURE 9). There were 2 spare tow arrays on board as backup. All deployment and recovery tasks were handled by the Polarcus observers.


FIGURE 9 PAM Cable Deployment Method

The deck cable was 125m in length and was terminated on one end by an SD-16 connector, to the PAM array tow cable mentioned previously. The other end connected, via an F19P connector, which connected to the acquisition unit (PAM Station) in the instrument room (FIGURE 10).

FIGURE 10 PAM Station in Seismic Instrument Room


The PAM deck cable was connected to an acquisition box which fed 4 outputs to an “Akai EIE Pro” sound-card, sampling at 48 or 96 kHz and a single output (through a signal splitter) to a “National Instruments 9201 DAQ” unit sampling at 500 kHz. LF (low frequency) and HF (high frequency) signals were analysed on 2 separate desktop computers with 3 screens using PAMGuard software. Originally PAMGuard version v1.12.05 BETA was installed on both computers. However, this was later updated by the PAM Operator to the latest available version - 1.15.13 CORE. An NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) global positioning system (GPS) feed from the instrument room navigation desk was interfaced with the PAMGuard mapping module to allow for tracking of the vessel and any detections. Headphones were connected via audio jack to the Akai sound card and used by the PAM Operator to listen to the acoustic signal.


4. RESULTS 4.1. VISUAL EFFORT Marine mammal observations commenced on 26th March 2018 while transiting from Colombo, Sri Lanka to the project operational area and completed on 21st April 2018 when data acquisition ended. A total of 374hrs 53mins of observational effort was spent searching for marine mammals and turtles. 4.2. ACOUSTIC EFFORT PAMGuard software and the 3 PAM arrays on board the Polarcus Alima were first tested and proved to be functional on 14th March 2018 while vessel was on standby off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Upon completion of the tap test, array with label ID TH-307-107 was spooled onto the spread rope winch on the portside. On 27th March another tap test was carried out successfully before putting the array into the water inside the operational area. However, the deck lead was still connected during deployment causing it to snap. A spare deck cable was quickly put in place so that acoustic monitoring could start immediately. PAM cable was fully deployed by midnight on 28th March and monitoring commenced at 0:30am. The parted cable was re-terminated by one of the observers the following morning and a caution sign was put up by the PAM Operator on the winch controller. Monitoring ceased on 20th April at 21:30 after the last sequence, line 4D18YS2241F1-123, was completed and the PAM array was recovered on board at 4:00am on 21st April. A total of 244.95hrs of PAM was carried out between 28th March and 20th April 2018. Out of the total, 120.65hrs or 49.3% were observations conducted while the sound source was active. 69 pre-shooting searches were carried out using PAM equipment with a total duration of 34.5hrs 4.3. SIGHTING CONDITIONS Weather conditions for the detection of marine fauna were variable throughout the survey. Wind strength ranged between 1 and 5 on the Beaufort wind scale (FIGURE 11), with 39.33% of survey observational effort taking place in strengths of 2 or below, which are generally considered helpful for marine fauna detection. Beaufort wind forces of 3 to 4 and above are considered to be unhelpful and 56.4% of the observational effort was conducted in strengths 3 and 4. Just 1.83% of was conducted in Beaufort force 5.


FIGURE 11 Beaufort Wind Force during Observation Effort Swell height during observational effort ranged from flat calm to 4m. 97,04% of observational effort was spent in swell heights of 2m or below. This parameter is thought not to have affected the sighting rate. The swell height never rose above 4m which is the height at which swell is considered to influence sighting rates. See FIGURE 12 below for swell height and observational effort. Sea state is strongly influenced by wind force but describes the state of the sea itself. Slight and glassy conditions are considered ideal for sighting marine fauna. A total 86.79% of all observational effort (slight 83.58% and glassy 3.21%) was conducted in good sea conditions and just 13.21% in choppy sea conditions.


FIGURE 12 Swell Height during Observational Effort

FIGURE 13 Sea State during Observational Effort


4.4. DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE 4.4.1. Marine Mammals and Turtles A total of 9 marine mammal and marine turtle sightings were recorded and comprised 2 marine mammal sightings and 7 turtle sightings. An estimated total of 28 individuals were recorded during the observational effort. See TABLE 6 for a summary of all sightings. A more detailed sighting summary and complete sightings excel sheets can be seen in APPENDIX 4. There were no PAM detections during the survey period.

Species/Group No of Sightings Estimate of Animals Unidentified Hard Shell Turtle 5 5 Olive Ridelys Turtle 2 2 Dwarf Spinner Dolphin 1 20 Unidentified Baleen Whale sp. 1 1 TOTAL 9 28

TABLE 6 Summary of all Sightings

FIGURE 14 Sightings Map


4.5. FIGURE ARRAY ACTIVITY AND MARINE MAMMALS AND TURTLES 4.5.1. Marine Mammals Marine mammals were present within the mitigation zone whilst the array was active on 2 occasions. A baleen whale species encroached within the mitigation zone on only one occasion (Sighting 3). An individual whale approached the vessel on the 9th April at 08:52hrs. The array was active and at full power when the whale was first detected; duty MMO observed the individual very briefly and in accordance with the adopted guidelines took no action. The array was also at full power when the individual was last seen. A second sighting was made on the 13th April at 09:22hrs when a group of around 20 Dwarf spinner dolphins were observed bow riding on the Polarcus Alima M/V. When first detected the array was at full power and according with the adopted JNCC guidelines no action was taken. The array was at full power when the dolphins were last observed swimming away from the vessel. 4.5.2. Marine Turtles Marine turtles were sighted within the mitigation zone on 7 occasions whilst the array was not active; the closest estimated distance from the source was 150m (Sighting 2). On 77 occasions sightings were made at distances of less than 300m. In most cases marine turtles were basking and in a torpors state, so when they become aware of the vessel they exhibit some difficulty in reacting quickly.


5. COMPLIANCE WITH GUIDELINES 5.1. SOFT-STARTS During this survey the source was started on 164 separate occasions, including 36 gun tests. There were 128 start-ups for seismic lines. The source was active for a total of 1230hrs 41mins. During dedicated watches the array was active for 650hrs and 29mins, accounting for 52.9% of the total time that the source was active. All soft-start procedures complied with the adopted guidelines (The soft-start procedure is automated). A full 30 min pre-shooting watch or acoustic search was carried out prior to all soft-starts.

In total 75 (51.4%) soft-starts were performed during daylight, while 71 (48.6%) were performed at night time or during poor visibility. All soft-start procedures and pre soft-start watches complied with the adopted guidelines.

5.2. MITIGATION ACTIONS There were no mitigation actions (delay in soft-start) requested by the MMO and PAM team during the survey as none of the marine mammal or turtle observations were made during the source commencement pre-watch.


6. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6.1. CONCLUSIONS The seismic survey crew adhered to the adopted guidelines, and implemented any requested mitigation measures. No major compliance issues arose.

6.2. RECOMMENDATIONS

1) The MMO team strongly recommend that Total Myanmar E&P should disregard the amendment to the JNCC guidelines which institutes a delay to the start of line if a marine turtle encroaches within the mitigation zone prior to the soft-start. The MMO and PAM team feel that this current amendment provides no additional protection to marine turtles, whilst having potentially significant impact on production costs.

2) The MMO team suggest implementing a more effective means protection to these endangered and critically endangered species through the use of a shutdown procedure when the duty MMO judges that the observed turtle is about to dive or swim to within 100m of the array. If this is the case the MMO would radio down to the observers/gunners and request a shutdown of the array for either (7- 9) shots or when the MMO see´s or judges that the turtle has passed the array. All the MMO team are familiar with this procedure as it has been adopted on other seismic surveys.

3) The MMO team recommend Total Myanmar E&P could adopt a shutdown of the array if any marine mammals encroach within the 500m mitigation zone. As there were very few sightings of marine mammals or turtles in the survey, this would have a minimal impact on survey production and serve to protect any marine mammals that come within the 500m safety/mitigation zone from any potential harm or disturbance.


7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MMOs would like to thank both the Seismic and Marine Crew on the Polarcus Alima M/V for the excellent welcome and professional attitude displayed during the survey.


8. REFERENCES

1 BP (2010) Murdoch, W. and Weir, C. Offshore Survey Marine Mammal Observer Guidelines. Angola SPU Regulatory Compliance & Environment, BP.

2 Carwardine, M. (1995) Baleias, Golfinhos e Botos. Dorling Kindersley Ltd, London, UK.

3 Carwardine, M. (2006) Whales & Dolphins: Collins wild guide. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., London, UK.

4 JNCC (2009). JNCC guidelines for minimising the risk of disturbance and injury to

marine mammals from seismic surveys. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

5 Shirihai, H. & Jarrett, B. (2006) Whales, dolphins and seals. A field guide to the marine

mammals of the world. A & C Black, London, UK.

6 Weir, C. (2006) BP Identification Guide to Marine Mammals and Turtles of Angola.

7 Weir, C.R. (2007) Occurrence and distribution of cetaceans off northern Angola, 2004/05. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 9: 225–239.

8 Weir, C.R. (2010). A review of cetacean occurrence in West African waters from Gulf of

Guinea to Angola. Mammal Review, 40: 2-39.


APPENDIX 1

MMO Photographic Plates


Fin Whale observed during transit from Colombo to Survey Area

Spinner Dolphin also observed during transit

Second group of Spinner Dolphins observed during transit.


Flying Fish observed during transit

Sighting 5 Dwarf Spinner Dolphins

Sighting 5 Dwarf Spinner Dolphin playing


APPENDIX 2

JNCC Guidelines


Please see link below APPENDIX 2 - JNCC Guidelines


APPENDIX 3

Marine Mammal Observational Procedure for Support Vessels


Whilst attempting to detect for the presence of marine mammal´s splashes, blows and oily slicks/calmer patches of water, may all indicate the presence of a marine mammal. Marine turtles are more difficult to detect, however on very calm and sunny days; sea state 2 or below they can often be seen at the surface basking. They will appear as small dark round discs at a distance and can only be identified to the species level if a photograph is taken and the animal is very close to the vessel. If a marine mammal or turtle is detected ideally a photograph should be taken in order to facilitate identification.

Time Position Direction of Travel

Species Duration of Observation

Distance from Vessel

Table 1 An attempt should be made to complete a line of the above table (Table 1) for each marine mammal or marine turtle detected. The first column should contain local time. The second column should contain Latitude and Longitude of the vessel from which the observation has been made. The third column should contain the absolute direction of travel of the animal. The fourth column should contain the species of the animal detected. If the observer is unable to identify to the species level photograph should be provided. If this is not possible then a brief description will suffice. The fourth Column should contain the length of time for which the animal was observed. The fifth column should contain the distance the animal was observed from the vessel. N.B. The presence of the animal should be immediately communicated by radio to the Polarcus Alima. The duty MMO will then attempt to observe the animal from the Alima. If an observation/s have been made the completed table should be e mailed at the end of the day at 19:00hrs local time to [email protected] Thank you for your assistance. Regards. Simon Poles Lead MMO

Time Position Direction of Travel

Species Duration of Observation

Distance from Vessel

Table 1

mailto:[email protected]


APPENDIX 4

JNCC Entire Project Report


Please see link below APPENDIX 4 - JNCC Entire Project Report

Documents

MARINE MAMMAL OBSERVER AND PASSIVE ACCOUSTIC … · Odontoceti Delphinidae Stenella longirostris Spinner Dolphin Data Deficient Odontoceti Delphinidae Stenella coeruleoalba Striped