It has been another productive year for the Marine Mammal Observer Association (MMOA) and as we conclude 2024 we take note of our contributions to marine fauna mitigation and industry collaborations.
An achievement we are most proud of this year is hosting the first-ever marine mammal mitigation and monitoring conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK in September. Over 110 attendees arrived eager to learn more about the field and to connect with others. It was a highly successful event with over 90% of the participants connecting with someone new and over 80% expressing a sense of community after the event. We had a keynote talk from Ashley Noseworthy, Edgewise Environmental and have to give a huge thank you to all our speakers, sponsors and delegates. We couldnt have done it without you and your energy on the day!
Along with our mission and aims, the MMOA committee actively engaged in various events: we continued to participate as a stakeholder in the development of a regional action plan for underwater noise by The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR). The MMOA provided expert insight into underwater noise impacts to assist with their plan to reduce anthropogenic underwater noise to levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment. This commitment underscores the association's dedication to shaping policies that mitigate the impact of human activities on the marine environment.
The MMOA participated in the South Africa Scientific Roundtable virtual webinar organised by Energeo Alliance, where we shared a presentation on best practice mitigation and techniques. We have also engaged in discussions with the UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group regarding industrial data sharing of marine megafauna observations. We drafted a letter to the Ministry of Defence about the detonation at sea on 23 February 2024 (known as Operation FOSTER) and have been in communication regarding this event.
The MMOA proudly endorsed the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) funded Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) training programmes in Ireland for a second year running, which were open to graduates, final-year undergraduates and postgraduate students who are studying or working in the area of marine science or related disciplines in those localities. We also endorsed the BGP Empowering Nigeria programme, open to aspiring MMOs in Nigeria which provided training for up to 20 candidates in marine fauna mitigation.
The MMOA also in partnership with the IMarEST established an annual bursary. The Bursary provides aspiring Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs), Protected Species Observers (PSOs) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operators with the necessary resources to allow them to enhance their skills and expertise through participating in relevant specialised training programs or obtaining equipment.
We received renewals and invited new Associate, Full and Corporate members this year as well as bringing back existing members. The association proudly welcomed the return of Corporate Members, including Atlas Professionals, Edgewise Environmental, EMS Assist Ltd, Geo-quip Marine, Nautica Environmental, Ocean Ecology, and Whale Seeker, strengthening collaborative efforts towards responsible marine mammal observation and mitigation services. All our membership tiers now have access to our forum, where you can search for information, advice and job opportunities and we have big plans to overhaul this in 2025. To find out more about membership, take a look at our joining pages.
As the MMOA reflects on a year of accomplishments, the association remains poised in its mission to lead global efforts in marine fauna observation and mitigation practices in the years to come.
From everyone on the Executive Committee, we would like to thank you all for your support and wish you happy holidays as we near the end of 2024!
