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The Marine Mammal Observer Association (MMOA) is pleased to announce that new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) have been approved! These IMMAs for the Northeast Atlantic and Baltic Sea have been released after countless hours of work and observations. The newly approved IMMAs represent the final result of a full-year process, including an intensive week-long scientific workshop assessing and presenting data on candidate IMMAs which were then submitted for peer review. They add to an expanding portfolio of global ocean regions that need urgent conservation measures for marine mammals. In this article, Patrick Lyne, a member of the MMOA Executive Committee discusses the importance of the IMMAs.
Concerns raised for endangered species and habitats in the North East Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea
The North East Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea (NEATLO) Region covers nearly a quarter of the Atlantic Ocean. Species-rich, the region offers essential habitat for feeding and migrating humpback, blue and fin whales. There is deep water habitat for Cuvier’s and other cryptic beaked whale species in the Canary Islands, Azores and Bay of Biscay, and other offshore waters in the region. Besides the prevalent common minke whales, harbour porpoises, common dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, common bottlenose dolphins and harbour seals; there are species endemic to the region such as the critically endangered and decreasing Baltic Sea harbour porpoises and the endangered Saimaa and Ladoga ringed seals. There are several populations of killer whales including the critically endangered Strait of Gibraltar subpopulation with only 39 individuals subsisting on bluefin tuna and lately disabling or breaking the rudders off small boats traversing the region.IMMAs are defined as discrete portions of habitat, important to marine mammal species, that have the potential to be delineated and managed for conservation. The Northeast Atlantic and Baltic Sea IMMA required a week-long North East Atlantic IMMA workshop, held in Hamburg, Germany, in May 2023, which was supported by a grant from the Water Revolution Foundation. The meeting was organised by the IMMA Secretariat of the Task Force. The 53 workshop participants from 13 countries were drawn from the region’s top marine mammal scientists. They started by considering 395 preliminary Areas of Interest (pAoI). The pAoI selected to advance to candidate IMMAs were then defended with text supporting various criteria based on scientific evidence and detailed mapping along with a strong rationale for the boundaries chosen. After an extensive process by an independent review panel, the mapping of these areas is now complete.
At the same time, several candidate IMMAs from previous regional IMMA workshops have been re-assessed in recent months, leading to 6 areas reaching full IMMA status. As a result, a total of 39 new IMMAs have been added to the IMMA e-Atlas and are now available for download as shapefiles with associated information.
To date, 74.3% of the world ocean has been examined for IMMAs, with IMMAs comprising 13% of the examined area. IMMAs are divided into 57% within exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and 43% in international waters on the high seas. Globally, there are now 280 IMMAs and 185 Areas of Interest (AoI).
The IMMA work continues to move ahead to identify important areas in the western North Atlantic and Caribbean with a workshop in May 2024 to be held in Yucatán, Mexico. To discover more about IMMAs, visit the e-Atlas: https://www.marinemammalhabitat.org/imma-eatlas/
Scientists and marine experts are now calling on governments to take action to utilise the IMMA tool in marine spatial planning, the creation of marine protected areas, and performing environmental impact assessments.
ESB has announced the completion of an industry-endorsed Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) Training Programme launched in 2023, which was open to recent graduates, final-year undergraduates and postgraduate students who studied or worked in the area of marine science or related disciplines.
A key objective of the Programme was to assist in developing marine ecology education and skills to support successful applicants at the early stages of their careers in the marine environmental profession. An additional key aim was to fill a gap in the Irish offshore wind industry’s local supply chain due to a lack of locally based MMOs on the island of Ireland.
The five successful applicants took part in industry-approved training courses, including Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET), United Kingdom's Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) MMO training certifications with additional Irish Guideline modules, and Offshore Energies U.K (OEUK) approved medical and Fit-to-Train certifications.
Participants took part in MMO training provided by the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG) and spent two nights onboard the research vessel Celtic Mist at Kilrush, Co Clare, followed by a half-day at sea.
All participants were also provided with one-year complimentary membership of IWDG, the Marine Mammal Observer Association (MMOA) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) with professional mentoring support and access to the Career Development Pathway.
Speaking on the completion of the programme, ESB’s Offshore Ecology Team said: "The ESB Marine Mammal Observer Training Programme, launched in 2023, represented a significant milestone. As of 2024, Ireland now has five newly trained and much-needed MMOs as a result of this initiative. Through this Programme, ESB has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the Marine Mammal Observer role in Ireland, nurturing local talent which will be essential in the delivery of ESB's Net Zero targets by 2040. Our funding has facilitated opportunities to enhance skilled work readiness and has strengthened local talent in collaborating with local organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group amid Ireland's renewable energy expansion. At the heart of this Programme is the inspiration and support of young professionals seeking fulfilling careers in marine ecology and sustainable energy".
Amy O’Reilly, one of the newly trained MMOs, shared her insights into the experience: “The ESB MMO Training Programme has been a wonderful opportunity and unforgettable experience for me. When I first applied, I had a history of volunteering with marine wildlife charities and was in the middle of a nine-month internship with the cetacean charity, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch. ESB recognised my passion and drive towards building a career in the Marine Science field. Some of my highlights from the Programme included sleeping on board the Celtic Mist, undergoing training by the very wise and seasoned MMO Mr. Patrick Lyne and, of course, escaping from a helicopter underwater in the BOSIET training. I am delighted to say that with this training as a foundation, I have been able to get my first MMO role with IWDG Consulting working on a short project in Dublin Port”.
Qualified MMOs are environmental professionals who specialise in monitoring marine megafauna species and ensuring the implementation of mitigation requirements during various industry operations, and they will be key components in the delivery of offshore wind projects over the coming decade. Ireland has a unique capability given its prime location to take advantage of the potential of offshore wind.
Pictured (Front left to right) MMO Training candidates Thomas Power, Sibeal Alliot, Amy O’Reilly, Margherita Medina, Marthje Schüler, and (rear left to right) Barry Faulkner, Community Liaison Officer ESB, Niru Dorrian, Senior Offshore Ecology Coordinator ESB, Ciara Hamilton, Ecology Team Lead ESB and Patrick Lyne, Marine Consultant IWDG at Kilrush Harbour during ESB’s Marine Mammal Observer Training Programme.
The Marine Mammal Observer Association (MMOA) is pleased to present this Distance Estimation using Reticular Binoculars help guide in response to enquiries from our international membership. Given the prevalence of conflicting information on the internet, we recognised the need for a resource to address questions surrounding this vital aspect of marine mammal observation. We trust that this resource will serve as a valuable reference and contribute to the proficiency of marine mammal observers worldwide.
Reticular binoculars and scopes estimate the distance to targets for shooting or objects such as lighthouses at sea. These binoculars would historically use slightly different range measurements for reticles with 6,283.185 milliradians in a circle (think of the circle as the earth). But essentially, they all measure the angle below the horizon for range determination when working as a marine mammal observer (MMO).
Some binoculars, such as the Hawke reticular binoculars, give angle measurements in milliradians. This is probably simpler than using reticles, which causes some confusion for some people, and there are a standard 10 milliradians per reticle.
Hawke range finding binoculars in milliradians (Hawke Optics Ltd)
The Bushnell 7x50 Marine binoculars (model 137500) manual states that each mark on the vertical scale is equivalent to 5 mil. But note that there are full reticle (10 mil) and half reticle markers (5 mil). The exact division used can be down to the manufacturer, and these are often described in the manual. The manual for the Pentax Marine (7x50) describes the reticle use clearly “Each minor division on the horizontal scale and vertical scale indicates 5 mils and each major division indicates 10 mils” (see: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/lit_files/517692.pdf ). This statement holds true for every pair of binoculars I have come across but there may be others it doesn’t apply to.
Now that you have correctly determined how to count the number of mils from the horizon to your target you need to determine how to calculate the distance. Typically this is done with a very simple calculation as follows:
Eye height (m) x 1000/mils
This is considerably simpler than the Heinemann (1981) equation used by the JNCC for the rangefinder stick 9 https://data.jncc.gov.uk/data/e2a46de5-43d4-43f0-b296-c62134397ce4/Guide-making-rangefinder-stick-rev01-Web.xls ) and introduces overestimation of distances, which increases with distance, with larger distances producing greater error margins and somewhat defeats the purpose of using reticular binoculars in the first place. Applying the Heinemann equation, we can see more accurate results.
Comparison of distance estimation calculation for eye height of 20m.
If you count your number of mils incorrectly, this will produce a very large error. The Heinemann equation as used by the JNCC rangefinder stick is a little complicated and has been used in the attached spreadsheet. Distance to the horizon is based on eye height and calculated the same way as the JNCC. The calculation used can be seen by placing your cursor over the relevant cell; however, only white cells can be changed, and coloured cells are password-protected to stop accidental changes. The radius of the earth changes approximately 21 m from equator to pole and has a negligible influence on calculations. Lerczak and Hobbs (1998) produced a more accurate method of calculating the distance, but it is less precautionary, and the differences are very small.
The spreadsheet also allows the calculation of the distance to the source on the right side. Distance from gun array to observer typically doesn’t change often, and the angle should be the angle from you to the animal with your back to the source. So typically, this angle is off the bow of the survey vessel, but this is assuming the source is 180 degrees behind the vessel. Once the number of reticles (1 ret= 10 mil) is entered the spreadsheet gives you distance to animal and from animal to source.
Spreadsheet fields for distance estimation.
References
Heinemann, D., (1981), A range finder for pelagic bird censusing, The Journal of Wildlife Management, vol. 45, no. 2. Pp 489-493.
Lerczak, J.A., and Hobbs, R.C., (1998), Calculating Sightings distance from angular readings from shipboard, aerial and shore-based marine mammal surveys, Marine Mammal Science 14(3); 590-599; see also Errata in vol 4, pg 903.
Here at the MMOA, we always enjoy hearing from our valued members, and as soon as we heard about one of his recent adventures, we wanted to share it with you.
"Exploring natural habitats and proactively mitigating impacts isn't simply a job; it is a passion that propels my dedication to conservation."
Meet John, who is deeply involved in a coastal development project and a seasoned marine mammal observation and environmental consulting professional. His expertise in marine environmental mitigation spans projects from the Red Sea to the Philippines, advising on mitigation measures during dredging, reclamations, and the construction of causeways, jetties, and airports.
"During one of my projects in the Red Sea, I can recall a memorable encounter with a humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea) sporting a distinctive white snout is a sight to behold, hinting at a colouration anomaly. Local fishermen report that these humpback dolphins are residing near the shore."
During this time, John and the Arabian Marine Fauna Observers team developed a system beyond observation, including monitoring, implementing mitigation during specific activities, and establishing robust reporting procedures. Their commitment extends to marine turtles, corals, and mangrove ecosystems.
MMOA member feedback, ideas, and participation make our organisation thrive, and we encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts with us. We also encourage those who have not yet engaged with us to do so. Your input is vital to our community, and we are thankful for every one of you. If you want to share your comments, ideas or details about recent projects (ensure you have permission to do so), please email us at
Here at the MMOA, we always enjoy hearing from our valued members, and as soon as we heard about Morganes' recent adventures, we wanted to share them with you. She has shared details about a recent expedition with an exciting sighting.
“While contracted by EPI Group and working for the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, BGR, on the scientific expedition SO301 onboard the Research Vessel SONNE across the Indian Ocean, the MMO team had the opportunity to witness an amazing sighting: a mother and calf pair of the species Balaenoptera physalus (fin whale).
On November 29, 2023, the RV SONNE was located near the Rodriguez Triple Junction performing Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) casts over the Kairei hydrothermal vent site at 25° 19.22’ S, 70° 2.43’ E. The sighting conditions were excellent since the vessel was stationary, and the weather conditions were ideal (no wind, slight sea). The animals stayed around the vessel the whole day. They were observed milling, regularly blowing, and swimming slowly below the surface, with the pale colouration of the right jaw visible, a distinctive characteristic of this species. The calf was observed opening its mouth and spy-hopping several times.
Throughout the day, the pair regularly approached the vessel and circled it multiple times, to the great pleasure of the entire scientific team onboard. It was an incredible moment that no one is going to forget. Although this species is distributed worldwide, there are few records in the area visited, which makes this sighting quite remarkable and worth sharing.”
Morgane Belleville, Lead MMO onboard the RV SONNE during the scientific expedition SO301.”
MMOA member feedback, ideas, and participation make our organisation thrive, and we encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts with us. We also encourage those who have not yet engaged with us to do so. Your input is vital to our community, and we are thankful for every one of you. If you want to share your comments, ideas or details about recent projects (ensure you have permission to do so), please email us at info@mmo-association.org.
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