Seismic surveys and marine mammals

For the last thirteen years Carolyn's work has concentrated on acoustic disturbance of marine mammals, particularly from seismic exploration. As part of this, Carolyn has been providing training courses for MMOs on UK seismic surveys since 1996, and since 2003 has also trained MMOs for work in the Gulf of Mexico under the Protected Species Observer Program.  Carolyn has provided MMO training courses on over 120 occasions to a variety of clients and has trained over 1000 MMOs worldwide.

Carolyn was the first dedicated marine mammal observer working on board seismic survey vessels in UK waters, and has worked extensively in this field covering all the main types of seismic survey (2D site, 3D, 4D, 4C OBC and VSP) thus she has substantial experience of the job that she is training others to do. In addition she has also worked as an MMO on drilling rigs and for dredging operations.

Carolyn has been responsible for revising the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) guidelines for seismic surveys on two occasions.  Under contract to JNCC she has also made regular recommendations for revisions to the guidelines based on studies of their operation over the years.  She therefore has a thorough knowledge of the guidelines and the reasons behind their various requirements.

Under contract to JNCC Carolyn created the JNCC database of marine mammal observation records from UK seismic surveys, and has been responsible for its maintenance and all data entry to date.  Since the introduction of the guidelines in 1995, she has regularly analysed the data returned to JNCC from seismic surveys conducted in UK and adjacent waters and published the results.  She has designed and regularly revises the JNCC Marine Mammal Recording Forms.

Carolyn is the only person with the unique combination of experience of working as an MMO, examining the data returned to JNCC from all UK seismic surveys and involvement in the development of the JNCC guidelines. This combination of experience provides a unique insight into the operation of seismic surveys and the JNCC guidelines, which is invaluable in the provision of high-quality MMO training courses.  Carolyn has set the standard for MMO training courses - in 2003 JNCC contracted Carolyn to write a guidance document on standards for MMOs, MMO instructors and MMO training courses.

Carolyn’s experience in this field is recognised worldwide; in 2005 Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Limited contracted Carolyn to perform a review and audit of all aspects of their marine mammal observer programme for their operations off Sakhalin Island, Russia.  In collaboration with RSK Environment Ltd., Carolyn has recently been working on a contract awarded by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers Joint Industry Programme to examine the potential utility and collation of MMO data globally and scope a central database system for managing these data.  Carolyn is currently on the steering committee of the recently-founded MMO Association.

Other work

In addition to marine mammals, Carolyn has had various research interests over the past twenty years.  She has described new species and genera of ascothoracids (crustacean parasites of starfish), and has worked on the larval development of barnacles. Prior to becoming an MMO she worked for JNCC's Seabirds at Sea Team for five years undertaking offshore surveys of distribution and abundance of seabirds and marine mammals. She has also worked as a teacher.

Academic qualifications

B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. in marine biology, + teaching qualification (PGCE).

Copyright © 2005-2008 C.J.S. Barton