The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently awarded CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) a contract for the analysis of all visual and acoustic mitigation survey data collected during seismic operations in the Gulf of Mexico from 2009 through 2015. CSA previously completed data analysis of 2002-2008 survey data in 2012. Under this current contract, the CSA Team will analyze the 2009-2015 Protected Species Observer (PSO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) data and combine these analyses with the first six years (2002-2008) of data analysis.
The resulting dataset will be the largest and most comprehensive analysis of U.S. seismic mitigation data and the largest dataset collected under standardized regulations in the world. This comprehensive analysis of PSO and PAM data will be used to assess potential impacts of geophysical surveys on marine species, evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures, and assess impacts of specific mitigation measures on oil and gas industry operations.
We are excited to be a part of the CSA Team which is being led by Mary Jo Barkaszi, CSA’s Marine Mammals Program Manager. To assist Barkaszi and the rest of the CSA Team in completing this study, Azura will provide insight regarding data collection regimes, analysis, and caveats that should be considered in discussion of seismic PSO data results within the context of other shipboard surveys and assist in providing recommendations regarding the broader utility of the seismic PSO data. Azura’s scientists will use their background and expertise in conducting scientific surveys (e.g., line transect surveys) to provide insight into how PSO data may be used and how future mitigation and monitoring efforts and standards may be altered to maximize the effectiveness of the datasets.
