Omacha Foundation is developing the program ¨Marine Fauna Observers¨ on board of seismic operations vessels in Colombian waters. These explorations consist in air explosions that generate sound waves that in some of the cases could affect the marine fauna; however, there are just few studies that tell the real impact that these kinds of waves could have on marine species, specially cetaceans and other marine mammals that communicate by sounds.
To mitigate the possible effects that this explorations could have on these species, the Omacha Foundation Marine Fauna Observers (MFO) on board, implement the recommendations made by the Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial –MAVDT- and the Direccion General Maritima – DIMAR- in Colombia, and use the international methodology made by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee – JNCC -. This methodology has two phases: The first, is the implementation of operational procedures, it is a ¨soft start¨ where the volume of the air guns sound is gradually increased and it must be used every time to turn on the air guns, and the second one is the sighting of the animals in the exclusion zone ZE, it is a 500 meters circumference around the air guns, if the MFO detect the animals in this zone, immediately call the operators of the seismic exploration and they proceed to turn off the air guns.
When these measures are implemented, we are not only mitigating the impact generated by these explorations, but we are also collecting the data obtained about the occurrence of these species, their possibly routes of migration, behavior, interspecific associations between others, that will help us to learn more about the species that inhabit the Colombian coast.
Our observers are professionals in Biological sciences, bilinguals, trained by the Omacha Foundation in the identification of aquatic mammals, fishes, birds and marine turtles. They have experience as observers in seismic exploration vessels, in the International program Tuna and Dolphin CIAT, and in oceanographic vessels of the Armada Nacional. They have approved the marine survival and HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) to get on board the vessels.
Last experiences
Convenio Petrobras, on board Western Trident vessel.
Convenio CGGVeritas – Ecopetrol, on board Geowave Endeavour vessel.
Convenio ONGC, on board GGS Atlantic vessel.
Convenio Invemar – BP, on board the VIKINGVANQUISH vessel.
Convenio CGGVeritas – Ecopetrol, on board the VIKINGVANQUISH vessel.
Oceanographic pacific vessel XLVIII
General Coordinator:
Dalila Caicedo Herrera
Program Coordinator:
Alexandra Gärtner
Team members:
Alexandra Gärtner
Catalina Ángel
Luz Helena Rodríguez
Nohelia Farías Curtidor
Luisa Castellanos
Catalina Londoño
Ma., Angélica Montes
