Oceanwatch Marine Mammal Observer Services Ltd has been contracted by the Environmental Management Authority of Trinidad and Tobago to develop guidelines for the reduction of acoustic disturbance to marine life from offshore seismic survey operations in Trinidad and Tobago. This project aims to produce
1. guidelines for minimising acoustic disturbance to marine life from
offshore seismic survey operations in Trinidad and Tobago;
2. recommendations for monitoring and evaluating the effects of offshore
seismic survey operations in Trinidad and Tobago;
3. recommendations for future biodiversity and fisheries research to
inform decisions regarding management and mitigation strategies for
minimising the acoustic disturbance to marine life from offshore seismic
survey operations in Trinidad and Tobago;
4. a review of the effects of offshore seismic surveys on marine
biodiversity, communities and economics in Trinidad and Tobago;
5. guidelines for applying for a Certificate of Environmental Clearance
(CEC) to conduct offshore seismic survey operations in Trinidad and Tobago
(delineating the structure and information desired in the CEC application); and
6. guidelines for the EMA’s decision-making during the processing of a
CEC application for offshore seismic survey operations with regard to
management and mitigation strategies for minimising the acoustic
disturbance to marine life from offshore seismic survey operations
(including requesting Environmental Impact Assessments).
Submit any concerns, suggestions and comments to Oceanwatch for consideration during this
process at ttseismicsurveyguidelines@gmail.com. You can see a list of the literature being reviewed on the project website: ttseismicsurveyguide.wix.com/testing .
Oceanwatch expects to formulate draft versions of the guidelines and recommendations in February or March, 2014. These will be posted on the project website for review and comment.
