Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) – Experience New Zealand PAMO

Seiche offers a New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) approved 3-day assessment for gaining accreditation as an experienced PAM operator.

To complete the assessment, candidates will need a minimum of 12 weeks’ experience offshore as a PAM operator. Offshore experience can be from any location, but those with less than 12 weeks’ experience in New Zealand waters will achieve a ‘trained’ status that can be upgrade to an ‘experienced’ status upon completion of 12 weeks as a PAM operator in New Zealand waters.

Following this course and after approval from DOC you will be recognised by the New Zealand government as a Trained PAM operator (candidates with less than 12 weeks’ experience in NZ waters) or Experienced PAM operator.

To work in New Zealand waters as a PAMO on marine seismic surveys a person will need to demonstrate that they have:

1. “Successfully completed the respective marine mammal observation course or PAM Operator course recognised by the Director-General as being consistent with DOC standards, or

2. Demonstrated all required competencies through an assessment process recognised by the Director-General as being consistent with DOC standards.”

(Section 3.4 of the 2013 Code of Conduct for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Marine Mammals from Seismic Survey Operations.)

The Seiche Advanced NZ PAMO Assessment (the Assessment) was developed in order to fulfil the requirements of item 2 above. The Assessment is open to PAMOS with at least 12 weeks’ previous PAMO experience on marine seismic surveys in NZ or overseas whom seek to be certified by the Department of Conservation (DOC) as ‘trained’. The Assessment includes minimal teaching/revision, rather, it is focused on the in-person assessment of existing key PAMO competencies as defined in Section 3.4 and Appendix 3 of the Code.

If you wish to apply for this course please email training@seiche.com to obtain an application form and to find out when the next available course is running.