Originally incorporated in 2004, Ocean Science Consulting Limited (OSC) is a technology-focused marine science company involved principally in providing environmental services worldwide. OSC specialises in marine mammal and underwater-sound monitoring, acoustical and statistical modelling, ROV surveys, and image-data analyses, with a track record for providing environmental monitoring (mitigation
for regulatory compliance) and scientific research (field studies and experiments) for a large clientele and range of marine industries. We differ from competitors in that we use employees where possible in the field and/or managing teams, and draw from our database of thousands of previously tried and tested contractors, where demand exceeds supply. certified as pre-qualified contractors), so clients are guaranteed a high standard of service. Headquartered in Scotland, OSC also has offices in New Zealand and Greece. Provision of MMO, PAM & ADD services
OSC staff are JNCC-certified Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs), hold the full suite of offshore safety qualifications, and have additional experience with Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), scientific research, data analysis, reporting, etc. OSC holds an expansive stock of PAM and noise measurement systems, as well as Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs). In addition to simply supplying these services, we publish on these topics as well, with several articles on ADDs and marine mammal and seabird sightings from operations, and many more in preparation… watch this space! Training MMOs & PAM operators
OSC has educated and trained hundreds of personnel worldwide, and wrote the non-profit industry Handbook on MMO and PAM to improve professional standards worldwide. We are Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)-approved to train MMOs in the UK, Department of Conservation (DOC)-approved to train MMO & PAM operators in New Zealand, and Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA)-approved to train Taiwanese Cetacean Observers (TCOs). Research & Development (R&D)
Uniquely, we invest a large proportion of our profits into scientific and technical R&D, publishing in high-calibre peer-reviewed journals every year intended to influence marine policy and permit/licence decisions with evidence-based investigations; therefore, our clients ultimately fund this endeavour indirectly when they contract our commercial services. This is extraordinarily rare in the industry sector. With the exception of the defence sector, every client of OSC has eventually agreed to waive Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), enabling OSC to publish its research and associated findings in top scientific peer-reviewed journals. OSC has published research on echolocation behaviour of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), underwater noise generated by offshore operations, impacts of drilling and dredging activities on marine mammals, fish school dynamics around tidal turbines, and much more. Services include project planning and management, scientific experiments and studies, environmental monitoring and consultancy, field-data collection, data analysis and interpretation. More specifically, our expertise includes the following:
• Marine Mammal Observer (MMO)
• Protected Species Observer (PSO)
• Marine Fauna Observer (MFO)
• Marine Mammal & Seabird Observer (MMSO)
• Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operator
• MMO training for UK (JNCC accredited)
• MMO & PAM training for NZ (DOC accredited)
• Towed hydrophone arrays (PAM equipment)
• Static hydrophone systems (PAM equipment)
• Echolocation click detector T-PODs & C-PODs (PAM equipment)
• Broadband and narrowband recorders (PAM
equipment)
• Sound-transmission-loss modelling
• Noise measurement & propagation modelling
• Real-time-attended-noise-validation monitoring & modelling (noise-level limits/thresholds)
• Distance sampling (population estimates)
• Data collection, analysis and interpretation
• Marine policy, regulation & permit applications
• Government liaison & stakeholder engagement
• Environmental Impact (and risk) Assessment (EIA)
• Marine Mammal Mitigation Plan (MMMP)
• Literature reviews & advice documents
• Commercial boat charter (Category 3)
• Project planning & management
• Scientific studies & experiments
• Environmental monitoring
Please contact us for further details:
OSC Limited
Spott Road
Dunbar
East Lothian, Scotland
EH42 1RR
T: +44 (0)1368 865 722
E: [email protected]
W: www.osc.co.uk; www.osc-nz.co.nz
