Comparing JNCC, ACCOBAMS, and BOEM/PSO Guidelines for Marine Mammal Observers

Introduction

Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operators play a crucial role in protecting marine species during offshore activities such as seismic surveys, pile driving, or offshore wind construction.

Several international guidelines regulate their work, with different requirements depending on the region: JNCC (UK), ACCOBAMS (Mediterranean/Black Sea), and PSO/BOEM (USA – Gulf of Mexico and California).

This article compares these protocols, focusing on exclusion zones, pre-watch, ramp-up, species sensitivity, and observer requirements.

Exclusion Zones

• JNCC (UK): Standard exclusion zone of 500 m around the sound source.

• ACCOBAMS: Stricter – typically 500 to 1000 m, extended to 1500 m for sensitive species such as beaked whales.

• PSO/BOEM (USA):

  • 500 m for most marine mammals.

  • 1000 m for endangered species (e.g., North Atlantic right whale, Bryde’s whale).

    
    

    

Pre-watch (Pre-shooting search)

• JNCC: Minimum 30 minutes, extended to 60 minutes in waters shallower than 200 m.

• ACCOBAMS: 30–60 minutes systematically, regardless of depth.

• PSO/BOEM: 30 minutes minimum, extended to 60 minutes in critical habitats or for endangered species.

  
  

Soft Start / Ramp-up

• JNCC: Gradual increase of source level over at least 20 minutes.

• ACCOBAMS: More stringent: 20–40 minutes depending on the activity.

• PSO/BOEM: 20–30 minutes, with PSOs required to log the entire ramp-up sequence in daily reports.

  
  

Target Species and Sensitivity

• JNCC: General protocol applied to all cetaceans.

• ACCOBAMS: Species-specific approach, with particular emphasis on beaked whales, sperm whales, and mysticetes.

• PSO/BOEM: Highly species-specific under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA). Includes cetaceans, manatees, and sea turtles.

  
  

Observer Requirements

• JNCC: Minimum of one MMO (two if operating 24/7). PAM is recommended but not always mandatory.

• ACCOBAMS: MMO + PAM are both mandatory, with certified training required.

• PSO/BOEM: Protected Species Observers (PSOs) must be trained and approved by BOEM/NOAA. PAM monitoring is mandatory during nighttime operations.

  As an MMO/PAM working often in the field I would recommend ideally 3 MMOs and + 1-2 PAM to allow focus and good quality work during a 24h shift.

  
  

Shutdown Protocols

• JNCC: Immediate shutdown if a marine mammal enters the 500 m exclusion zone.

• ACCOBAMS: Shutdown if within 1000–1500 m, with a mandatory 30-minute clearance before resuming.

• PSO/BOEM: Shutdown if within 500–1000 m, depending on the species. Resumption only after 30 minutes without sightings.

  
  

Summary Table

Criteria	JNCC (UK)	ACCOBAMS (Med/Black Sea)	PSO/BOEM (USA)
Exclusion zone	500 m	500–1000 m (up to 1500 m)	500 m (1000 m for endangered spp.)
Pre-watch	30–60 min	30–60 min	30–60 min depending on species
Ramp-up	≥20 min	20–40 min	20–30 min
Target species	All cetaceans	Species-specific (beaked whales, mysticetes)	Species-specific (MMPA/ESA)
Observers	MMO, PAM recommended	MMO + PAM mandatory	Certified PSO (BOEM/NOAA) + PAM at night
Shutdown	500 m	1000–1500 m	500–1000 m depending on species
Training & reporting	Not mandatory	ACCOBAMS certification	BOEM/NOAA certification + reports

Conclusion

The three frameworks share a common goal: minimizing acoustic impacts on marine mammals during offshore operations. However:

• JNCC provides a general, flexible framework widely adopted worldwide.

• ACCOBAMS applies stricter rules in the Mediterranean/Black Sea, emphasizing species sensitivity.

• PSO/BOEM (USA) enforces species-specific, legally binding requirements, with certified PSOs and mandatory reporting.

Together, these protocols ensure offshore development can proceed while safeguarding vulnerable marine life.

If you want to start a career as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO), the JNCC certificate is the one to get first, as it is internationally recognized and accepted almost everywhere. The training lasts two days in person, and is now also available online.

If you plan to work specifically in the Gulf of Mexico or the Mediterranean, it is wise to obtain the other relevant certifications as well. The PSO certificate requires only half a day of additional training, while the ACCOBAMS certification takes about one full week. However, during the ACCOBAMS course you will also learn to use PAMGUARD, an acoustic monitoring software, which qualifies you to work as a PAM operator (Passive Acoustic Monitoring) in addition to being an MMO.