NATO Undersea Research Centre marine mammal risk mitigation rules and procedures

Abstract

The NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC) Marine Mammal Risk Mitigation Rules and Procedures provides the policy and the procedures to scientific planners, Scientists-in-Charge (SIC), researchers and the Masters of NURC vessels which address potential adverse effects on marine mammals of sea trials involving underwater sound. As a matter of policy, the Centre will take precautionary and preventive measures to circumvent harm to marine mammals from underwater sound by institution of procedures outlined in Staff Instruction 77. As new information becomes available from continued research by the Marine Mammal Risk Mitigation project, as well as other documented sources, these procedures will be reevaluated and modified as appropriate. This report supersedes the previous NURC report (NURC-SP-2008-003) which included both marine mammal and human diver risk mitigation procedures. These procedures are now separate reports.