Marine Ventures International, Inc. (MVI) along with CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) and MSeis Ltd., will hold courses to qualify individuals as a Protected Species Observer (PSO) and/or Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operators. PSOs and PAM operators are responsible for visual monitoring (PSO) acoustic monitoring (PAM), and protected species mitigation during offshore seismic surveys, wind energy development efforts, or marine construction projects. 

CSA will provide the training and certification for both the PSO Base Course (classroom) and PSO Advanced Course (on-water), while MSeis will provide the training and certification for the PAM Base and Advanced Courses. Experienced personnel from MVI will assist with the PSO and PAM training courses. Offering basic and advanced training gives the students the opportunity for comprehensive classroom training and hands-on experience in the field, a necessity for approval to work on certain programs. PAM utilizes high-performance hardware and software, requiring PAM operators to learn installation, operation, troubleshooting, and system recovery to work as a professional in the industry. 

Courses are geared toward individuals who are serious about beginning a profession in the PSO/PAM industry, are interested in marine mammal research, or are looking to boost their qualifications. The PSO course is compliant with specific federal requirements issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)/Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and has been approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). To assist our students in obtaining work in or increasing their credentials, the PSO base course also offers Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) manatee training, and practical instruction on using the U.S.Army Cor[ps of Engineer's Operations and Dredging Endangered Species System (ODESS), an online platform to input data on threatened and endangered species observed during dredging and other marine construction projects.

Classroom courses run from August 18-20, 2019 at the Marine Discovery Center (MDC), 520 Barracuda Blvd, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169. On-water sessions are on August 21, 2019, at the MDC Boat Landing, 116 N. Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. To learn more or register, please visit: https://www.marineventures.com/courses, or contact Brittiny Bennett, MVI’s PSO Program Manager at +1 (772) 410-4132 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Marine Ventures International, Inc. (MVI) founded in 2009, is headquartered in Stuart, Florida with offices in Houston, Texas, and Israel. MVI is keenly focused on helping to protect the environment and contracts PSOs and PAM Operators for projects in the United States and worldwide. MVI provides clients with top-level professionals and specialists in scientific, environmental, engineering, management and consulting services to virtually all industries associated with the world’s oceans, coastal zones, and waterways, supporting energy, infrastructure, ports/harbors, government and submarine telecom organizations.