About Ocean Watch
Ocean Watch is accredited by Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to deliver Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) Training. The course is designed to provide delegates with the knowledge and confidence to work offshore as an MMO in sectors such as renewables and oil and gas, to mitigate for marine mammals on piling, seismic, geophysical and unexploded ordnance clearance and other explosive projects.
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“No water, no life. No blue, no green”
– Sylvia Earle​
About the Trainer
Stephanie Barnicoat has a BSc, MSc in Marine Biology and a level 3 teaching qualification. Steph has been working in the sector for over ten years, where she has spent many years working offshore as an MMO and passive acoustic monitor (PAM) operator globally in renewables and oil and gas, monitoring and advising crew on mitigation measures for marine mammals. Steph previously worked for a well respected company delivering the JNCC MMO and PAM training, and undertook a lot of work in marine mammal acoustics.
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Today Steph is a charted marine scientist at IMarEST and working as a senior marine mammal specialist/consultant, specialising in delivering environmental impact assessments and writing marine mammal mitigation and monitoring plans for construction activities such as piling for offshore wind.
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Steph has now developed her own JNCC accredited MMO course to share her experience, knowledge and passion with delegates who are keen to kick start their career in this industry.
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Outside of work she volunteers for organisations such as British Diver Marine Life Rescue working in the Cornwall seal hospital assisting with the rehabilitation of grey seal pups, she leads monthly Seaquest surveys for her local shore group Three Bays Wildlife recording marine life and analysing acoustic data.
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When Steph is not working she is usually off paddle boarding with her dog, dipping in the sea or walking the south west coast path.
