Our team undertakes cetacean research under the umbrella of the Environment Society of Oman. The project specifically focuses on the monitoring of an important humpback whale population that is resident in the Sea of Oman. The research includes field surveys, acoustic research, genetic studies, population estimates and behavioural studies in collaboration with national and international academic institutes and NGOs.

Our team undertakes research, monitoring, satellite tracking, protected areas assessment and planning, and strategic conservation management planning for hawksbill, loggerhead and green turtles population at key nesting sites in Oman, including some of the world’s largest and densest rookeries. Project is funded by the US Marine Turtle Conservation Fund and run in collaboration with several US government agencies, as well as local government offices in Oman.

Our team led Phase I of the Qatar Dugong Conservation Initiative which was funded by Dolphin Energy. The project aimed to re-invigorate Dugong population assessments and conservation in Qatar by undertaking population assessments, participatory data collection, stakeholder engagement, training and analysis to serve as the foundation of a Qatar led Dugong conservation initiative which will allow stakeholders in Qatar to lead future assessments in their own right in Phase II.

5OES were responsible for all aspects of project design and implementation, providing a specialist team of recognised regional experts in Dugong and marine mammal conservation, participatory data collection, training and collaboration.

Our team undertook a marine habitat survey of the environment adjacent to the proposed Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa. The resulting data was used to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Project and specifically identify the impact of the Project on coral communities. Part of this development included the construction of a new marina which would involve the loss of existing coral habitat.  5OES used the collected data to identify which coral communities would be impacted by the development and devise and implement a mitigation strategy to safeguard the presence of corals in the area following construction of the Project, which included translocation to a donor site.

Our team has led the development of a mangrove translocation and habitat recreation project to mitigate impacts to mangroves caused by the construction of the new Doha port project. The project has involved the identification of a suitable recipient site and development of the first mangrove nursery in Qatar. The work has required the removal of 5000 mangrove seedlings from the wild and growing 3000 seedlings in a mangrove nursery. These seedlings have been planted at the recipient site and the success of the project will be monitored by our team over the next few years.

Our team was commissioned by URS Scott Wilson (UK) to provide specialist advice on marine mammals, sea turtles and fisheries related to the development of a new port and industrial zone development in Port Gentil. In this role, our team has undertaken seasonal surveys for sea turtles and marine mammals (particularly humpback whales), which has included visual and acoustic monitoring. The monitoring was undertaken with our close contacts at the Wildlife Conservation Society. Our team was employed on this project due to the specialist advice we could bring related to our long term monitoring of species of concern at the site.

Our team was commissioned to undertake the marine ecological impact assessment for the redevelopment of Dunbar Harbour on the east coast of Scotland. As part of this work the team undertook marine surveys, including intertidal biotope survey and mapping. The team also provide specialist advice for mitigating impacts on important marine mammal and fish species, which included addressing underwater sound issues.

Our team was commissioned to undertake the EIA for the overall masterplan project. This work was delivered fully in-house and specialist advice provided to the WS Atkins masterplanning team. The EIA covered the overall proposed development, which includes a new super yacht marina, new residential area, new commercial zone, dedictaed cruise liner berths, new crecreational waterfront zone, new leisure park and new hotel development zone.

Our team was commissioned to undertake an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for a multi-client 2D Seismic Survey covering majority of offshore concession areas in Sierra Leone. Services included; EPA-SL liaison, stakeholder engagement along entire coastline of Sierra Leone, EIA disclosure to affected communities, press and radio coverage, Community Development Planning. Monitoring during operations includes Marine Mammal Observing and Fisheries reporting to EPA-SL.

Our team has provided multi-scope environmental services to Reliance Industries related to their operations for these blocks between 2006 and 2010. The scope of services includes: 

• Permit applications for exploration to statutory authorities
• Preparation of EIAs for offshore 3D-Seismic data acquisition, bathymetric and side scan sonar surveys, as well as seabed coring
• Preparation of detailed baseline surveys
• Provision of MMOs & environmental reporting during seismic surveys to authorities
• Assessment of impacts of offshore Controlled Source Electro Magnetic survey (CSEM)
• Provision of MMOs & Environmental Observers during CSEM survey. Assessment of survey impacts, compliance audits and reporting to Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs
• Offshore environmental monitoring (MMO) / auditing during exploratory drilling

In 2009, our team was commissioned by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to undertake an ESIA for 2D and 3D seismic surveys in Liberia. This was subsequently followed by provision of Marine Mammal Observers (MMO’s) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) for offshore seismic surveys. Since, 2009 our involvement in studies for the offshore O&G industry in Liberia has continued and we are currently providing EPA liaison Environmental Observers (MMO’s) for a 6 month 3D seismic survey, offshore Liberia for TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. ASA.

Our team is providing multi-scope call-off services to DNO International for assets in Oman and UAE. The scope of services includes:

• Ongoing environmental support and development of environmental management systems, monitoring for all DNO’s assets in Oman and UAE.
• EIA and field development support for West Bukha, Oman and Saleh field, UAE drilling and production.
• Offshore monitoring and auditing during drilling.
• Climate, energy and emissions reporting.

Maserah Island is Oman’s largest island with a total land area of approximately 650km². The demand for tourism and other competing land uses on the island has led to the Supreme Council for Town Planning to commission a spatial masterplan ahead of the Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS) project. The Consultant, WS Atkins, appointed Five Oceans Environmental Services to provide all inputs relating to environmental and natural resource management which required the development of sensitivity mapping and resource inventory, most notably for the globally significant nesting Loggerhead turtle population. As an integral drive for the study, our team development an Integrated Coastal Zone Planning approach and framework to ensure the holistic masterplanning of the island. This approach has led to the creation of a preferred masterplan that aims to promote economic development whilst protecting and enhancing environmental features on the island.

Simon Wilson was part of the planning team of PERSGA/Wildlife Administration, Sudan to develop a management plan for Sudan’s first marine protected area, Sanganeb Atoll, one of seven marine national parks in the Red Sea. Simon’s role was to provide specialist marine ecological inputs for determining key baseline issues and for developing long term biodiversity management for the marine park.

The Daymaniyat Islands National Nature Reserve is Oman’s largest marine protected area. It was established in 1983 to protect important populations of breeding birds, nesting turtles and coral reefs. Our team was commissioned to support the study in the following aspects:

• To conduct natural resource assessments and compare them to earlier maps to detect changes
• To assess damage caused by Cyclone Gonu
• To train Omani personnel in MPA management techniques
• To determine traditional rights (e.g. fishing, worship, recreational activities)
• To strengthen management capability within the Ministry of Environment

Our team provided environmental advice to project master-planning, sustainable development and assessment of eco-tourism potential of the site to carry a population of 100,000 in the buffer zone of a proposed Man and Biosphere Reserve in NE Qatar. The project involved the undertaking of an EIA and also provision of integrated planning advice for development in the area.

Whilst in previous employment, Neil Cousins has led the development of EIAs and also marine baseline surveys for a range of offshore wind farm developments in the UK and overseas. Some specific projects in which Neil has been involved includes:

• Hong Kong Electric Company Offshore Wind Farm (Hong Kong): full EIA delivery
• North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm EIA (UK): marine ecology, sediments and physical processes, including surveys.
• Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm EIA (UK) – marine ecology, sediments and physical processes, including surveys.
• Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm EIA (UK) – marine ecology impact assessment.
• Gwynt-y-Mor Offshore Wind Farm EIA (UK) – pre-EIA marine ecology and sediment surveys.
• Thames Array Offshore Wind Farm EIA (UK) – pre-EIA marine ecology and sediment surveys.
• Tunes plateau EIA Scoping Report studies.
• Initial licence area scoping studies across strategic development areas in England and Wales.

The area of Bandar Khayran (approximately 20 km2) has been identified as having potential for eco-tourism development and to this end the Ministry of Tourism Oman commissioned a project to collect all the necessary environmental information required for responsible planning of the area. The project collated all available information and conducted a gap analysis in order to design the surveys necessary to fill the gaps in available information. Surveys were then conducted, and a sensitivity analysis performed that allowed potential eco-tourism activities to be planned that used the available natural resources in as rational a way as possible. The project then went on to analyze the information requirements required for management and then applied best practices to develop a proposed zoning plan for the tourism use of the area.

OMRAN is the Government of Oman’s public company responsible for developing public private partnerships for the objective of developing Oman’s tourism sector. OMRAN is a partner in over 80% of Oman’s tourism projects, including the majority of the major developments. As well as conventional high end tourism, OMRAN intends to develop a niche market based on cultural and environmental tourism through the development of a series of specialized tourism products and facilities, including tourism development in the country’s protected areas. Specific work conducted by our team included:

• Development of eco-tourism facilities at Daymaniyat Islands National Nature Reserve
• Feasibility of turtle based tourism at Masirah Island
• Technical support for Steering Committee of Ras Al Hadd National Nature Reserve

Our team has provided specialist marine ecological advice with respect to the potential environmentally based tourism use in Mhleia, Khor Kalba and Sir Bu Nair Island. The work has included the identified of marine resources and identification of constraints and opportunities and long term management requirements.