Ep43: Sara Bisset - Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operator

In this episode of Deck Tales, I'm chatting with Sara Bisset, a Scotland-based seafarer who’s spent the last decade working offshore as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operator—basically, someone paid to protect whales and dolphins from noisy marine construction and exploration work. Sara breaks down how mitigation works during operations like seismic surveys, wind farm piling, and even disposal of unexploded WWII ordnance, and explains what happens when marine life enters an exclusion zone (spoiler: everything can stop, and it can cost a fortune).

Beyond the job, Sara shares the reality of freelance life at sea—project-to-project contracts, chasing agencies, and the strange feeling of having long stretches of freedom while everyone else works 9–5. She also dives into memorable wildlife encounters, like spotting an elusive beaked whale species, and living through near-constant humpback sightings off Gabon… right after forgetting her camera charger.

Key takeaways

What MMOs & PAM operators actually do: They visually and acoustically monitor for marine mammals during noisy offshore operations and can trigger delays/shutdowns depending on rules and location.

Big misconception: It’s not “watching whales for fun”—it’s compliance, mitigation, and high-stakes decision-making tied to permits, law, and massive costs.

The lifestyle is ultra-flexible… and oddly lonely: Freelancing means feast-or-famine contracts, lots of admin between jobs, and time off that doesn’t always sync with friends’ lives.

Best moments at sea are unforgettable: Rare beaked whale encounters and endless humpback sightings show why people get “itchy feet” to return offshore.

The industry is shifting: More wind farm work is replacing older oil & gas reliance, and remote monitoring tech (and AI) is slowly reshaping the job.

Get Your Copy Of 'Seems Like Smooth Sailing' here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.