Exxon to train protected species observers to cushion operation impact on marine life

Annette Arjoon-Martins

ExxonMobil will be training protected species observers as part of its plans to mitigate the environmental impact on marine life of its operations offshore and it is encouraging organisations to apply although it has already received about 100 applications for training.

“It is a process. Make sure you apply so everyone has the same opportunity,” ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs Deedra Moe said last Thursday evening in response to concerns raised by head of the Guyana Marine Conservation Society Annette Arjoon-Martins at a stakeholders’ forum for the company’s Payara project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

On October 22nd, through project management firm RPS Group, ExxonMobil announced that it was looking for “local, motivated qualified candidates to become certified Protected Species Observers” in order to train them for the post, free of cost.