BEN SCHEMEL
BSc (Mar Biol/Zool) (Hons)
CURRICULUM VITAE
survey environmental advisor
& marine fauna observer
Ben is a qualified marine scientist with experience in the oil and gas,
dredging and Australian fishing industries. Ben has worked as the
survey environmental advisor (SEA) and marine fauna observer
(MFO/MMO) on 2D, 3D and OBC marine seismic surveys in the
Indian, Pacific and Southern oceans. He has extensive experience
with seismic mitigation protocols and guidelines (EPBC-Australia;
DOC-NZ); providing mitigation and compliance advice to
contractors; training crew in fauna identification and mitigation
procedures; passive acoustic monitoring (PAM); managing teams of
observers and conducting project specific environmental audits.
Ben has completed five marine seismic surveys as the SEA during
which he was responsible for managing all environmental
commitments, compliance issues and audits of all project vessels.
He is also an accredited Qualified Marine Mammal Observer (MMO)
under the Department of Conservation (DOC) guidelines for marine
seismic surveys in New Zealand.
Ben has spent the past ten
years working with industry
to mitigate and manage
impacts on the marine
environment particularly in
regard to marine mammals
and reptiles. His key skills
include Survey Environmental
Advisor,
Marine Fauna Observations,
Passive Acoustic Monitoring,
Environmental Compliance
Auditing, Fisheries
management and Field
research.
Ben has excellent marine fauna identification skills and is a qualified
coxswain with experience on fishing, seismic, dredging and
dedicated research vessels.
qualifications + accreditations
and environmentally sensitive dredging projects (see
~ 1st Class Honours, 2004, Geographical Sciences,
primary responsibility has been to ensure survey
University of Queensland, Australia
Table below). As a survey environmental advisor his
personnel, vessels and seismic operations had minimal
~ Bachelor of Science, 2003, Marine Biology &
impact on coral reef lagoon and oceanic ecosystems
Zoology, University of Queensland, Australia
through the application of maritime, federal and state
~ Associate Diploma of Applied Science 1997. Marine
Resources. University of Queensland, Australia
legislation, survey environment plans, government
referrals and project inductions. The role has included
the development and instigation of a comprehensive
~ EMS Lead Auditor - ISO 14001
works program designed to facilitate, monitor,
~ OPITO BOSIET/FOET (exp. 2016)
document and audit environmental compliance for all
~ UKOOA Medical (exp. 2016)
~ Open Water Coxswains’ ticket
~ Senior First Aid Certificate
project vessels and operations.
As the client representative on a geophysical scouting
survey utilising multi-beam and side scan sonar to
detail positions of underwater obstructions for the
Fortuna MSS, Ben was responsible for managing
offshore logistics, data quality control, and reporting
professional experience
to the client.
Survey Environmental Advisor and Marine Fauna
As the Lead MFO, Ben has been responsible for
Observer (Marine Seismic Surveys and Dredging) With
coordinating teams of MFOs providing 24 hour passive
more than 800 days at sea as the Survey
acoustic (PAM) and visual monitoring for marine
Environmental Advisor and/or MFO/MMO, Ben has
animals. He was also responsible for managing source
experience with 2D, 3D & OBC marine seismic surveys
vessel and dredging operations with regard to species
BEN SCHEMEL
BSc (Mar Biol/Zool) (Hons)
survey environmental advisor & marine fauna observer
of
concern,
and
providing
species
avoidance,
publications
mitigation and compliance advice to the contractor
with respect to the relevant legislation, guidelines and
CURRICULUM VITAE
project environmental plans.
Courtney A.J., Schemel B., Wallace R. (2006).The
impact of trawling on sea snakes.
Ausmarine (29), 2007.
Ben was responsible for the design, instigation and
Courtney A.J., Schemel B., Wallace R. (2007)
Quantifying and reducing the incidental catch and
fishing mortality of sea snakes in the Queensland
(Australia) trawl fishery. In: Proceedings of the 5th
World Fisheries Congress 20-24 October 2008.
maintenance of a research project intended to
Courtney A.J., Schemel B., Wallace R. Reducing the
quantify and mitigate the catch and mortality rates of
impact of Queensland’s trawl fisheries on protected
sea snakes caught by prawn trawlers in east Australian
sea snakes; Report to the Fisheries Research and
waters. The role included managing a crew-member
Development Corporation. Project No. 2005/053, May
observer program, training observers in sea snake
2009.
Fisheries Biologist: Sea snake by-catch mitigation
project, Department of Primary Industries and
Fisheries: 2005 – 2008
handling and identification techniques, liaising with
and reporting to stakeholders, organising research
charters, and data collection and analysis.
Research Assistant (Dugong population study),
University of Queensland and Sea world Australia,
2003-2013 – Ben’s role as a research assistant is to
find, catch, restrain, and tag dugongs. Responsibilities
include piloting catch vessels, coordinating the catch
team, and collecting biological and morphometric
data. Necessary skills include: the ability to follow data
collection and safety protocols; keen eyesight; a high
level of physical fitness and proficiency in boat
handling and preparation.
Tutor/Lecturer (Marine mammals and reptiles),
University of Queensland, 2004-2011 Ben’s role as a
tutor/lecturer is to introduce students to Australia’s
marine macro-fauna (i.e. whales, dolphins, dugongs,
marine turtles, sea snakes). Duties include piloting
research vessels, marine fauna identification and
assisting students with the practical components of
their course work. Excellent communication skills and
the ability to locate, identify and describe a range of
marine fauna define his role as a tutor.
Prior to 2001 & attending University – Electrician:
Industrial and commercial construction.
Deck-hand: North Australian prawn trawl fishery and
Southern rock lobster fishery.
BEN SCHEMEL
BSc (Mar Biol/Zool) (Hons)
survey environmental advisor & marine fauna observer
relevant projects
CURRICULUM VITAE
Client
Provider
Location
Project
Vessel
Date
Role
Chevron TGS
Scope
Resources
Blue Planet
Marine
Blue Planet
Marine
Blue Planet
Marine
Great
Aus.Bight
NW Shelf
Nerites Season
2MC3D MSS
Fortuna 3D MSS
Sanco Swift
SEA & MFO
NW Shelf
Fortuna Geo. Scout
Survey
Wheatstone LNG
Dredging
Limitless
3rd Jan to
21st Apr 2015
22nd Dec to
2nd Jun 2015
4th Dec to
21st Dec 2014
10th Mar 2014 to
Oct 2015
15th Jan to 20th
Feb 2013
Lead MMO
& PAM
25th Sept to 5th
Nov 2012
20th June to 21st
July 2012
10th Jan to 8th
Feb 2012
13th Dec to 23rd
Dec 2012
19th Sept to 22nd
Oct 2011
16th May 2010 to
10th Sept 2011
SEA
Woodside
Energy
Woodside
Energy
Dredging
International
Onslow WA
Western GeCo
Blue Planet
Marine
Woodside
Energy
Woodside
Energy
MEO Fugro
South West
Surveys
Atlas
EnQuest
Taranaki
New
Zealand
North Scott
Reef
Browse
Basin Aus.
Timor Sea
Chevron
Blue Planet
Marine
Blue Planet
Marine
Blue Planet
Marine
NW Shelf
Australia
North Scott
Reef Aus.
Barrow Is.
Australia
Origin Energy
EnQuest
OMV
Blue Planet
Marine
Blue Planet
Marine
Western Whale
Research
Western Whale
Research
Southern
Australia
South
IslandNZ
Cook Strait
NZ
Timor Sea
Speculant 3D OBC
Cross-Shore MSS
Great Southern Basin
2D MSS
Pegasus & Bounty 2D
MSS
Zeermeermin 3D MSS
NW Shelf
Australia
Eendracht 3D MSS
Woodside
Energy
Chevron
Crown Minerals
FugroMulti-Client
FugroMulti-Client
Taranaki 3D MSS
Vespucci
Brabo; Breydel
Ambiorix;
Gateway
Western
Monarch
Rosebud 3D MSS
Duke
Rafter 3D MSS
Viking 2
Zeppelin/Floyd 2D/3D
MSS
Wheatstone 3D MSS
Geo Atlantic
Tridacna 3D OBC MSS
Gorgon LNG Dredging
Ramform
Explorer
Crest Odyssey
Taurus 2
Cornelis Zanen
Gateway TSHD
Black Jack
Reflect
Resolution
Reflect
Resolution
Geo Atlantic
Geo Atlantic
31st Oct to 5th Dec
2010
23rd Feb to1st
April 2010
14th Dec to
21st Jan 2010
25th Oct to 30th
Nov 2009.
22nd Aug to 26th
Sept 2009
SEA & MFO
Client Rep.
Lead MFO
SEA & MFO
Lead MFO
Lead MFO
SEA
Lead MFO
Lead MFO
Lead MMO,
PAM & SEA
Lead MMO
& PAM
MMO
MMO
*Survey Environmental Advisor (SEA); Marine Fauna Observer (MFO); Marine Mammal Observer (MMO); Passive Acoustic Monitoring
(PAM)