The Social Challenge and Reasons for Initiating the Project

The urgency of the social problem

Sakhalin Oblast is the only island province in Russia, and it has dozens of marine mammals and seabirds living in it and in surrounding waters. The Sea of Okhotsk has one of the highest biodiversity levels in the Far East. Yet industrial fisheries and large-scale oil and gas projects on the continental shelf pose a potential threat to marine mammals.

Conservation of marine mammals is one of the most acute problems for Sakhalin Oblast. Every year, there are situations where animals need help. In 2015 and 2016, there were a series of events which caused quite a stir on Sakhalin Island and throughout the world. In December 2015, there was an incident with the tanker Nadezhda off the coast at Nevelsk, where a large number of animals and plants were killed by an oil spill, including over 200 birds, and there was a serious threat to the nearby breeding ground of endangered sea lions. Rescue operations employed both professional rescuers and volunteers trained by Sakhalin Energy.

In April 2016, a rescue team successfully saved a group of orcas from an ice trap in Dolinsk District. In this operation, local rescuers and volunteers received crucial assistance from a Sakhalin Energy expert on marine mammals. In August, there were several operations to rescue orcas from fishing nets. In the fall, a stranded minke whale was rescued in Kholmsk District. In September, a gray whale was spotted at Piltun Bay entangled in fishing nets.

External reasons for initiating the program

SDG 14 (“Life Below Water”) is one of the most relevant goals for the Company.

In 2012, the UN Development Program, the Global Environment Facility and the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment launched a joint project in Russia, entitled “Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into Russia’s energy sector policies and operations.” The project directly involved Russia’s leading energy companies. The idea was to make biodiversity conservation an integral part of energy companies’ operations. Sakhalin Energy was an active participant in the project.

Internal reasons for initiating the program

         Sakhalin Energy has always prioritized environment protection and biodiversity conservation.

         The Company’s environmental policy is incorporated into its Operational Principles, Sustainability Policy and Workplace Safety, Security, Health and Environment Policy. The Company’s Biodiversity Conservation Plan is based on the world’s best practices.

         Since biodiversity conservation is a complex issue, the Company takes steps to share its expertise and engage other stakeholders in this work. For example, in 2008 the Company came up with an initiative to set up a working group of biodiversity experts with the Sakhalin Oblast Environmental Council.

Coverage

Sakhalin region

Project Description

In 2003, Sakhalin Energy designed the Marine Mammal Protection Plan. The primary focus is the western population of gray whales in the Northern Pacific, yet the plan covers other species as well. The Company has extensive expertise in this area, which it is happy to share with other stakeholders.

Before 2017, Sakhalin Oblast did not have a coordinated system of marine mammal rescue, and volunteers involved in rescue operations did not have any preliminary training. The Company’s project was the first time on Sakhalin – and, in fact, across Russia – that a comprehensive, systemic approach was taken in organizing marine mammal rescue efforts.

Stages

Date	Stage	Activities
2016	Design and launch	Needs are evaluatedA working group is formedKey priorities are identified
Since November 2016	Implementation	The partnership agreement is signedThe coordination council is formedBylaws are prepared and approved Educational activities for local peopleA team of volunteers is formedThe volunteer team is trainedDrills and practice missions, training rescue operations
Since the fall of 2017	Expansion through additional funding from external sources	The project wins a grant from the Presidential Foundation (2017) and is implemented across Sakhalin OblastThe project wins a grant from the Sakhalin Oblast Government (2018)The project expands to include the northern tip of Sakhalin Island (a response team is formed with volunteers living in the coastal area)

         In November 2016, Sakhalin Energy received an application seeking funding for a marine mammal rescue system.

         In December 2016, Boomerang Club and Sakhalin Energy started bringing in the world’s leading experts on marine mammal rescue operations to train volunteers on Sakhalin Island. This work was organized through the International Whaling Commission, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the National Marine Mammal Council.

1. Coordination Council

A coordination council was created to organize marine mammal rescue operations. The council includes project organizers (Sakhalin Energy and Boomerang Club), partners, experts, government agencies (Emercom rescue team, Sakhalin Oblast Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Sakhalin Oblast Forestry and Hunting Department, National Environmental Oversight Authority, Veterinary Service), National Marine Mammal Council, companies (Ekospas Sakhalin, Mitsui, etc.) and NGOs (Sakhalin Environment Watch).

The council has adopted guidelines for marine mammal rescue operations. Initially an activist group, the council was later transformed into an official body, the marine mammal rescue section within the Sakhalin Oblast Biodiversity Conservation Working Group.

2. Information campaign

         The effectiveness of rescue system largely depends on how quickly the rescue team finds out about a situation where an animal needs help. We organized an information campaign for people living in coastal areas. To this end, we prepared and circulated the following materials:

1. An A1 poster: common species of marine mammals on Sakhalin, recommendations on handling mammals when stranded or caught in fishing nets, contact information for the coordination council and response teams (550 copies).
2. An A4 leaflet: recommendations for encounters with seals, contact information for response teams and the rehabilitation center (2800 copies).

         Encounters with seals is a highly relevant subject for Sakhalin Island. Every spring, good-hearted people who don’t know anything about seals, try to “rescue” seal cubs – and usually end up doing more harm than help.

         In addition, five mock models of whales and seals were made for educational programs and training sessions (spotted seal, Steller sea lion, orca, gray whale and minke whale).

         Boomerang Club set up information stands and a giant model of a gray whale during public events in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, like Youth Day and City Day, telling people about marine mammals and explaining to them what they should do if they see an animal stranded, wounded or caught in fishing nets.

         Special meetings with local people were organized in 13 districts to circulate recommendations about rescuing marine mammals. Consultations took place on fishing boats, in schools, etc. Local government bodies, fishing companies, educational institutions and activists helped organize these events.

3. Creating a response team with professional rescuers, vets, biologists and volunteers

         An informal response team was formed, including professional rescue workers, biologists, vets and volunteers.

         A training program was designed for the team. During the summer, the team participated in practical sessions and other projects of Boomerang Club (cleaning up the coast, educational events). After going through the training, participants were formed into a team ready for rescue operations. The group consists of over 40 volunteers. This work was done together with the National Marine Mammal Council. Some of the volunteers are Sakhalin Energy employees.

4. Workshop on stranded or entangled mammals

         As a separate event, a workshop on stranded or entangled marine mammals was organized for the response team. This was the first educational event on this subject in Russia. Leading Russian and international specialists were invited for the workshop. The workshop included both theoretical and practical classes on refloating and untangling marine mammals. Special emphasis was placed on safety measures for the people involved in the operation.

         The program of the workshop included the following subjects: biodiversity and marine mammal species of Sakhalin Island, guidelines for rescuing a stranded whale, avoiding sunburns, rescuing an entangled whale, operating a small boat when conducting a rescue operation, untangling a seal, shore encounters with seals, rehabilitation for seal cubs, equipment and materials used in marine mammal rescue operations, safety issues in rescue operations, and protective gear for rescue workers.

         Two world-class experts came to Sakhalin to help with the workshop. David Mattila of the International Whaling Commission helps large baleen whales entangled in fishing gear or marine debris. Brian Sharp works with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), rescuing smaller whales and seals when live-stranded.

         The introductory lecture (May 29, 2017) on marine mammals was given by Boris Solovyov of the Severtsov Environment and Evolution Institute.

         The workshop (June 1-2, 2017) was attended by representatives of environmental agencies, Emercom rescuers, veterinarians, nature reserve staff, employees of oil and gas companies, and members of the volunteer marine mammal rescue team. David Mattile brought a set of special gear which was then transferred to the rescue team. Participants practiced in various rescue activities: slowing the whale down, keeping it on the surface, cutting entangling ropes, operating special buoys and the pole on which the blade is mounted. The instructor emphasized safety precautions when rescuing a large whale.

         The practical session (June 3-4, 2017) on refloating stranded dolphins was organized with full-size mock-up models filled with water. Participants practiced with special stretchers and regular blankets often used by rescuers. Special attention was given to handling fins carefully and relieving stress for the animal.

         The trainees were highly motivated. About 60 participants successfully passed the initial training for rescuing whales and seals. An agreement has been reached on future cooperation and training sessions. This was the first event of this kind ever organized in Russia.

         The training session was also sponsored by Rosneft Sakhalin Sea Oil and Gas, Sakhalin Oblast Tourism Authority, Ioca Support Services (Sakhalin Energy contractor), and the National Marine Mammal Council.

5. General drill

         The project concluded with a general drill. A number of situations were simulated, requiring actions from the response team and the coordination council and calling for specific protocols. After the drill, the coordination council reviewed the results and made necessary adjustments. The volunteer team performed a practical exercise, applying the theoretical knowledge received at the workshop. The drill took place on October 14, 2017, at the Emercom base on Tunaicha Lake.

         Volunteers and rescuers practiced in two kinds of operations: refloating a smaller whale stranded on the shore or a medium-sized whale stranded in shallow waters with a stretcher or pontoons, and rescuing a larger baleen whale entangled in fishing gear.

         In order to help researchers in their work, participants learned how to take biological samples, store them and transfer them to research centers. Volunteers perform this work together with the National Marine Mammal Council. When they receive a report of a dead or living animal found on the shore, volunteers travel to the site. This helps better understand what kind of problems marine mammals face and where it happens more frequently.

Team and Partners

Partners

• Sakhalin Energy (expert, administrative and information support; primary sponsor).
• Boomerang Club (NGO, project coordinator).

• The Sakhalin Oblast Department of Natural Resources and Environment (expert, administrative and information support).
• The Sakhalin Oblast Department of Forestry and Hunting (expert support).
• The Sakhalin Oblast Agency for Civil Defense and Emergencies (expert and administrative support).
• The Sakhalin Oblast Emercom Rescue Team (expert support).

Other stakeholders (experts):

• The International Whaling Commission
• The International Fund for Animal Welfare
• Other government agencies (Veterinary Service, Department of Health Care, etc.)

         Other participants in the project included the National Marine Mammal Council, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Rosneft Sakhalin Sea Oil and Gas, the Sakhalin Oblast Environmental Oversight Authority, the Pacific Division of the Federal Environmental Oversight Agency, the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Youth Initiative Center, etc.

Resources

Financial resources

The Company spent a total of 1 million rubles on the project (as a social investment in Boomerang Club). In order to extend the project and prepare rescue teams in the northern parts of the island, the Company signed an additional agreement to support a two-year project. The Company will invest 3.96 million rubles in project expansion.

This does not include expenses related to expert, administrative and information support.

Human resources

The volunteers participating in the project can be divided into two categories:

1. Volunteers who went through the training process and joined the marine mammal rescue team (60 people have passed the training, 40 have joined the group, including some Sakhalin Energy employees).
2. Company employees, experts and consultants, offering pro bono services. Pro bono services offered by eight volunteers made an important contribution to the project. These included participation in the coordination council, assistance with designing information materials and models, event organizing, interaction with stakeholders, translation. Peter van der Wolf (Company consultant) has been one of the key consultants and experts on marine mammals throughout the project.

Technological and material resources

We purchased, manufactured or collected all the materials, gear and equipment necessary for rescue operations.

Achieved results

Immediate results

As a key result, Sakhalin now has a partnership for one of the most acute problems in coastal areas: marine mammal rescue. Sakhalin Energy was one of the initiators in the early days of the projects. The project was conceived as intersectoral, bringing together Sakhalin Energy, one of the most influential environmentalist NGOs and regional authorities. The project attracted a lot of attention not only within the region but even nationally.

Other results include the following:

1. The issue of rescuing marine mammals has been elevated to the official level with government environmental agencies.
2. An algorithm for rescuing marine mammals has been designed and approved.
3. The initial coordination council has been transformed into an official institution: marine mammal rescue section within the biodiversity conservation working group under the Sakhalin Oblast Environmental Interagency Council.
4. A response team (about 40 people) has been created and trained to rescue marine mammals.
5. Members of the response team have been trained to rescue marine mammals. The training was conducted by international experts David Mattila and Brian Sharp and Seal Rehabilitation Center biologist Laura Beloivan (Vladivostok).
6. The Marine Mammal Rescue Team has conducted a drill.
7. A massive information campaign has been conducted. Posters and flyers on marine mammal rescue were designed, printed and circulated. Mammal Rescue is now part of all environmentalist classes conducted by Boomerang Club. 
8. The project attracted media attention.

Man and the Sea is a good example of a successful pilot innovative project in biodiversity conservation, aligned with the company’s values and serving the needs of the region.

The company’s support of the project confirms and emphasizes the company’s responsible position on environmental matters (environment protection and biodiversity conservation).

This project is absolutely in line with the company’s policies and standards for social performance and sustainable development. 

Internal evaluation

The Company regularly monitors and evaluates its social programs and projects, both internally and externally.

Internal evaluation of the Man and the Sea project was to see if it complied with the Company’s Social Investment Strategy guidelines.

SIS guidelines	Comment
The project must be designed following consultations with the local people and serve the needs of the communities affected by the Company’s operations.	An opinion poll regarding Sakhalin II contained a question: which areas on Sakhalin Island require particular support? About 13% (up to 40% in some areas) answered “environmental protection.”
The project must deal with matters affecting the Company’s reputation.	Environmental protection is a priority for Sakhalin Energy. The Company’s environmental policy is incorporated into its Operational Principles, Sustainability Policy and Workplace Safety, Security, Health and Environment Policy.
The project may not be directly related to the Company’s operations yet it must improve the economic, environmental and social situation on Sakhalin Island.	All the stakeholders (the target audience, partners, etc.) consider the project as successful.
The project must contribute to Sakhalin’s sustainable development and demonstrate the Company’s commitment to its sustainability goals.	The project is completely in line with the Company’s Sustainability Policy, where “efficient use of resources, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation” are mentioned as one of the eight key sustainability principles.

Both quantitative and qualitative indicators were used for internal and external evaluation:

Quantitative indicator	Comments
Social investment (budget execution)	The budget has been fully executed, all spending is transparent and properly documented.
Co-invested funds	About 2 million rubles co-invested in 2017-2018, plus in-kind donations by other partners.
Number of settlements covered	Sakhalin Oblast (primarily, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Korsakov)
Number of volunteer rescuers trained	40
Number of materials circulated as part of the information campaign	550 A1 posters with common species of marine mammals on Sakhalin, recommendations on handling mammals when stranded or entangled in fishing gear, contact information for the response team. 2800 A4 leaflets with recommendations for encounters with seal cubs.
Number of people trained in a marine mammal rescue drill	60
Number of events	Over five major events
Number of participants	Overall, about 150 people
Number of people who attended project events	Over 30,000 people
Number of mentions in the media	99 (including a piece in Ogonyok, a magazine with 90,000 subscriptions, and reports by major news agencies)

Qualitative indicators	Comments
Coordination council for marine mammal rescue operations	The Council has been created
Information campaign for the people living in coastal areas on what they should do if they find a distressed marine mammal	The campaign has been conducted, with positive feedback received.
Building the culture of caring for the environment by sharing the expertise and best practices	The experience of intersectoral partnership gained during this project made a significant contribution to building the culture of caring for the environment. Sakhalin Energy has confirmed its status as an environment-friendly company and has shared its expertise with partners.
Building up the NGO community	Through this project, Boomerang Club learned how to organize a large-scale information campaign on a subject which is new to Russia, got experience of working with international experts (the first time for the IWC in Russia), significantly expanded the volunteer group and attracted additional funding for the project.
Building up NGO potential	The NGO created a new project team, attracted new volunteers, started a new type of activity, and developed international contacts.
Contribution to fostering the volunteer movement within the Company	Company employees participated in the project as experts (in the Coordination Council) and volunteers, going through theoretical and practical training on rescuing marine mammals as part of a rescue team.

External evaluation

In 2019, a comprehensive evaluation of the project will be done as part of the regular social investment evaluation the Company does every two years.

Special Features and Best Practices

The project combines a number of special features.

  First, the project was funded based on the results of an open grant contest of the Energy Social Initiative Foundation.

   Second, Company employees actively participated in the program as pro bono experts and consultants.

    Third, a group of volunteer rescuers was openly formed for a type of operations which are new to Russia.

    Fourth, the project used the intersectoral partnership format, with business, an environmental NGO and the government working together.

Plans for the Future

The Man and the Sea project created a marine mammal rescue system on Sakhalin Island, which will now function independently, through the operation of government agencies and volunteer activities. The experience and resources acquired in the course of the project will be used to expand the project’s geography and attract new volunteers.

A special website on marine mammal rescue on Sakhalin Island (mmrescue.ru) has been created.

Boomerang Club has won a grant from the Presidential Foundation for extending the project. Activists designed and produced a board game about marine mammals, Sea Friends, which will be freely distributed to youth centers for educational purposes.

The club continues to acquire experience and has a good chance of being certified internationally as a training center for theoretical and practical training sessions. This will enable it to share its experience with other parts of Russia and start similar programs there.

In 2018, another project was launched to conserve marine mammals on Sakhalin Island. Boomerang Club, Sakhalin Energy and the administration of Nevelsk created a Steller sea lion complex, which includes a sea lion installation, two stationary binoculars and three information stands about sea lions, their breeding grounds and migrations, and how garbage affects marine mammals.

The Sakhalin experience of partnership between civil society, government agencies and business can be replicated in any coastal area across the country.