Ocean Shrimp Trawl Vessel Needed for Eulachon LED Bycatch Project

Deadline for written questions: 4.20.2018
Deadline for submissions: 4.27.2018

The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) intends to charter one ocean
shrimp trawl vessel (equipped with a double-rigged trawl configuration) to participate in a
research project looking to measure the overall effectiveness of LED fishing lights to
reduce eulachon and other fish bycatch in the ocean shrimp trawl fishery. To determine the
degree that eulachon and other fishes avoid trawl entrainment in response to the LEDs, the
trawls will be fished without sorting grid BRDs. This technique would retain all fishes and
shrimp that enter the trawl and provide a direct catch comparison between the treatment
and control trawl. This project seeks to conduct 8 sample days (depending on charter rate)
between 15 June and 30 September 2018. PSMFC and the Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODFW) will be responsible for designing the project and providing all scientific
equipment needed for the project. The Contractor agrees to furnish a vessel, crew, two
well-matched ocean shrimp trawls, ice, and all additional gear necessary for ocean shrimp
trawling. The Captain and crew of the vessel selected will assist in the deployment and
retrieval of LED lights, recording inclinometers, and oceanographic sensors. The Captain
and crew must be available during all scientific operations. In order to ensure full use of
each sample day, the captain and crew should make any necessary transit arrangements in
order to begin fishing operations at the start of each sample day. All fishing will occur
during daylight hours. This project will be a collaborative study between the PSMFC,
ODFW, and ocean shrimp trawl fishermen.

Posted: 3.28.2018

Download the full Request for Proposals (RFP) by clicking the Download RFP button below

Vessel Needed for Collecting Seafloor Images Using DIDSON and Video Imagery

Deadline for written questions: 3.16.2018
Deadline for submissions: 3.23.2018

This work will make tows with a sled equipped with DIDSON and video imaging
equipment to collect seafloor images across the swept area of a bottom trawl
equipped with elevated trawl sweeps (designed to reduce seafloor contact and
interactions with small macroinvertebrates [e.g., Dungeness crab, Echinoderms]).
The DIDSON sonar and video imaging will be used to estimate the degree of
seafloor contact made by examining the cross-section of the sweeps disc tracks
formed on the seafloor and the texture of the seafloor between the disc tracks.

Posted: 3.1.2018

Download the full Request for Proposals (RFP) by clicking the Download RFP button below

Vessel Needed for Elevated Trawl Sweeps Study in the Groundfish Bottom Trawl Fishery

Deadline for written questions: 3.16.2018
Deadline for submissions: 3.23.2018

This study will evaluate the efficacy of elevated trawl sweeps in the West Coast LE
groundfish bottom trawl fishery. Specifically, this research will compare the catch
efficiencies between two alternative elevated sweep designs (designed to reduce
seafloor contact and interactions with small macroinvertebrates [e.g., Dungeness
crab, Echinoderms]) and the conventional continuous bottom-tending sweep used in
the fishery.

Posted: 3.1.2018

Download the full Request for Proposals (RFP) by clicking the Download RFP button below