NW Acoustic Mini survey

Description

A requirement exists for the charter of a pair of pelagic trawlers (or a single vessel capable of targeting herring with pelagic doors) for a period of up to 10 days to conduct an acoustic survey in areas where spawning herring may be present. The Project is funded by the provision of apart of the monitoring TAC of Northwest herring. The maximum additional allocation available is 400 tonnes. The payment will relate solely to days spent at sea as part of the survey. Vessels are invited to tender on the basis of their ability to undertake the survey schedule. This comprises following a pre-determined cruise track in the order of 1,000 nmi (nautical miles), over not more than 10 days, and possibly less, including mob and demob time. The survey will operate 24 hours a day and will involve steaming along pre-determined grid lines, and operating a scientific echosounder. Fishing will take place to verify the species identity of marks observed. The survey will ideally take place over a 10 day period in the general window from the 25th November to the 15th December, however these may move by a day or so either way. Full details are available in the Invitation to Tender document.