ANNOUNCEMENT
2011 INSHORE ROCKFISH SURVEYS - SOUTHERN BC WATERS

The Pacific Halibut Management Association (PHMA) is seeking licenced commercial halibut longline vessels to conduct rockfish surveys in 2011.

As members are aware, the PHMA, in consultation with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), initiated a depth stratified, random design research longline survey in August 2006. The program is designed to provide catch rates of all species and biological samples of inshore rockfish off the coastal waters of B.C. for stock assessment. Biological data collected includes length, sex, gonad maturity, and otoliths for age determination. Species composition and catch rate will be measured for all sets.

The 2011 survey will cover Southern BC waters in Areas 3C, 3D, 4B (portion), 5A and 5B (portion). The PHMA is requesting bids from commercial halibut longline vessels to perform the surveys during the summer. All charters must be conducted between August 1, 2011 and September 15, 2011. A copy of the Request for Proposal for the 2011 inshore rockfish survey program can be downloaded from the webpage or obtained from the PHMA office. All bids/proposals must be in the format provided in the 2011 Request for Proposal. The deadline for bids/proposals to be submitted is July 25, 2011 at 2:00pm PST.

The research survey program is contingent on the level of funding provided by DFO, the price of quota leases, the total cost of the fishing charters, and PHMA facilitation costs. Once all charter bids have been received, if the overall research survey program is deemed to be in excess of the funding available, the 2011 research survey program may be reduced in the number of sets per area or cancelled. The decision to cancel or reduce the survey program will be at the discretion of PHMA.

2011 RFP Downloads: