BID REQUEST FOR EXPERIMENT HALIBUT CHARTERS

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is seeking commercial longline vessels to conduct setline research experiments on Pacific halibut in the Gulf of Alaska during April- August 2002. These operations will be in addition to the Commission’s stock assessment surveys, which also occur during this period. Vessels will operate from Seward, AK, and will conduct fishing in the nearby waters of Area 3A. No fish will be sold from these special experiment charters. The vessel will be responsible for gear, fuel and other vessel expenses, and the IPHC will pay for ice, bait, and communications.

The 2002 IPHC special research will involve at least two charters. The first, to be conducted in early April, will initially catch and hold overnight approximately 100 tagged halibut for evaluation of immediate tag shedding rates. This procedure will be repeated for two to six days, with new fish caught for each overnight holding. Upon developing a satisfactory tag protocol, the vessel will catch and deliver approximately 80 live halibut to a shoreside holding facility in Seward, AK, for a longer term tag-shedding study. We have a delivery window of April 9-17 for the first live fish delivery, and would like to schedule the first charter to begin on or around April 6, 2002. The successful bidder must have a hold that can be flooded with seawater, and have the capability to circulate fresh seawater into the hold while the vessel is running.

The second charter will take place during May, 2002, and will be similar to the first charter. Further charters will be conducted later in the summer and fall as necessary to achieve project goals. Further charters will also be conducted throughout the summer and fall to confirm results and address project specific goals and concerns. Each of the charters is expected to involve from 3 to 7 total fishing days.

Due to fishing schedules and the uncertain timing of our later charters, we may award charters to more than one vessel during 2002. Our intention is to award the first two charters based on responses to this bid request, but the results of the tagging experiments will determine how and when the subsequent charters will be awarded. We will encourage vessels to submit a bid based on a daily rate, clearly indicating times when they might be available, even if they do not anticipate being available for the first or second charter period.

The IPHC will consider only those vessels with captains and crews that have halibut fishing experience. Vessels must have suitable accommodations for two Commission employees (including women) in addition to an experienced captain and crew capable of fishing up to 40 skates of gear per day. Vessels will supply setline gear with 16/0 circle hooks, and all associated equipment normally required for commercial halibut fishing. The IPHC will evaluate proposals based on: (1) total bid amount, in the form of either a lump sum payment, or daily-rate bids; (2) the experience and production of captain and crew with halibut fishing; (3) the characteristics and safety features of the vessel, and; (4) IPHC operating costs. Preference may be given to vessels with local knowledge of fishing grounds, with previous live delivery experience, and/or with flexible schedules.

The Commission is not restricted as to nationality of the vessels it charters for operation in any area. Vessels need not be licensed for halibut fishing in Canada or the U. S. to be eligible. The lowest or any bid will not necessarily be accepted and the Commission will contract according to its own best interests. Interested owners can contact the IPHC office in Seattle for further information on charter specifications and to obtain tender forms. Interested parties should call 206-634-1838 and contact Steve Kaimmer (ext. 210), or Kelly Van Wormer (ext. 202).

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) will be conducting research operations off Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska during 2002 and will be selling halibut caught during the operations to offset costs associated with conducting the research programs. The IPHC anticipates that all landings will be between late May and September 2002. Approximately 15 vessels may be involved in the survey, and average trip size for halibut usually ranges from 10,000 to 50,000 pounds. Small amounts of rockfish and Pacific cod may also be landed. All of the fish will be well iced, and the Commission will attempt to keep all of the fish less than six days old when selling into markets where the fish are marketed fresh. Older fish may be landed when selling into frozen markets. Suggestions from industry on how the IPHC can maximize fish quality or improve fish sales are welcome. In 2002, sales will be awarded based on IPHC objectives of achieving a fair market price and distributing sales among buyers and ports. Sale agreements will be based on prices at the time of the sale. The Commission will not enter into any consignment or profit sharing arrangements. The Commission plans to contact interested halibut buyers prior to each landing. Preferences will be given to buyers with a history of successfully marketing halibut and following ethical business practices.

In awarding sales, the Commission will consider: (1) price; (2) the number of years buyers have been buying and marketing halibut; (3) how fish are graded at the dock including the determination of No.2 halibut and chalky fish; and (4) promptness in settlements following deliveries. Obtaining a fair market price will be a primary consideration in awarding fish sales, but the Commission may award sales to buyers with slightly lower prices when the factors listed above are considered. The Commission will also attempt to distribute sales among as many qualified buyers as possible, subject to fair market value.

All buyers (including those with past IPHC sales history) interested in purchasing IPHC research fish in 2002 should send a letter, fax or e-mail to Steve Hoag (steveh@jl2hc.washington.edu) at the Commission before May 1, 2002. For further information, please call (206) 634-1838, and contact Steve Hoag (ext. 214) or Claude Dykstra (ext. 213). Source: IPHC.

As part of the movement towards the voluntary collection of management fees by industry organizations, DFO is proposing to eliminate the regulated industry contributions to management costs by amending the Pacific Fishery regulations, 1993, under the Fisheries Act, thereby reducing the current fee for commercial shrimp trawl fishing. The recovery of management costs through a Treasury Board agreement was set out as a temporary measure that expired in March 2002. If the regulations were not amended, fishermen would continue to pay licence fees that include management costs but there would be no arrangements to recover these monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and fishermen would not receive the intended benefits. As licence fees are prescribed by regulation, a regulatory amendment is required to effect a reduced licence fee.

The Shrimp Trawl Sectoral Committee has formed a "Joint Project Agreement Subcommittee" to work with DFO on developing the co-management programs for the 2002/03 fishery. More information is available from Laurie Convey, DFO Shellfish Management Biologist in Nanaimo, tel: 250-756-7163.

Central Coast Advisory Board (CCAB) members polled gillnet fishermen in December and again in January on the issue of 60-versus 90-mesh nets and their preference for "type" (standard or Alaska Twist) in the coming fall fishery. CCAB member Lewis Buble’ said the issue, "requires more input from those affected before a formal recommendation to DFO should be made." [See CCAB Recommendations elsewhere in this issue - ed.]. Buble’ said, "a coast-wide, or at least an in Area C, standard could help limit the gear expenses, especially if you allowed the option of using existing standard gear alongside Alaska Twist." Preliminary results from the poll (see below) indicate gillnet fishermen generally agree with this option.