Seafish: Request for quotation for a commercial scallop fishing vessel hire to assist with scientific research surveys to determine the status of scallop stocks in the English Channel, North Sea and Celtic Sea

Seafish is collaborating with Cefas and industry to carry out the third consecutive year of dredge surveys as part of an ongoing research project in selected king scallop fisheries located in the English Channel, Celtic Sea and North Sea, with the aim of determining stock status.

This project is still in the relatively early stages of reporting and is setting the foundations for long term monitoring and assessment of selected king scallop stocks around English coasts. We are planning to repeat the dredge surveys in 2019 in areas 27.7.e and 27.7.f in early May then a second survey in September (27.7.d and 27.4.b). However, the timing of these surveys and other operational aspects are subject to approval by the Project Steering Board and may change.

Surveys will require taking two Cefas scientists to sea to determine the catches in standard and modified scallop dredges.

The primary aim which requires industry cooperation is:

Determination of the distribution and abundance of scallops

A commercial fishing vessel will fish for scallop using standard and modified dredges to determine the distribution and abundance of scallop. Tows will be carried out on both existing fishing grounds but also in areas where scallop have occurred in recent years but are not currently fished. Modified dredges designed to catch smaller scallop below Minimum Landing Size (MLS) will be deployed at the same time as standard commercial gear to provide density estimates for pre-recruit scallop. The fishing positions have been randomly determined within beds defined by historic fishing patterns using VMS data.

What is required:

a) The vessel and crew (mentioned above) will be required for 13 fishing days for the May survey in the Western English Channel and Celtic Sea and an additional 6 fishing days for the September survey in the Eastern English Channel and North Sea.

b) The vessel and crew will be required to deploy and service their own commercial gear and up to eight modified dredges provided. Fishing tow positions will be confirmed after consultation with the skipper, but flexibility is required as scientists will want to determine scallop density at sites selected randomly within each defined scallop bed.

c) The vessel owner is required to provide their own commercial gear, and this is to be standardised throughout the survey as much as possible and kept in good condition for the duration of the survey.

d) Crew are expected to assist Cefas scientists with preparing the catch for sampling and recording results.

More information can be found in the attached document.