31 July 2023
SEATTLE – The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is seeking to charter a longline vessel to conduct a bait comparison study with a completion date of the end of September 2023 in IPHC Regulatory Area 2C.
The primary purpose of this study is to compare the catch rates of Pacific halibut between two bait types: Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) and Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha). This study will provide a direct comparison of catch rates for the two baits that can be combined with results from the 2012 bait comparison study completed by IPHC and be used to develop an IPHC Regulatory Area-specific calibration for future FISS surveys.
Vessels need not be licensed for Pacific halibut fishing in Canada or the USA to be eligible. The IPHC is not restricted as to the nationality of the vessels it charters for operation in any region if customs and immigration regulations are followed. Fish caught and retained for sale during this study may be sold in the US or in Canada.
One IPHC Secretariat staff will be deployed aboard the vessel along with an action packer containing gear as well as a motion compensated platform scale with a cradle. Biological sampling will be expedited (lengths and weights), and will not include collection of ages, nor retention of sublegal fish. There will be no IPHC FISS shack deployed on the vessel completing this study.
Both snap gear & fixed gear longline vessels are encouraged to bid on this study.
Vessels are encouraged to submit bids based on a study comprised of 50 stations, 75 stations and 100 stations.
Interested vessel owners are invited to submit tenders based upon the 2023 Bait Comparison Study Vessel Tender Specifications. The Tender Specifications and Vessel Tender Forms for this project may be accessed directly from the IPHC website: Vessel Recruiting | IPHC.
IPHC Secretariat
International Pacific Halibut Commission
2320 W. Commodore Way, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98199-1287
206-634-1838 | www.iphc.int
