IPHC-2026-MR-002 IPHC 2026 Fishery-Independent Setline Survey (FISS) Request for Tender – Adak

SEATTLE – The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is seeking to charter longline vessels (fixed gear or snap-gear) to conduct its Fishery-Independent Setline Survey (FISS) in 2026 in IPHC Regulatory Area 4B, specifically in FISS Charter Region Adak, with a planned 73 stations.

The primary purpose of the FISS is to collect standardised data for use in the Pacific halibut stock assessment. This information collected is also used to study aspects of the Pacific halibut resource, such as growth, distribution, biomass, age composition, sexual maturity, and relative abundance of other species. Legal-sized Pacific halibut and Pacific halibut less than 32 inches in length that have been sampled, as well as incidentally caught fish (byproduct) that will die upon release, will be retained, sampled for biological data, and sold by the IPHC to offset FISS expenses. 

The FISS must be completed between 22 May and 15 September 2026. The IPHC will consider only those vessels with vessel captains and crews that have recent (within five years) Pacific halibut fishing experience. The IPHC may require an inspection of the vessel prior to awarding the charter.

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 as long as domestic customs and immigration regulations are followed.

Interested vessel owners are invited to submit tenders based upon the 2026 IPHC Fishery-Independent Setline Survey (FISS) Vessel Tender Specifications. These specifications, along with the required Vessel Tender Forms, can be downloaded directly from the IPHC website: Vessel Recruiting | IPHC.

The IPHC will not be obligated to accept the tender with the lowest bid or any tender received and will contract according to its best interests.

Vessels will be rated using the following criteria:

• seaworthiness and general condition of the vessel and its equipment;
• the vessel’s availability within the schedule determined solely by the IPHC Secretariat;
• the vessel captain’s experience and fishing record;
• the qualifications of the selected crew;
• IPHC operating costs (tender amounts);
• Previous interactions with the IPHC and its Secretariat, experience with the IPHC FISS.

Scheduling flexibility and the ability to take additional Secretariat are other factors to be potentially considered in the decision-making process.

Both fixed gear and snap gear vessels are welcome to bid on all IPHC Charter Regions.

Initial review of bid submissions will take place on 2 March 2026, and the request for tender will remain open until filled. In order to be considered in the initial review, submissions must be completed no later than 23:59 (Pacific) on 1 March 2026.