The International Pacific Halibut Commission is seeking commercial longline vessels to conduct setline surveys on Pacific halibut in Washington-Oregon and the Bering Sea-Aleutians during June-August 1999. These operations will involve fishing standardized gear at specified stations and are designed to provide information used in stock assessment. Vessels will operate from ports in the U.S. and will conduct fishing in Areas 2A, 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D. Money is not available to independently fund these surveys and IPHC is looking for creative, low cost ways of collecting survey data from these areas. Revenue from fish caught during the surveys will be available to compensate vessels, but catch rates are low on many of the stations, particularly those in Areas 2A and 4D. Vessels will be allowed to fish commercially when not survey fishing if they have IFQ and other valid permits, and IPHC will consider contributing to the cost of ice, bait and fuel.

The IPHC will consider only those vessels with captains and crews that have halibut fishing experience. Vessels must have suitable accommodations for one or two Commission employees (including women) in addition to an experienced captain and crew, capable of fishing 21 skates of gear per day and handling large quantities of halibut. The IPHC will evaluate proposals submitted based on (1) the experience of captain and crew with halibut fishing, (2) the characteristics and safety features of the vessel, and (3) IPHC operating costs. The vessels will need to supply conventional fixed-hook setline gear with No. 3 circle hooks spaced at approximately 18 feet as well as all associated equipment normally required for commercial halibut fishing.