Due to some technical issues that have not been resolved to our satisfaction, the major passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagging study has been postponed for one year. This results in some significant changes to the 2002 IPHC stock assessment charter specifications released on January 4, 2002. Changes to the program include: only five skates will be fished at each station rather than eight as previously stated, there will be no dedicated tagging skates, and a maximum of four stations can be fished per day. If you have already received the charter specifications, or downloaded them from our web site, please contact us or revisit the web site to obtain the updated specifications. If you have already submitted a proposal, we ask that you submit a revised proposal based on the new specifications.

The International Pacific Halibut Commission is seeking commercial longline vessels to conduct setline surveys throughout the range of Pacific halibut, from the southern Oregon border to the northern Bering Sea including the Aleutian Islands. These areas have been divided into 27 separate regions encompassing IPHC Areas 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, and 4D. Each region will require between 12 and 20 fishing days plus additional days for running, loading and offloading gear and fish, foul weather days etc. Depending on the region, total charter duration can be expected to be 17 to 40 days. Vessels are encouraged to bid for multiple areas. All survey operations must be completed between June 1^st and August 31^st of 2002.

Survey operations will involve fishing five skates of standardized gear at specified stations. The purpose of the setline survey is to collect standardized data used for halibut stock assessment. Information such as age, sex, maturity, length, location, and CPUE will be collected from all halibut during the survey. Legal-sized halibut and some bycatch will be retained and sold by the IPHC to cover charter expenses.

Vessel owners interested in surveys are asked to submit bids based upon standard IPHC contract structure. Bids will be accepted based upon a lump sum payment for the completion of a region, plus 10 percent of the net halibut sales and 50 percent of selected bycatch sales. As the Commission does not have funds to survey the areas off Oregon and Washington (Area 2A), the western Aleutians (Area 4B) as well as portions of the Bering Sea (4A and 4D Edges), vessels are encouraged to submit alternate proposals to complete the work in these areas. Vessels may bid up to three regions. Charter Specifications and Vessel Tender Forms may be requested from the Commission or downloaded from the IPHC web site.

The IPHC will consider only those vessels with captains and crews that have halibut fishing experience. Vessels bidding for charter must have adequate deck space and suitable accommodations for two Commission employees (including women). The vessels must supply conventional fixed-hook setline gear built to Commission standards (see Charter Specifications) as well as all associated equipment normally required for commercial halibut fishing.

Vessels need not be licensed for halibut fishing in Canada or the U.S. to be eligible. The Commission is not restricted as to nationality of the vessels it charters for operation in any area as long as customs regulations are followed. The lowest or any bid will not necessarily be accepted and the Commission will contract according to its own best interests. The IPHC will evaluate bids 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.

For further information please contact Claude Dykstra (ext. 213), Kelly Van Wormer (ext. 202) or Heather Gilroy (ext. 206). Bids must be received at the IPHC office in Seattle by 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Friday, March 1^st, 2002.

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