Charter Announcement:
IPHC Requests Vessel Bids for Archival Tagging Charter in Alaskan Waters

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is requesting bids from commercial longline vessels to perform a tagging charter during the summer of 2009. The charter will be conducted in one of the following areas: 1) the Ommaney Ground, located at approximately 55° 10' N latitude by 134° 50' W longitude in IPHC Regulatory Area 2C, departing from either Sitka or Petersburg, Alaska, 2) inner Spencer Spit, located at approximately 58° 10' N latitude by 137° 05' W longitude in IPHC Regulatory Area 3A, departing from either Sitka or Juneau, Alaska, and 3) the Trinity Ground, located at approximately 56° 00' N latitude by 153° 35' W longitude in IPHC Regulatory Area 3B, departing from either Kodiak, Homer, or Seward, Alaska. The charter will be conducted in only one location, chosen according to vessel availability and relative cost structure, but vessels may submit bids for any or all areas. The charter must take place between August 10 and September 25, 2009.

The goal of the charter will be to tag fish with two different tag configurations in order to obtain estimates of tag shedding and fishery recover rate for each tag-type. We will tag a total of 200 halibut. Tagging will be distributed within target length-classes, as follows: (60) fish of 82-89 cm, (60) fish of 90-99 cm, (40) fish of 100-109 cm, and (40) fish of 110-125 cm. A small number of halibut (if too damaged to release), rockfish, and Pacific cod may be retained for sale from the charter, but all fish sales revenue will be retained by IPHC.

Vessel owners interested in the charter are asked to submit a bid based upon a lump sum for completion of the charter's tagging requirements, including crew, fuel, and food expenses. The vessel must have accommodation for two IPHC staff members in addition to the normal crew. The IPHC is not restricted as to nationality of the vessels it charters, but the vessel is responsible for compliance with all customs regulations. 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) experience of captain and crew, including previous experience carefully landing halibut for tag-and-release experiments, (2) characteristics and safety features of the vessel, (3) dates on which the vessel is available for charter, and (4) IPHC operating costs.

For a copy of the charter specifications and bid forms, contact the IPHC offices or download from the IPHC web site. For additional information, please contact Tim Loher (ext. 212). Bids must be received at the IPHC office in Seattle by 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) on Friday, July 3rd, 2009.

-END-