2008 Setline Stock Assessment Survey

The International Pacific Halibut Commission is seeking commercial longline vessels to conduct survey and experimental fishing in 2008.  The purpose of the setline survey is to collect standardized data used for halibut stock assessment. This information is used to study aspects of the halibut resource such as growth, distribution, area-wide biomass, age composition, sexual maturity, and relative abundance of other species. The 2008 setline survey will cover 30 regions, from the southern Oregon border to the northern Bering Sea including the Aleutian Islands (including the Eastern Bering Sea shelf). Survey vessels will fish five skates of standardized gear at each station. The survey has been designed so that the average vessel can fish 3 stations per day (a maximum of 4 per day will be permitted). Most regions require 11 - 19 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 18 - 38 days. Vessels are encouraged to bid for multiple areas. Survey fishing must be completed between May 26th and August 31st 2008.

The Commission requests bids for multi-year contracts (mutually renewable on an annual basis for 3 years) for charter regions falling in IPHC Regulatory Areas 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B and 4D. The Commission requests bids for single year contracts in IPHC Regulatory Areas 2A, and for charters on the Eastern Bering Sea shelf.

For the setline survey charters, information such as age, sex, maturity, length, location, and CPUE will be collected from all halibut captured. Legal-sized halibut from all skates and some bycatch will be retained and sold by the IPHC to offset some charter expenses.

For further information please contact Claude Dykstra ((206) 634-1838 ext. 213), Tracee Geernaert (ext. 208), or Heather Gilroy (ext. 206) for information concerning surveys. Bids must be received at the IPHC office in Seattle by 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008.