2024 LFA 24 & 26A SCIENTIFIC ROCK CRAB TRAP SURVEY PROTOCOL AND REQUIREMENTS

as per DFO contract

For the direct link to the registration, please click here.

The PEI Fishermen’s Association is seeking one (1) PEI participant from each: LFA 24 and 26A for a scientific, fisheries-independent rock crab trap survey in 2024. A registration and draw will be administered by the PEIFA to determine the participant for each LFA. The participating fisher must be able to demonstrate experience in the rock crab fishery.

Registration Dates/Times: 8:30AM Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, to 2PM Wednesday, May 15th, 2024.

Location: Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Suite 102, Charlottetown

How to Register: Preferred method of registration is ONLINE at www.peifa.org (opening 8:30 am May 8th). Alternatively, registration can be done in person, by phone or arrangements can be made with the buyers/coops with proper authorization.

Required Information: Captain’s name, phone #, FIN #, Vessel Name, VRN #, Preference of port to work from:

LFA 24 - Hardy’s Channel or French River
LFA 26A – Wood Islands

Work requirements: The work period will consist of five (5) continuous days in each LFA tentatively set as:

LFA 24: July 1^st – 5^th (weather permitted)
LFA 26A: July 8^th – 12^th (weather permitted)

*Please note that the timeline of the survey is subject to change due to the LFA 24 Lobster Fishing Season delay.

The Draw will be held Wednesday, May 15^th, 2024, after the completion of the Registration at 2 PM.

Contract Area of Operation

LFA 24

The work is scheduled from July 1 to July 5, 2024 (weather permitting).

The vessel must be available to start work at 6:00 a.m. on July 1, 2024. The contractor will be informed of the exact start date with a minimum notice of 24 hours. The work period will consist of five continuous days from July 1 to July 5.

The work will be completed as day trips and the berthing port for loading and unloading the vessel at the beginning and at the end of each day and at the end of this project will be either in Hardy’s Channel, PEI or French River, PEI, as suits the contractor.

LFA 26A

The work is scheduled from July 8 to July 12, 2024 (weather permitting).

The vessel must be available to start work at 6:00 a.m. on July 8, 2024. The contractor will be informed of the exact start date with a minimum notice of 24 hours. The work period will consist of five continuous days beginning no earlier than July 8 and ending no later than July 12.

Work Requirements (subject to change based on DFO protocols)

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada requires the Contractor to provide the following for LFA 24 and 26A:

Complete up to five days of rock crab trap fishing at up to 30 pre-determined sampling stations, over a five-day period.
A maximum of 30 sampling stations will be predetermined and presented to the Contractor prior to the survey by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The number of fishing days will be weather dependent and determined by the chief scientist in consultation with the captain.
On the first day of work, deploy one scientific rock crab trap, rope and buoys at each predetermined station according to the rock crab trap survey protocol.
On up to three subsequent days of work, retrieve, empty and re-deploy the traps in the same location.
On the last day of work, retrieve and empty the traps.
The traps will be the same size as standard commercial rock crab traps but will have a smaller mesh and no escape. The traps will be provided by DFO.
At-sea activities include trap-fishing, biological measurements of captured rock crab of all sizes and of by-catch species (sorting, counting and total weight of by-catch species or species group).
Personnel (one captain and at least two (2) crew members) must be qualified and experienced at deploying and retrieving rock crab traps and must assist DFO scientific representatives. At least one (1) member of the crew must be available to assist the DFO representatives when measuring crab and when collecting biological and physical data for the entire duration of the survey.
The scientific authority from DFO on board can collect and conserve rock crabs, as well as other marine species, for biological studies.

Vessel Requirements

The contractor shall ensure that the vessel is seaworthy, the main engine, equipment and fishing gear are in good operating condition. The vessel must have sufficient room for the work planned and be equipped with adequate mechanical and electronic navigation equipment as well as the survival equipment set out in the Canada Shipping Act.
Maintain, throughout the contract period, all certificates, lifesaving equipment and apparatus as required by The Canada Shipping Act and pursuant regulations.
The vessel will provide fuel for trips.
The vessel and crew will be ready on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice within the contract period.

Note: A visit of the vessel by DFO scientific members could take place if deemed necessary.

Master and Crew Requirements

A captain and at least two (2) qualified and experienced crew members will be required during the entire study who are able to assist DFO scientific personnel during sampling and data collection. DFO representatives should not be included when determining crew requirements.
The Captain must provide bait throughout the course of the scientific survey. Bait will consist of five (5) pounds of frozen herring per submerged trap per day. In the event that frozen herring is not available, another bait (e.g. frozen mackerel) may be used provided that the Scientific Authority has been consulted beforehand.
The crew and captain will be able to repair traps on board the vessel and at the wharf (repair materials will be provided by DFO). These crew members must be available for the entire survey. If the contractor is unable to provide the services of any specific individual identified in the contract, it must provide a replacement with similar qualifications and experience and give a minimum 2 week notice to the contracting authority with proof of equivalency.

Additional requirements and conditions

Although the captain is in charge at all times, he/she shall comply with the instructions of DFO scientific authority provided the safety of the vessel and the crew members is not compromised.
The captain and crew members must provide a healthy work environment, smoke-free (inside the vessel) and respectful. Any physical, verbal or psychological harassment from the captain, crew members or contractor will not be tolerated.The captain of the vessel must keep a daily log of operations and activities on board the vessel, both at sea and in port, and shall allow access to the log by the DFO scientific authority at all times.
The captain shall provide all possible cooperation and assistance to the DFO scientific authority with regards to the gathering, preparation and updating of documents concerning the specific sites sampled and the species and quantities of fish and invertebrates caught.
No commercial fishing activities shall be conducted during the period set aside for the study. The captain may not take advantage of the research survey to do any commercial fishing.

Additional documentation/proof required from Captain who wins the registration draw

Vessel Charter Application form (provided by DFO and to be filled out)
The proposal must contain a statement of the name under which the vessel is legally incorporated and a statement from the Canadian foreign ownership firm, if applicable.A captain and a minimum of two crew members must be available to assist the DFO scientific team for sampling during the entire study on twenty-four (24) hour notice.
The captain must have a minimum of 3 seasons of experience in commercial trap fishing (lobster or, rock crab or snow crab) in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Contractor must include the start and end dates including the years and where the experience was obtained.
The captain must have a minimum of 3 seasons of experience in steering and operating a vessel near the study area in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Contractor must include the start and end dates including years and where the experience was obtained.
At least two crew members (other than the captain) must have a minimum of one season of experience in handling, repairing and maintaining traps.

Photo proof required:

The vessel must include a grapple and a hydraulic hauler with a boom.
The vessel must include a sorting/grading table.
The vessel must include a sheltered area with a table and seating.
The vessel must possess a minimum of one toilet.

The vessel must be equipped with a VHF radio and a CB radio in good operating condition and approved by Transport Canada, a sounder, a plotter, a digital GPS, a Novatec navigation system or its equivalent, and radar.
The life raft must have a minimum capacity for 6 people.
The vessel must be equipped with a portable fire extinguisher.

Photo or copy of certificate required: