Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

CALL FOR INTERESTED AND EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL HERRING FISHERS IN HERRING FISHING AREA 16C&E:

Deadline to register is 4:30PM, April 5^th, 2023.

If more than two interested/experienced Captains apply per zone (Zone 4 and 5 only), a draw will be held.

DFO is seeking experienced spring herring Captains to provide data collection for spring herring using commercial spring herring gillnets in the areas outlined in the map (see below). The PEIFA have been awarded the tender in Zone 4 (southside PEI) and Zone 5 (northside PEI).

In terms of payment, there will be an all-inclusive price per overnight set of five (5) nets per fisher. Final payment to be determined but will include the hiring of fishing vessels and all operating costs, the hire of captains and crew required to complete the work, the cost to arrange and pay for dockside monitoring and the provision of gillnets and all repairs. Captains will be able to retain herring caught except for a subsample of approx. 200 fish which will be taken for further analysis by DFO.

The gillnet samples would be completed during the weeks in the period in which the commercial spring herring fishery would usually operates. The number of samples/trips is to be determined, but commercial nets will be fished one (1) night per week with the potential for up to four (4) consecutive weeks. The DFO scientist in charge will determine the exact dates.

Vessel Captains must have held a valid spring herring gillnet license in 2020 or 2021 and must have experience in the herring fishery.
The commercial gillnets would be provided by the Captain and must align with the following net details: 2 ¼” (57.1mm) min / 125 meshes max / 150 fathom
Commercial nets must be set where a fisher would set their commercial fishing nets and will be left in place overnight following the same method and for the same duration that commercial fishers would use for their spring commercial nets. The nets must be set as stand-alone nets and not attached to the vessel or other types of nets.
The nets must be equipped with a temperature logger to collect environmental information about conditions on the fishing grounds. The temperature logger provided and installed by DFO must remain on one of the nets during the fishing of the nets.
The fisher will record the exact times the net was set and lifted in the provided logbook.
Both fishers in the same area/region must set their nets on the same night to ensure proper sampling of fish.
The captain will call the wharf sampler on the evening that the nets are fished to inform them that samples will need to be taken on the wharf the following day.
The catch from all nets will be weighed by DMP upon arrival at the wharf.
The captain will fill out a logbook with the estimated catch, the geographic location where they fished the nets, and the exact times the net was set and lifted.
If more Captains apply then needed, a draw of Captains will take place following the deadline.
Successful Captains will need to submit the following to comply with the DFO contract
Up-to-date marine insurance paperwork
Copy of their recent (2020 and 2021) commercial spring herring fishing license
Captain must provide a brief description of their experience fishing in the spring commercial herring fishery. The description must explicitly state the dates in which the experience was gained (i.e., month/fishing season & year), the area of work, and the proposed resource(s) roles and responsibilities.
Insurance coverage must include crew liability if it is not covered by Worker’s Compensation.
Captain must provide pictures of the exterior of the vessel