CEFAS26-75 ITT for provision of pelagic trawler vessel for the IESNS survey

Cefas requires a pelagic trawler, suitably equipped to participate in an acoustic-trawl survey. The survey is part of the international IESNS (International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Sea), a collaboration between Icelandic, Faroe, Norwegian, EU and UK research institutes which has been conducted since 1997.

The survey is carried out to investigate distribution and migrations of the Norwegian Spring-spawning herring, blue whiting and other pelagic fish, and to produce a biomass index for herring and a recruitment index for blue whiting. The survey will cover the southern end of the distributional range of the spring-spawning herring population. Furthermore, data on the hydrographic conditions and plankton distribution will be obtained to investigate the possible effects of the ecosystem on the distribution and abundance of target fish species.

3. Estimated Contract Value

The estimated Contract value is £400,000 (excluding vat) per survey / per annum.

4. Duration of the Contract

The initial Contract period will be for 12 months from 1 April 2027 – 31 March 2028. Within that period, the actual survey is for a maximum of 13 days within the period of 20/04/2027 – 20/05/2027.

Subject to confirmation of funding on an annual basis, further surveys in subsequent years may be required. If confirmed, these will be conducted within the same time period each year.

The Contract will therefore include extension options for up to 2 further years, to be confirmed on an annual basis.

Please note that there is no guarantee of further work beyond the initial Contract period.

5. Aims and Objectives

The main objectives of the survey will be to:

• carry out a predetermined survey cruise track collecting fisheries acoustic data

• collect biological samples by directed trawling on insonified fish echotraces to determine species composition, size, age structure and maturity stage of target pelagic species.

• collect physical oceanography data from vertical profiles (CTD).

• collect plankton samples using ring-nets

Cefas will provide a minimum of 6 scientists to oversee the survey operations, working with the vessel to deliver the scientific objectives of the survey.

6. Scope of Requirements

6.1. Survey activity

An acoustic-trawl survey to map and quantify herring and blue whiting. This will be performed by continuously (24h) running acoustic transects and carrying out ad hoc midwater trawling within the survey area.

Additional objectives will include collection of plankton and hydrographical data in the study area.

6.2. Survey area and time of operation

The UK survey component will take place between Latitudes 62° and 69° North and Longitudes 13° West and 6° East (see full specification in bidder pack for total survey area and example of UK component in green).

The survey will be a total of approximately 13 days and will be conducted within the period 20/04/2027 – 31/05/2027. The vessel must be available for 13 consecutive days (this excludes time to calibrate the echosounders in a suitable port as well as transit from berth port to requested mobilisation port) within this period and ideally commencing at the start of this period.

Embarkation and disembarkation is required to take place in a Scottish mainland port e.g. Fraserburgh, Peterhead.

6.3. Vessel specification

• The vessel must be a pelagic trawler with a length range of 50+ metres LOA

• The vessel must be equipped with a working echosounder operating at 38 and 200 kHz (additional frequencies are preferrable but not mandatory). The frequencies must be split-beam. The preferred model of the echosounder is the SIMRAD ES80/EK80, although other models with equivalent scientific capability will be considered: (ES60, EK60)

• The vessel must have a mid-water trawl with a vertical opening of approximately 30 m and skipper and crew must have experience deploying this gear and a track record of targeting herring and blue whiting in the study area. The trawl must have a codend liner, protruding from the brailer with a mesh size of 4 cm or less.

• The vessel must have a block and winch capable of deploying 1000m of wire to deploy a small plankton net (mouth diameter 50 cm, 2.60m height) and a CTD sonde.

• The vessel must have freezing facilities of at least 2.5 cubic meters for the biological samples.

• The vessel must have berthing availability for a minimum of 6 (up to 8) scientific personnel.

• The vessel must have a safe working space to sort and process the catch (measuring fish, collect biological samples), including a suitable sorting table and a processing bench space for up to three people.

• The vessel must have a safe and dry working space for scientists to monitor and process the acoustic data.

• The vessel must have a safe working space to process and store the zooplankton samples. This may involve the use and storage of chemicals (formaldehyde) and an oven (provided by the Authority) to dry the sample.

• The vessel must comply with the safety standards required for fishing vessel operations in the UK and international waters.

6.4. Permissions

Cefas will be responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions and licences to undertake survey operations within the survey area of operation; however the Supplier may need to provide Marine Management Organisation / The Crown Estate with the details of specific survey activity ahead of commencement of work to fulfil licence requirements.

Cefas may require the Supplier to provide information relating to permissions in order to publish a Kingfisher Bulletin notice.

6.5. Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID)

An in-date valid CMID will be required from an accredited CMID inspector before the commencement of the survey.

Cefas reserve the right not to progress with the contract if the proposed vessel(s) fails to meet the requirements of the Cefas vessel assurance standards.

Where the vessel will be carrying out lifting or fishing/trawling procedures as part of the contracted work the vessel assurance process will require them to demonstrate the saf…