2006/2007
4VSW COMMERCIAL INDEX PROJECT
A Component of the 4VsW Sentinel Monitoring Project

A Joint Project of the Fishermen and Scientists Research Society and the Population Ecology Division, DFO Science Branch

INTRODUCTION

Since 1995, the Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) have collaborated on the 4VsW Sentinel Program, which provides valuable data on stocks under moratoria. The Program consisted of a Random Stratified Survey Phase, which surveyed up to 202 stations, and a Commercial Index Phase.

Due to financial constraints, the 4VsW Sentinel Program had to be modified in 2004/2005. The newly developed 4VsW Sentinel Monitoring Project focuses on surveying six strata in 4VsW. The Project also includes a modified Commercial Index which will permit a limited amount of commercial fishing effort following fishermen’s customary fishing patterns.

The 4VsW Commercial Index Project will utilize up to 20 vessels fishing up to 12 days each. Applications are now being accepted for the 4VsW Commercial Index Project. To apply to participate in the Project, complete the 2006/2007 4VsW Commercial Index Project application form and submit it before May 19, 2006.

OBJECTIVES

• To develop indices of fish abundance using commercial fishing vessels to supplement the fishery-independent estimates of fish abundance developed by DFO. These operations would include all areas of 4VsW.
• To use commercial fishing vessels to monitor the migratory patterns, local distributions, spawning condition, spawning locations and size structure of fish populations.
• To use commercial fishing vessels to collect biological samples from local fish populations in support of research on stock structure, diet analysis, and other relevant topics.
• To provide for a continuation of the process of co-education between fishermen and fisheries scientists/managers initiated through initiatives such as the Fishermen and Scientists Research Society.
• To continue to improve the degree of co-operative research between DFO and the fishing industry in support of long-term sustainable fisheries management.

BENEFITS

Use of long-term sentinel programs could be particularly effective in:

• gathering information from areas outside of the area already surveyed by DFO (i.e. inshore areas, untrawlable areas, etc.);
• gathering information at times of the year when DFO has only limited or no survey activity (i.e. fall on the Scotian Shelf, winter, etc.);
• gathering information at times and in areas where DFO already has ongoing surveys for purposes of continued intercalibration of the adjunct and Departmental surveys;
• generating information on by-catches of non-target species and oceanographic conditions, thereby providing information that would allow DFO to consider a more "ecosystem based" approach to resource assessment and management;
• generating information on predator-prey relationships in our marine ecosystems, as knowledge of these relationships is essential to a more ecosystem based approach to management; and
• providing information on fish growth and condition

PROJECT STRUCTURE

• The FSRS will contract up to twenty commercial longliners.
• Each vessel will be permitted a maximum of 12 fishing days; vessels can set a maximum of 15,000 hooks/day. Class One and Two Vessels will have an option of two additional days for exploratory purposes, limited to 1,500 hooks on an exploratory day.
• Class One and Two Vessels will be required to have an Observer or FSRS personnel on board during assigned trips; the target is to have a minimum of 30% of the 12 fishing days per vessel monitored at sea. Class One and Two vessels will require dockside monitoring on all trips not monitored at sea by an Observer. Class Three Vessels will require 100% dockside monitoring.
• Fishing activities will be conducted as if the vessels were fishing commercially. There will be no restrictions on the location of fishing except that all fishing must take place within 4VsW and the Emerald/Western Closed Area remains in effect.
• Vessels must hail out and hail in prior to landing to the hail service designated by the FSRS, and provide information on landing time and location, amount of catch and number of days fished.
• There will be data collection requirements for the fishermen participants, the Observers and FSRS personnel.
• Vessels will be fishing under a Sentinel Program Condition of Licence issued by the FSRS. Vessels will be required to choose a start date between July 1, 2006 and March 15, 2007, and must finish all fishing activity by March 31, 2007. Vessels can alternate between their Sentinel Program Condition of Licence and their other conditions of licence provided they complete a minimum of two fishing days any time they switch to their Sentinel Program Condition of Licence. They are not permitted to fish any other condition of licence while their Sentinel Program Condition of Licence is in effect.
• Vessels approved to participate in the 2006/2007 Commercial Index Project must complete a minimum of 3 fishing days to remain eligible for the Project in future years.
• Vessels will be paid 90% of the revenue generated by the sale of all fish, except halibut, landed by their vessel to defray the costs of participation.
• To discourage vessels from directing for halibut, vessels will only be paid 50% of the revenue generated by the sale of halibut landed by their vessel.
• Vessels will pay their own hail, DMP and Observer costs.

VESSEL SELECTION

• If 20 vessels or less apply for the Project, the General Manager will review the applications, check references, perform a violations/sanctions check and contact the appropriate fishermen’s association for input. If all checks are satisfactory, the General Manager has the authority to approve applications. If there is any concern about any of the checks, the application will go to the FSRS Groundfish Working Group for review. If more than 20 vessels apply, applications will be reviewed by a Selection Board representing a cross-section of interested parties - three representatives from the Fishermen and Scientists Research Society, one representative each from at least two or more relevant fishermen's organizations in the 4VsW area, and an independent chair.
• Applications will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined below and the results will be made public.

Selection Criteria

• Up to 7 vessels from each of the following Vessel Classes: Class One - > 35' decked, Class Two - >34' open or < 40' decked, Class Three - < 34' open
• Vessel Suitability
• Personnel/Personal Suitability
• Violations/Sanctions
• References
• Geographic Distribution
• Preference will be given to those with history in the area.

TRAINING

• Up to one day of training will be provided, which will include elements of fisheries science and the reasons for the Project, with a focus on data collection using the Sentinel Program Record Book.
• Delivered on-site for each vessel; no expense reimbursement.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & PERSONNEL

General Manager
Patricia King, the FSRS's General Manager, will develop and implement the Commercial Index Project and is responsible for the management of the Project.

Senior Research and Surveys Technician
Bill MacEachern is the Senior Research and Surveys Technician for the Project on behalf of the Population Ecology Division of the DFO Science Branch. Mr. MacEachern's responsibilities as a Senior Research and Surveys Technician include the preparation and planning for groundfish and sentinel surveys, and data preparation and analysis in support of biological studies of cod populations in 4VsW.

FSRS Research Biologist
Carl MacDonald, the FSRS’s Research Biologist, will be responsible for supervising the FSRS Research Assistant and FSRS Fisheries Technicians, assisting them when necessary, coordinating and assisting in the collection of the data and samples from the vessels, analyzing the data, and, with the assistance of other FSRS personnel, preparing a report on the results of the data. He will also assist in training the participants.

FSRS Research Assistant and FSRS Fisheries Technicians
The FSRS Research Assistant and FSRS Fisheries Technicians will be responsible for assisting in the training of participants, mounting otoliths, stomach analysis, and data entry and preparation of a report on the results of the analysis. They will also be utilized to collect data and samples from the vessels, both at sea and on shore, do condition sampling, and maintain sampling equipment.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply to participate in the 2006/2007 Commercial Index Project, complete the 2006/2007 4VsW Commercial Index Project Application Form and forward it by mail to:

Fishermen and Scientists Research Society
P.O. Box 25125
Halifax, NS B3M 4H4

or by fax to: 902-876-1320
Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2006.

For further information, contact:
Patricia King, General Manager, at 902-876-1160
e-mail: pmdservices@eastlink.ca or Carl MacDonald, FSRS Research Biologist, at 461-8119 or 1-800-226-3777, e-mail: MacdonaldCD@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca