Aerial Survey to Estimate Grey Seal Pup Production

The Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) is interested in receiving proposals for the 2026 Aerial Survey to Estimate Grey Seal Pup Production on Sable, Brion, and coastal Nova Scotia islands (SWNS islands (Mud, Round, Noddy & Flat), Hay, Pictou, and Saddle & Purdy). Complete colour digital photographic coverage of the islands is required.

The Contractor will provide complete photographic coverage of Sable, Brion, and coastal Nova Scotia islands ( SWNS islands (Mud, Round, Noddy & Flat), Hay, Pictou, and Saddle & Purdy), which will be used by DFO to estimate grey seal pup production and population abundance.

Aerial surveys on Sable, Brion, Mud, Round, Noddy, Flat, Hay, Pictou, and Saddle Islands were last completed in 2021. DFO Science is requesting that this aerial survey be repeated during January 2026 using the same or comparable methods as outlined in the SOW to inform the time series of pup production estimates.

Requirements

a) The surveys must be completed from an altitude of ~ 308 m (1000 ft), in a fixed-wing aircraft provided and operated by the Contractor, using a Microsoft Vexcel UCX camera or equivalent to provide better than 3 cm ground resolution, as was delivered with the UCD camera in 2010, 2016, and 2021.

b) Where necessary, this must be achieved by flying a series of parallel transects with 60% forward and 20% lateral overlap among adjacent photographs.

c) As with previous surveys (1993, 1997, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2016, & 2021), each island/group of islands must be completed as a one sortie mission in order to preserve the counting integrity of the imagery.

d) The Contractor must be mindful of the cycling characteristics of the camera to ensure there is no residual image motion.

e) The Contractor must provide the digital photography, metadata, *.twf files (geo-referencing presuming a flat terrain at a fixed elevation above sea-level), and a digital mosaic.

Tasks, Activities, Deliverables and Milestones

The Contractor must complete a total of six (6) islands (or group of islands) and must be covered by a photographic survey as per:

Sable Island

The Contractor must compete coverage of Sable Island (43.931973o , -59.911528o) will be achieved by flying a series of parallel transects with 60% forward and 20% lateral overlap among adjacent photographs. As with previous surveys (1993, 1997, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2016 & 2021), each survey is to be completed as a one sortie mission in order to preserve the counting integrity of the imagery. The Contractor will provide the digital photography, metadata, *.twf files (geo-referencing presuming a flat terrain at a fixed elevation above sea-level), and a high quality digital mosaic.

Tasks

a) Determine the most effective pattern of transects to achieve the needed coverage of Sable Island while minimizing the number of photographs of the surrounding ocean.
b) Ensure that all necessary people and equipment are ready to start the survey, as early as January 2, 2026 (weather permitting).
c) Provide DFO science with geo- and time-referenced colour digital images on a hard drive (e.g. LACIE) with a data file (e. g. Excel) with details of flight lines flown, latitude and longitude, altitude, date and time for each photograph and digital mosaic by March 10, 2026.
d) Be available for consultation during the Contract period.

Brion Island

The Contractor must compete coverage of Brion Island (47.792778o, -61.46806 o) must be achieved by flying a series of parallel transects with 60% forward and 20% lateral overlap among adjacent photographs. The survey is to be completed as a one sortie mission in order to preserve the counting integrity of the imagery. The Contractor will provide the digital photography, metadata, *.twf files (geo-referencing presuming a flat terrain at a fixed elevation above sea-level), and a high quality digital mosaic.

Tasks

a) Determine the most effective pattern of transects to achieve the needed coverage of Brion Island while minimizing the number of photographs of the surrounding ocean.
b) Be available for consultation for appropriate flight dates
c) Provide DFO science with geo- and time-referenced colour digital images on a hard drive (e.g. LACIE) with a data file (e. g. Excel) with details of flight lines flown, latitude and longitude, altitude, date and time for each photograph and digital mosaic by March 10, 2026.

Hay Island

The Contractor must provide complete photographic coverage of Hay Island (46.022515o -59.685730o).

Tasks

a) The Contractor must work with DFO science identify an appropriate date in early January for the survey for Hay Island.
b) Provide DFO science with colour digital photographic images and digital mosaic by on a hard drive (e.g. LACIE) with the best available location data by March 10, 2026.
c) Be available for consultation during the Contract period.

SWNS: Mud, Round, Noddy, and Flat Islands

The Contractor must provide complete photographic coverage of coverage of Mud (43.481041o , -65.988379o), Round (46.5074 o, -65.9846 o), Noddy (43.465458o , -65.986112o) and Flat Islands (43.508721o , -66.004027o) in SW Nova Scotia.

Tasks

a) The Contractor must work with DFO science to develop an appropriate survey for Mud, Noddy and Flat Islands in SW Nova Scotia
b) Provide DFO science with colour digital photographic images and digital mosaic on a hard drive (e.g. LACIE) with the best available location data by March 10, 2026.
c) Be available for consultation.

Pictou Island

The Contractor must also provide complete photographic coverage of Pictou Island (45.814867o, -62.557609o) located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Tasks

a) The Contractor must work with DFO science to develop an appropriate survey for Pictou Island.
b) Provide DFO science with colour digital photographic images and digital mosaic on a hard drive (e.g. LACIE) with the best available location data by March 10, 2026.
c) Be available for consultation.

Saddle & Purdy Island

The Contractor must provide complete photographic coverage of Saddle (44.462 o,-63.6528o) & Purdy (45.8059 o,-63.2472 o) Islands located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Tasks

a) The Contractor must work with DFO science to develop an appropriate survey for Pictou Island.
b) Provide DFO science with colour digital photographic images and digital mosaic on a hard drive (e.g. LACIE) with the best available location data by March 10, 2026.
c) Be available for consultation.

Technical, Operational and Organizational Environment

The specific time frame when the aerial survey will take place is dependent on weather conditions. This will be determined between the Contractor and DFO. Activities will not commence if the Contractor or DFO deem the conditions to be unsafe or unfavourable to conduct the work.

*Possible Additional Services*
If an opportunity were to develop where the department requires additional survey work done, the winning bidder will be provided an amendment to the Contract showing the additional work required. DFO will notify the Contract holder prior to the initial survey if the additional work has been approved. Interested bidders are asked to provide separate pricing information as per Annex B for the provision of:

Complete photographic coverage of Henry Island 45.9760 o,-61.5975 ) and Provide DFO science with colour digital photographic images and digital mosaic on a hard drive (e.g. LACIE) with the best available location data by March 10, 2026, and

Infrared imaging coincident with the photographic survey for the following:

a) only Sable
b) only Brion
c) only the coastal Nova Scotia islands (Mud, Round, Noddy & Flat, Hay, Pictou, Saddle and Purdy)
d) only Brion and the coastal Nova Scotia islands (Mud, Round, Noddy, Flat, Hay, Pictou, Saddle and Purdy).