Ecosystem Study in Tremblay Sound – 2018

INTRODUCTION:

The purpose of this Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN) is to signal the government’s intention to award a contract for these services to Mittimatalik Hunters' and Trappers' Organization, P.O. Box 189, Pond Inlet, NU, X0A 0S0. Before awarding a contract, however, the government would like to provide other suppliers with the opportunity to demonstrate that they are capable of satisfying the requirements set out in this Notice, by submitting a statement of capabilities during the ACAN posting period.

If other potential suppliers submit a statement of capabilities during this ACAN posting period that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, the government will proceed to a full tendering process on either GETS or through traditional means, in order to award the contract.

If no other supplier submits, on or before the closing date, a statement of capabilities meeting the requirements set out in the ACAN, a contract will be awarded to the pre-selected supplier.

BACKGROUND:

Science Stock Assessment and their partner’s require increased knowledge of narwhal migration, fidelity to summer aggregations, and mixed stock structure with possible proportions of mixing in each summer aggregation of the Baffin Bay population, as well as how narwhal are reacting to increased vessel traffic in the preferred habitat. Science advice supports Integrated Fisheries Management of Commercial Fisheries by providing crucial biological information that will help the sustainable management of the fishery. This in turn assists the Inuit in developing better strategies for their subsistence fishery which may involve better economic and cultural gain for themselves. The results of this study will support the following priorities: (1) determine the degree of stock segregation between Admiralty Inlet and Eclipse Sound summer management stocks; (2) determination of critical habitat; (3) determine reactions and effects of increasing vessel traffic and industrial development all through their seasonal migrations to their prefer habitats (4) to examine the influence of Killer Whale presence and movements on narwhal behaviour.

OBJECTIVES:

Scientific instruments will be placed on land, in the water and in/on animals (i.e. fish, sharks and narwhal) in the Tremblay Sound area between July 15^th and September 15^th. The objective of this work is to understand the presence and movements of narwhal in their summering grounds. This information will be used to inform management of stock delineation areas and stock mixing, as well as environmental and ecosystem stressors (e.g. shipping) that may affect narwhal presently and in the future. The field operations will be considered completed when all instruments have been deployed and recovered (for those that require recovery), when the DFO project lead in consultation with local participants determines that conditions do not allow for further field operations.

WORK REQUIREMENT:

The Contractor will be responsible for providing and coordinating 240 person days, up to 15 boat trips (Pond Inlet to Tremblay and Return), and HTO large boat rental with captain for up to 20 days of project support on a schedule to be finalized once contract is in place.

Field assistant duties will be to:

• Assist in establishing and maintaining the field camp(s)

• Participate in all aspects of narwhal tagging on a daily basis 

• Assist in determining where and when narwhal may be found and tags may be deployed

• Scan for approaching marine mammals, including polar bears

• Assist in deployment and recovery of scientific instruments on land, in the water and in/on animals (fish, sharks and narwhal)

• Participate in all aspects of daily research planning and coordination 

• Advise in determining appropriate modifications to project methods to ensure the ecosystem is not disturbed beyond acceptable levels outlined by approval bodies and organizations (e.g. Pond Inlet HTO)

• Maintain appropriate logs and communications for project requirements and reporting (Contractor responsible for logging Inuit observations, concerns, actions taken and communications with any other Inuit (e.g. local hunters or residents of Pond Inlet).