At Sea Platform Required To Haul and Re-set Trawl Set Lobster Gear

1. Title

At Sea Platform Required To Haul and Re-set Trawl Set Lobster Gear

1. Contracting Period

Contract award (August 2021) to May 31, 2022, with options to renew for 2 additional one-year periods at the discretion of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

1.3 Introduction

Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) requires a vessel and crew capable of operating and maintaining a platform to allow Fishery Officers to conduct at-sea patrols to monitor fishery compliance. This monitoring will consist of activities such as but not limited to: searching for gear, grappling gear, gear retrieval, inspecting gear, re-setting gear in the place from which it was hauled and transporting any gear that is deemed to be in violation by on board Fishery Officers. The gear referred to above will be consistent with but not limited to lobster gear that may be set as single gear or in trawls. Area of operation will be in Canadian Fishing Waters in South West New Brunswick and South West Nova Scotia departing and returning from various wharves in the area on a daily basis.

This is a contract for 'Services', and for the performance of the Work. The Contractor is engaged as an independent Contractor for the sole purpose of performing the Work. Neither the Contractor nor any of its personnel is engaged as an employee, servant or agent of Canada. The Contractor agrees to be solely responsible for any and all deductions and remittances required to be made, including those required for Canada or Quebec Pension Plans, Unemployment Insurance, Worker's Compensation, or Income tax

1.4 Background, Assumptions, and Foundation of the Requirement

Fisheries and Oceans Canada contracted a traditional style fishing vessel from August to October of 2020 and again from January to May of 2021 that was capable of hauling and resetting lobster gear (trawls) and staffed with Fishery Officers that was utilized to monitor and inspect fishing activities as well as to identify and remove abandoned/ghost gear. These activities aided in reducing risks to the North Atlantic Right Whale, in increasing the ability of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to conduct compliance monitoring activities in areas that the current fleet of vessels cannot operate in.

1.5 Objectives of the Requirement

Objective is to have a vessel capable of hauling and resetting lobster trawl gear in a safe manner in the areas of SWNB and SWNS(Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy)

Captain and crew may be required to provide evidence and or attend court at a later date if a violation was detected and trial ensues from the violation. (a separate contract will be generated if required)

1. Requirements

2.1 Tasks, Activities, Deliverables and Milestones

The contractor will provide a platform and personnel to assist Fishery Officers in enforcement of regulatory measures of the domestic and foreign fisheries pursued in the SWNB and SWNS . Patrols will be conducted with Fishery Officers over a specified timeframe at a rate of three patrols per week.

2.1.1 The patrols will generally require the following:

• Transiting from the port where the vessel is berthed to the area of operation and back to port.
• Twelve (12) hour days on the water, including transiting time. Longer days may be required for unloading seized gear or if a violation situation occurs.
• Patrols will coincide with the prevailing tides in the patrol areas. This will include transit time to the area of interest and returning to port.
• The ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays.
• The Contractor will be responsible for all fuel, docking, and maintenance costs.
• Fuel costs will be compensated for days longer than 12 hours based on the number of hours worked over and above the first 12 hrs multiplied by the average fuel burn for the vessel
• When required to transit to a new port and still work a full 12 hours the fuel cost will be compensated based on number of hours steaming and average fuel burn for the vessel.
• When required to transit to a port on a day where work is not required, the fuel cost will be compensated based on the number of hours steaming and average fuel burn for the vessel. Transit time in these situations will not constitute a work day.
• The vessel is not to participate any commercial fishing operations throughout the contract period.

• Activities will include:
  • Patrolling and searching for gear.
  • Hauling gear to ensure that it meets all regulatory requirements.
  • Re-setting the gear in the place that it was hauled from.
  • Safely securing on deck any gear seized by fishery officers.
  • Grappling for gear and safely hauling that gear.