Analysis of capelin age and otolith microchemistry.

The work will involve the following: 

The Contractor will be send 1200 pairs of capelin otoliths (600 in 2022 and 600 in 2023, with an optional third year in 2024; otoliths are from larvae, juveniles and adults). The Contractor will perform the following task

Task 1: Age determination

Task 1a: The first otolith will be used to determine fish age.

Task 1b: The Contractor will share their age reading protocol and knowledge of otolith age reading with DFO staff during at least one day at the Contractor’s work place, so that DFO will be able to independently continue age reading work in the future. The Contractor thus has to train up to two DFO employees (French being the working language) in capelin age determination and help assure they can perform this task confidently and independently in the future.

Task 2: Microchemistry analysis

Task 2a: The second otolith of 450 fish per year will be used to determine the elemental fingerprint of the otolith core.

Task 2b: The second otolith of 150 fish per year will be used to determine the elemental fingerprint along the otolith transect.

Scope of work:

 Expectations prior to the beginning of work

The Contractor will first communicate with DFO on the specifics necessary to complete otolith age readings and microchemistry analyses successfully (including but not limited to the specifics of how otoliths should be mounted). Capelin (larvae, juveniles and adults) that are selected for inclusion in this project (covering various areas in the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence and the Estuary) will be analyzed in terms of their biological characteristics (length, sex, etc.) by DFO, after which otoliths will be mounted by our staff according to the Contractor’s instructions and send to the Contractor’s laboratory. The capelin fishery usually ends by August each year and otoliths will be send in due time.

 Objectives

In 2022 and 2023, the first otolith of each pair should be aged according to a standard protocol that was validated in the past through a comparison with at least one other laboratory specialized in capelin age determination (objective 1a). In 2022 or potentially 2023, the Contractor should be willing to train DFO staff within their laboratory so that they can independently obtain essentially identical results (objective 1b).

In 2022 and 2023, the second otolith of each pair should be used for microchemistry analyses (objective 2). Out of each batch of 600 otoliths, 450 will be used to establish the elemental fingerprints of their core and 150 for a transect analysis. LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) analyses should be applied to reach this goal.

The Contractor must finish the objectives within the fiscal year (February 28^st 2023 for the first batch of otoliths and February 29^st 2024 for the second batch of otoliths, and similar if there would be a third year).

 Deliverables

 At the end of each contract year, an electronic database (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or

similar) with the age and microchemistry composition of the core or transect of all otoliths should be provided.

 At the end of the contract period (1, 2 or 3 years), a written account outlining the work

completed and documenting methodology must be provided. The Contractor will be expected to provide his expertise in the interpretation of results.

 A DFO technician trained in capelin age reading according to the protocol

established and validated by the Contractor.