Vessel Chartering Tender

Background to Requirement: The University of Exeter and Cefas, with funding in 2021 from the INTERREG FISH-INTEL project, are collaborating on a research project to provide a baseline understanding of the ecology of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; ABFT) in waters of the British Isles.

We will be continuing an electronic tagging programme based in the southwest of the UK that began in 2018 and which extends into 2021. We will be deploying state of the art electronic tags on ABFT to study their seasonal migrations and behaviour. To achieve our target of tagging ABFT in 2021, we are now seeking formal Tender to supply a vessel(s) for the project.

Scientific fishing for the purposes of attaching electronic tags to ABFT will be conducted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 licences held by the University of Exeter and Cefas and will only be permitted under a scientific research dispensation awarded by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

Requirement: We are seeking offers of services to fulfil our requirement for a vessel (hereafter 'tagging vessel') that will enable capture and tagging of ABFT within the period of 1st August to 30st October 2021 and seek suitable parties who are interested in tendering for these services.