GB-Lowestoft: Cefas Undulate ray survivability in the Lyme Bay otter trawl fishery

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The primary objective of this project is to estimate survival rate of discarded juvenile and adult undulate ray (Raja undulata) caught in the Lyme Bay undulate ray otter trawl fishery. The information may be used to support an application for exemption from the Landing Obligation (LO) under the high survival provision.

The information on undulate ray discard survival may be used to supplement management advice, in particular in constructing Discard Plans and evidencing applications for exemptions to the Landing Obligation (LO) for undulate ray under the high survival provision.

The trials will take place between July 2017 and October 2017. The work will involve a maximum of 6 days of fishing under charter, possibly spread over several weeks, with a possible routine of a few day's fishing followed by several days monitoring the survival of undulate ray returned to an onshore tank system.

The study will involve the capture and release of live undulate ray that have been tagged using data storage tags, as well as the retention and landing of live undulate ray in tanks for captive monitoring studies. The survey will require two scientists to be onboard the vessel while fishing.

This tender is seeking an otter trawler, with a skipper experienced in fishing for undulate ray in the Lyme Bay study area.

Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.