CEFAS26-75 ITT for provision of pelagic trawler vessel for the IESNS survey

Cefas requires a pelagic trawler, suitably equipped to participate in an acoustic-trawl survey. The survey is part of the international IESNS (International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Sea), a collaboration between Icelandic, Faroe, Norwegian, EU and UK research institutes which has been conducted since 1997. The survey is carried out to investigate distribution and migrations of the Norwegian Spring-spawning herring, blue whiting and other pelagic fish, and to produce a biomass index for herring and a recruitment index for blue whiting. The survey will cover the southern end of the distributional range of the spring-spawning herring population. Furthermore, data on the hydrographic conditions and plankton distribution will be obtained to investigate the possible effects of the ecosystem on the distribution and abundance of target fish species. 3. Estimated Contract Value The estimated Contract value is £400,000 (excluding vat) per survey / per annum. 4. Duration of the Contract The initial Contract period will be for 12 months from 1 April 2027 – 31 March 2028. Within that period, the actual survey is for a maximum of 13 days within the period of 20/04/2027 – 20/05/2027. Subject to confirmation of funding on an annual basis, further surveys in subsequent years may be required. If confirmed, these will be conducted within the same time period each year. The Contract will therefore include extension options for up to 2 further years, to be confirmed on an annual basis. Please note that there is no guarantee of further work beyond the initial Contract period. 5. Aims and Objectives The main objectives of the survey will be to: • carry out a predetermined survey cruise track collecting fisheries acoustic data • collect biological samples by directed trawling on insonified fish echotraces to determine species composition, size, age structure and maturity stage of target pelagic species. • collect physical oceanography data from vertical profiles (CTD). • collect plan