UNSPSC 70101506: Whaling

UNSPSC 70101506 Whaling, a Commodity code, does not reflect the work actually being solicited under it in recent state and local procurement. The code nominally refers to commercial whaling operations, yet the recent opportunities tagged to it involve invasive species removal fishing and recreational bait provisioning—activities entirely unrelated to whaling. State and local governments use this code to procure commercial fishing services for aquatic invasive species management (primarily invasive carp removal from freshwater rivers) and, in at least one instance, bait supply for municipal marinas. The issuing bodies are state fish and wildlife departments and county park boards. Bidders for the invasive carp removal work must hold valid commercial fishing licenses, demonstrate proficiency in gill netting and side-scan sonar technology, maintain minimum three years of commercial fishing experience, and commit to a minimum four-day-per-week fishing schedule. Compensation for carp removal is typically structured as a daily rate (such as $1,200 per eight-hour day or $150 per hour for partial days) plus potential prorated payment for exceptionally large harvests.

Recent procurement activity is concentrated in Kentucky, where the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources posted two substantially identical invasive carp contract fishing program opportunities (RFB66027000000812 and RFB66027000000811, both due September 23, 2026) to establish master agreements with multiple commercial fishermen to harvest Silver, Bighead, Grass, and Black Carp from Ohio River pools and tributaries. Glynn County, Georgia posted an unrelated bait provider RFP for Blythe Island Regional Park Marina due July 1, 2026. The mismatch between the UNSPSC code's nominal scope and actual procurement suggests that this code should not be relied upon for whaling-related business development; the code assignment appears to be a data quality issue rather than a true procurement signal for the activity state and local governments are actually conducting under it.