20-01185 Statement of Work.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Image-based Coral Surveys at Mid-Depth Rocky Reefs in Central California’s Essential Fish Habitat and Marine Protected Areas:

NCND6022-20-01185

1. SUMMARY

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS or sanctuary) requires the services of a contractor who can lead sanctuary research on visual surveys of deep-sea coral and sponge habitats using the sanctuary’s Research Vessel Fulmar in sanctuary ecologically significant areas (SESAs), including central California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and recently modified (e.g., closed) Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Areas (EFHCAs).

2. BACKGROUND

Surveys of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and recently modified Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Areas (EFHCAs; e.g., closures) are needed to better understand the occurrence of corals and sponges within MBNMS. These sites represent a poorly characterized depth range of MBNMS; deeper than standard SCUBA diving depth and shallower than most ROV work. The sanctuary and NOAA’s West Coast Deep-Sea Coral Initiative (under the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program; DSCRTP) will support image-based surveys within EFHCAs and MPAs to determine and characterize the occurrence of corals and sponges in depths ranging from 40-350 meters.

3. REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Conduct Video Surveys for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Habitat Characterization aboard Research Vessel Fulmar

The Research Vessel Fulmar shall be used as the platform to conduct image-based surveys of deep-sea coral and sponge habitats within Sanctuary Ecologically Significant Areas (SESAs), including central California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and recently modified (e.g., closed) Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Areas (EFHCAs) of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Vessel costs will be covered by MBNMS.

The Contractor shall have previous successful experience using benthic lander(s) with video camera systems, aboard R/V Fulmar (or similar class of vessel; e.g., R/V Shearwater), within depths ranging from 40-350 meters. Contractor shall provide and operate all benthic lander equipment to conduct visual surveys of coral and sponge habitats.

Benthic video lander(s) shall have the minimum specifications:

A. Capable of data collection and deployment to depths ranging from 40-350 meters.

B. High-definition (HD; or better) video systems allowing measurement of organisms to the nearest millimeter.

C. Outfitted with paired cameras in submersible housings and two lights for the collection of stereo video (eight 4K video cameras mounted as vertical stereo video pairs oriented in all four cardinal directions, preferred).

a. Each stereo video pair shall be illuminated by its own light (e.g., 160 watt LED) emitting on a daylight spectrum.

b. Each top camera shall be approximately 80 cm above the seafloor and each lower camera is about 40 cm above the seafloor.

D. Downward-looking 'flight' video camera configured with its own light to allow visual of landing.

E. Capable of being quickly deployed and retrieved on a high speed electric winch to take advantage of the speed of the R/V Fulmar to sample a large geographic area each day.

F. Capable of the following deployment options:

a) As a series of stationary 'drops', where the lander sits on the seafloor for up to 5 minutes collecting stereo video in all directions before moving up off the seafloor to move to the next location. Using the 'drop' approach, it is possible to obtain as many as 30-40 video samples in a standard 10-hr operational day, depending on proximity of survey sites.

b) As a drift/towed system where the lander collects continuous video along a transect. Using the transect approach, it is possible to keep the lander surveying for hours at a time.

The contractor shall devise a survey design to survey and characterize coral and sponge habitats, and collaborate with sanctuary staff on cruise planning and reporting. The research survey(s) shall last no more than 8 days at sea for at least two science personnel.

Research survey shall include the following:

A. Written research survey design.

B. Cruise plan and cruise reports.

C. Archived video of surveys of coral and sponge habitats within EFHCAs and MPAs.

D. Characterization of coral and sponge habitats within EFHCAs and MPAs, in a data format compatible with NOAA’s DSCRTP Fieldwork Data and Reporting Guidance and California state-wide sampling efforts.

Deliverables:

3.2 Delivery of Video Data and Written Technical Report

Annotated video data and a final technical report of benthic video lander surveys is needed to assess deep-sea coral and sponge habitats, and shall include species characterization, and quantification of organisms using corals and sponges as habitat.

Deliverables:

a. Characterization of all identifiable species (including sessile and mobile macroinvertebrates and fishes) and the densities of all organisms at each location.

b. Characterization and quantification of fish and mobile invertebrate use of corals and sponges as habitat.

3.2.3: Recommendations for long-term monitoring strategies and locations.

4. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

A. PhD level deep-sea biologists with a strong track record of scientific publications.

B. Experience in performing video benthic lander surveys off of central California.

5. PROGRAM COORDINATION

The Contractor shall provide overall management pertaining to all Contractor technical and contractual support, including state and local requirements, insurance, and liability coverage for its employees. The Contractor shall be responsible for adherence to all federal, state, local, and site-specific safety regulations including first aid and survival/emergency/training for seagoing scientists when required. Access to existing deep-sea video from central California area that could be used as reference and comparison available upon request.

6. GOVERNMENT VEHICLES

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries West Coast Regional vessel R/V Fulmar will be provided as the science platform. Ship time, crew and fuel furnished.

7. GOVERNMENT-PROVIDED PROPERTY

None will be provided.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

August 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021

Timeline:

August 2020 – December 2020: Initiate cruise planning process and arrange for personnel.

January 2021 – March 2021: Research cruise(s), and Quick Look Report.

April 2021 – June 2021: Annotate video, and provide HD video/frame grabs.

April 2021 – September 2021: Analyze data and write final Site Characterization Report.

9. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All sites include habitat suitable for coral species, and corals that may be present now or recruit to the area in the future. Three sites include new Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) closures, central California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and areas of interest for MBNMS (related to SESAs, or are otherwise in need of characterization). Contractor will use their facility to work on deliverables.

Big Sur

· EFH: Big Sur Coast/Port San Luis EFH Conservation Area

· MPAs: Point Sur State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Point Sur State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA)

La Cruz Canyon

· EFH: La Cruz Canyon EFH Conservation Area

Piedras Blancas

· EFH: West of Piedras Blancas EFH Conservation Area

· MPAs: Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve (SMR) and Piedras Blancas State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA)

10. DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary will work with contractor to produce a final data product that will be placed on the NOAA Deep Sea Coral Data Portal (https://deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov/), according to the Fieldwork Data and Reporting Guidance of NOAA Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (https://deepseacoraldata.noaa.gov/internal-documents/program-guidance/guidance-for-fieldwork-data-and-reporting), within a year of project completion in accordance with the NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 212-15:Management of Environmental Data and Information.