Asian Carp- River Pool Program Details.doc

Introduction

From Louisiana to Iowa, Asian carp dominate the fish biomass in the Mississippi River and hundreds of tributaries that flow directly or indirectly into the river. This invasive fish group include silver, bighead, grass, and black carp. To date, silver and bighead carp present the biggest threat to recreational fishing and boating. In 2014, Congress amended the WRDA act to authorize funding to be used by state and federal agencies with the goal of preventing Asian carp from increasing their reproductive ranges in the Ohio and upper Mississippi rivers. Since that time, Kentucky and several other Ohio River states and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service created plans in that regard and have been conducting removal, control, and monitoring efforts. Studies have indicated that large-scale removal of Asian carp below a dam or other pinch point would be crucial when trying to control or reduce Asian carp numbers above that location. In 2018, Kentucky received a federal funding authority for a contract fishing endeavor to be conducted in the Cannelton Pool and possibly the McAlpine and Newburg pools, if warranted. The goal of this project is to remove hundreds of thousands of pounds of Asian carp below the McAlpine pool to reduce the propensity for Asian carp to attempt moving up the Ohio River. Information gained from this project should also increase commercial interest in the Ohio River for Asian carp.

Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is collaborating with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to contract Asian carp commercial fishermen and to provide state-employed observers to each fisherman, which is Indiana’s portion of the project.

Scope of Work

Water to be fished:

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manage the Ohio River pools for the purpose of implementing and providing fish and wildlife programs in accordance with an approved Federal Aid Wildlife Management Plan. The three pools considered for removal of Asian carp using the federal grant and state matching funding include Newburg, Cannelton, and McAlpine pools.

Fish Considered to be Asian carp:

Asian carp fish species include: silver carp, bighead carp, grass carp, and black carp. All other species shall be returned to the water immediately, from which they were taken.

Mandatory Requirements:

A valid commercial fishing license from any state is required for the successful bidders.

State and Federal commerce transportation rules must be understood and followed.

Fishermen will be required to:

1. Fish at least four days weekly when river conditions and weather allow. One day of fishing is defined as setting the minimum amount of gill nets (provided below) and allowing them to soak at least 6 hours cumulatively before retrieving them.

2. Allow fisheries’ biologists or appointed assistants to observe, on board, fish harvesting efforts. The observers will report the amount and mesh size of netting set each day, keep a record of landings and by-catch, and may take other information as required. Observers may not always be available either an entire day or, in some cases, at all to get data. The fishermen will be provided data forms and be responsible to report effort data when observers are not present. Observers will be allowed to assist with setting and retrieving nets if requested, but this is not mandatory. Fishermen must coordinate with observers such that observers are given the opportunity to be present when harvesting fish from the nets. Although it may not always be possible, fishermen should attempt to provide fishing schedules at least 1 week in advance. Prior to setting nets, the fishermen shall contact KDFWR’s POC for this project to provide boat launch dates, fishing locations, times, and the ramps used.

3. Have boat and motors that meet the following minimum qualifications:

a. Plate aluminum Jon Boat – minimum of 22 feet in length, minimum 5-feet floor width, minimum 50 horsepower outboard motor. All equipment must be in good working order and in compliance with coast guard safety standards;

4. Have a valid boat registration from state of residence;

5. Have towing vehicle adequate to handle boat transportation and fish disposal to and from designated sampling sites;

6. Have necessary Kentucky Department of Transportation identification permits, insurance cards, and federal transportation tags required for commercial hauling;

7. Have minimum of 800 yards of Trammel/gill nets:

a. minimum of 200 yards of 3.25 to 3.5-inch webbing; and

b. minimum of 400 yards of 4.0 to 6.0-inch webbing.

8. Provide all labor, materials and equipment necessary to carry out the contract and have adequate helpers to assist with harvesting 2,000 – 12,000 pounds of Asian carp each day;

9. Remove all Asian carp fish species caught from waters;

10. Be responsible for disposing of Asian carp harvested. The Asian carp harvested may be sold to any willing buyer or disposed of in any lawful manner...

The Department will provide information on probable locations of high densities of Asian carp as is possible. Contracted commercial fishermen will be allowed access to Kentucky waters otherwise restricted to commercial fishing, but the contracted fishermen will follow 301 KAR 1:152 regulations to do so. Waters restricted to commercial fishing in Indiana will be subject to the INDNR’s rules or any exceptions that Indiana may provide. There are locations during some seasons where paddlefish congregate. Department staff will inform contracted fishermen as to when and where the risk for paddlefish bycatch is higher, and those areas will be avoided as is possible. The Department will require 35 Asian carp to be donated from each contracted fisherman to the Department annually for biological assessments. Ideally, most of the samples will be taken during fall. The Department shall provide to all known Kentucky Asian carp buyers the contact information of the contracted fishermen. Accordingly, the Department will also inform the contracted fishermen of all known Kentucky buyers.

The three successful bidders shall be notified in advance of starting date and work sites to which they will report. They may independently deploy to work sites on any day of the week, however, they must make arrangements to have INDNR or KDFWR “observers” on board for all harvest dates and times. KDFWR and INDNR will assist with scheduling as needed.

Contracted fishermen will be paid $750 for each day of work. Payment will be provided weekly based on the number of days worked from Sunday through Saturday, and the amount of payments will be dependent upon the number of days worked during the previous week.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Three contracts will be awarded to cover contract areas. Contracts will be valid from the time that the awards are initiated and continue until available funding is exhausted (approximately 600 total fishing days). The successful bidders will be notified three days in advance of any schedule changes when possible. Changing river conditions may require less time for notification.

Success of this program will be dependent upon the total Asian carp harvest amount from the Ohio River target areas. For that reason, the Department expects contracted fishermen to provide sufficient effort and time to justify the funds being expended for the project. Contracts with commercial fishermen may be canceled at any time by the Department or by the contracted commercial fishermen. The length of all contracts will be limited by funding available to the project.

Method of Award

SEE SECTION 13 OF ATTACHMENT A-TERMS & CONDITIONS for Award Criteria to be completed by bidder.