SOW L Shaped Frame Reviseed.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Charter of a Commercial Skimmer Trawl Fishing Vessel with “L” shaped frames for Turtle Excluder Device Evaluations

C.1 SCOPE OF WORK:

The Contractor shall provide a vessel with the equipment identified elsewhere in this document; captain and crew; and all other material necessary to complete the work identified below.

C.2 BACKGROUND:

C.2.1. Skimmer trawls are currently exempt from turtle excluder device (TED) regulations and must abide by established tow time limits that minimize the risk of sea turtle mortality. However, observer data indicates that tow time limits are exceeded on a regular basis in this fishery. As a result, NOAA Fisheries is considering the implementation of TED regulations for skimmer trawls, pending the development of practical and efficient TEDs for this fishery.

C.2.2. Skimmer trawls are a commonly used gear used to target shrimp in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina. Trawls are attached to rigid frames connected to each side of the vessel. Frames with nets attached are lowered into the water and are pushed along the bottom. Shrimp and other catch accumulates in the “codend” or

“tailbag” of the funnel shaped trawls, which are periodically retrieved and their contents dumped without raising the frames allowing the trawl to continuously fish during the entire operation. Along the Gulf Coast, there are two primary frame configurations utilized. The most common type is an “L” shaped frame, which consists of a horizontal and vertical portion that forms an angle that is either 90º or slightly more than 90º (Figure

1). Nets are attached at three points or along the perimeter of each frame. The other frame configuration is a “kickout” frame with a long horizontal portion and much shorter vertical portion that forms an angle that is close to 135º (Figure 2). The “kickout” frames are not very common among fishermen and have been designated as illegal gear in

Louisiana. Each frame type is fished differently with the horizontal portion of “L” shaped frames remaining above the water line when fished, while “kickout” frames are nearly completely submerged when fished. The advantages of the “kickout” frames are the ability to fish in deeper water and extend further from the side of the vessel allowing for the use of larger nets.

C.2.3. When TED regulations were initially implemented into the southeastern U.S.

shrimp trawl fishery, skimmer trawl gear was exempt from TED requirements because codends could be easily retrieved without hauling the entire net. This feature of the gear allowed users to easily adhere to 55 and 75 minute seasonal tow time limits established for the fishery in lieu of TED requirements. However, a study conducted by NOAA

Fisheries Service in 2004 determined that tow times were often exceed in the fishery, averaging 102 minutes and ranging from 12 to 258 minutes. Exceeding tow time limits significantly increases the risk of killing sea turtles that may be incidentally captured.

C.2.4. To successfully develop TEDs that are designed for use in skimmer trawls; the

Harvesting Systems Branch of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) needs to conduct diver evaluations of skimmer trawls equipped with TEDs. The proposed work will assess TED performance of several TED configurations with regard to operational feasibility, flow dynamics, and turtle exclusion. The skimmer trawl TED assessment will be completed through the charter of a commercial vessel with an “L” shaped frame

(Figure 1). The proposed charter will be conducted in Panama City, Florida during June

2012. The chartered vessel will be used to test and evaluate prototype TEDs for a period of two working days. In addition, four contract days will be provided to allow the vessel to steam between the vessels homeport and the project location. Using the chartered vessel as a platform, TEDs will be evaluated by NOAA Fisheries gear specialists and

NOAA working divers.

C.3 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

The work described herein will consist of skimmer trawl TED prototype evaluations and will be conducted from June 3-8, 2012.

C.4 Description of Work:

C.4.1. June 3-4, 2012

The chartered vessel will travel from its home port and arrive in Panama City, Florida.

Overnight dockage for the charter vessel and crew accommodations will be the responsibility of the vessel owner. Arrival should be no later than 11:30 PM.

June 5, 2012

The workday will begin at 7:00 AM. A five man team of NOAA gear specialists will rig the vessel for TED evaluations. NOAA working divers will load their gear and board the vessel. A briefing will be held by the field party chief (FPC) to discuss the day’s work plan and safety procedures for diving operations. The vessel will depart the dock no later than 12:00 PM and proceed to the offshore towing lane established by the NOAA team

(one hour run). A small dive boat will accompany the vessel to the offshore site.

Operations will be conducted along a three mile towing lane approximately ¼ mile offshore of Shell Island in water depths of 10-20 feet. During the course of the workday, the captain will be instructed to deploy and retrieve skimmer trawls making multiple tows of less than one hour in duration. Before each tow begins, a three diver team will disembark the vessel and board the dive boat. Once the trawl is deployed and on the bottom, divers will enter the water from the NOAA dive boat and begin trawl evaluations. At the end of the dive, divers will be picked up by the NOAA dive boat and returned to the vessel. NOAA gear specialists may instruct the captain and crew to retrieve and deploy the trawls multiple times during the course of the day in order to document operational procedures. Offshore operations will be completed no later than

5:00 PM each day as determined by the FPC. The vessel captain will be instructed to return to the Panama City dock location in order to disembark the NOAA team. All

NOAA work aboard the vessel should be completed no later than 7:00 PM each day.

Overnight dockage for the charter vessel and crew accommodations will be the responsibility of the vessel owner.

June 6, 2012

The same work description as the previous workday will apply. The vessel will depart the dock at 7:00 AM and return no later than 7:00 PM. Overnight dockage for the charter vessel and crew accommodations will be the responsibility of the vessel owner.

June 7-8, 2012

The chartered vessel will depart Panama City, Florida and steam back to its home port.

C.5. Vessel Schedule:

June 3-4 Vessel departs home port and arrives in Panama City, FL no later than

11:30 PM June 4, 2012.

June 5-6 Project work: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM

June 7-8 Vessel returns to homeport.

C.7. Vessel Requirements:

1. Skimmer trawl fishing vessel 28 ft in length or larger with “L” shaped frames.

2. Vessel engine power sufficient to push two skimmer trawls that are 16 feet wide

(headrope length) a minimum of 2.0 kts

3. Sufficient space to accommodate one NOAA Fisheries staff person in a dry indoor area that can be designated for camera equipment set up and break down.

C.8. Other Vessel Equipment Requirements:

The vessel shall have the following:

a. Two each skimmer trawls 16 feet wide (headrope length) or larger.

b. Fathometer- for determining bottom depth.

c. Radar

d. GPS vessel positioning unit.

e. Current U.S. Coast Guard Safety Inspection certification.

C.9. Crew Requirements:

1. Captain and crew experienced in deployment, retrieval and repair of skimmer trawls

2. Captain and crew experienced in the installation of TEDs and TED components.

Figure 1. Diagram of an “L” shaped skimmer trawl frame.

Figure 2. Diagram of a “kickout” skimmer trawl frame.