SOW.docx

Statement of Work

I. Project Title: Sea turtle fisheries interactions in the Coral Triangle

II. Background:

The International Fisheries Program (IFP) within the Fisheries Research and Monitoring Division (FRMD) of NOAA - Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) is working to better understand the fisheries interactions including direct take and bycatch rates of sea turtles and other marine megafauna in the Western Pacific. Understanding these fisheries dynamics in the Coral Triangle region is of great conservation importance.

Fisheries interactions including direct take and bycatch occurring in industrial and small-scale coastal fisheries is an ongoing major threat to many marine taxa and in particular to several sea turtle populations. Dramatic population declines of several sea turtle species have been linked with bycatch associated with high-seas industrial fisheries, such as driftnets and longlines. Recent studies also show that small-scale fisheries pose a significant threat to sea turtles due to a range of factors. In particular, the take of sea turtles in coastal fisheries throughout the Western Pacific and Coral triangle region is thought to be problematic because of significant overlaps between fishing effort and sea turtle foraging habitats as well as sea turtle nesting beaches. Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green (Chelonia mydas) – Central Western Pacific and Central South Pacific distinct population segments (DPSs), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles migrate through, establish foraging grounds, and for some species nest in this region.

NOAA seeks a contractor to assist with fisheries research aimed at quantifying and developing solutions to the interactions between sea turtles and other marine megafauna with fisheries and fishing effort in the Coral Triangle region. The contractor will aid in two main projects:

A) Quantifying fisheries interaction rates with the sea turtle species found in Filipino waters using a 2-pronged approach for data collection.

B) Understanding sea turtle interactions with fisheries in the Maluku Islands, Indonesia.

A) Quantifying fisheries interaction rates in coastal Filipino fisheries:

To obtain empirical bycatch data from Filipino fishing vessels, we wish to establish a two-pronged approach: This includes (1) rapid assessments of fishing ports to obtain initial information on local fishing practices and turtle interactions; and followed by (2a) onboard fisheries observers to collect data on interaction and mortality rates from individual fishing vessels and (2b) use of electronic monitoring systems to augment onboard observers and help expand the overall observer coverage. This initial assessment will then form the basis of testing bycatch reduction technologies that may reduce turtle interactions without reducing target catch rates.

B) Understanding sea turtle interactions with fisheries in the Maluku islands, Indonesia:

To better assess the sea turtle interactions in direct fisheries as well as bycatch of sea turtles in coastal fisheries in the Maluku Islands, we wish to conduct rapid assessments in fishing villages that are known to interact with sea turtles. We also wish to establish long term assessments in key islands and villages to better understand the demographics of the turtles that are directly taken and/or caught as bycatch in coastal fisheries.

III. Objectives and Scope of Work A) Quantifying fisheries interaction rates in coastal Filipino fisheries:

NOAA seeks a contractor to initiate and carry out an investigation on the bycatch of sea turtles in Filipino coastal fisheries. The contractor will work with NOAA scientists to identify location in Palawan and other provinces to carry out rapid assessments of fishing communities to determine gear type, target catch, and interaction rates with sea turtles and other marine megafauna. A minimum of 3 locations will be assessed. In addition, the contractor will organize a small-scale coastal fisheries bycatch workshop with fishers, local fishery managers, national fishery managers, academics, and NGOs to discuss assessing bycatch in SSF, technologies that may be useful in mitigating those interactions, and potential locations to initial such gear trials.

B) Understanding sea turtle interactions with fisheries in Maluku Islands, Indonesia:

NOAA seeks a contractor to initiate and carry out an investigation on the direct take and the bycatch of sea turtles in the Maluku Islands. The contractor will work with NOAA scientists to identify location in the Kei Islands and in other locations with Indonesia to conduct an assessment of fisheries interactions. A minimum of 3 locations will be assess and long term assessment will be conducted in order to better understand the number, size, and if possible sex of the sea turtles interacting with fisheries as either direct take or bycatch.

V. Tasks to be completed by contractor A) Quantifying fisheries interaction rates in coastal Filipino fisheries:

B) Understanding sea turtle interactions with fisheries in Kei islands, Indonesia:

(1) The contractor will work with NOAA scientists to identify location in the Kei Islands and in other locations with Indonesia to conduct an assessment of fisheries interactions. Three locations will be assessed. The assessment will include onsite interviews with fishermen, leaders of fishing villages, and focus on the vessels used, the gear type fished, the time of year, the fishing effort, the geographic effort, the target fish, the bycatch species, the amount caught, the value of the catch, and bycatch of marine megafauna such as sea turtles.

(2) The contractor working with NOAA Scientists will determine 1 to 2 locations for long term assessment (approx 6 months) in order to better understand the number, size, and if possible sex of the sea turtles interacting with fisheries as either direct take or bycatch. Protocols for conducting such a long-term assessment will be decided upon in collaboration between the contractor and NOAA scientists.

IV. Special Requirements

(1) The contractor must have a proven record of bycatch research and the development of bycatch reduction technologies aimed at reducing sea turtle bycatch for a variety of fisheries such as longline, gillnet, and trawl fisheries.

(2) The contractor must have experience working in Indonesian and Filipino small-scale fisheries and must have proven on the ground, in country resources to conduct these assessments.

(3) The contractor must have experience in organizing workshops specifically on the topic of bycatch in SSF.

V. Invoicing And Deliverable Schedule:

A) Quantifying fisheries interaction rates in coastal Filipino fisheries

B) Understanding sea turtle interactions with fisheries in Kei islands, Indonesia

VI. Government-Furnished Property (GFP):

N/A