Fisheries Sampling Services

Tender description

At present a requirement exists for a Sampling Services in Killybegs: focusing on the Commercial Sampling Programme as described in the 2017-2019 Irish National Work Plan for the EU DCMAP. Services required include: • Collection of samples from pelagic factories from a range of species and biological analysis of these samples to include length, weight, sex and maturity according to FEAS protocols. Number of sampling days per week will be dependent on landings but should be between 3 and 5 during the pelagic season (September-April). The collection of samples will be carried out in the environs of Killybegs and the subsequent sample analysis will be in the Marine Institute laboratory facility in Killybegs; • Conduct biological sampling on the whelk, crab and lobster landings at processors in Donegal during the shellfish season: sampling to include recording of length, weight and sex (where possible) of individuals. Target number of events is a minimum of one per month per annum to include sampling both whelk and crab in Errigal Bay Sea foods Meenaneary, Carrick, Co Donegal, and one lobster sampling trip per month (Lobster season normally March-Sept) in Burtonport Co Donegal; • Demersal sampling programme in Greencastle: to include recording length, weight and removal of otoliths according to FEAS protocols. Sampling will be as required but up to a maximum of 10 sampling events throughout the duration of the contract; • Conduct day trips on inshore vessels targeting shellfish (lobster and crab) and gillnet vessels targeting whitefish within the Donegal/Sligo region. Target number of trips is 8 per shellfish/inshore per fishing season (June and September initial period and May to September extension period) • Data entry and quality control of the resultant biological data on to Marine Institute databases from the above programme; • Data entry and QC from other inshore trips carried out for the Marine Institute on to Marine Institute databases.