CEFAS23-97 ITT for a Mackerel Tagging Vessel

Tender description

Cefas require a suitable vessel to support the capture of mackerel and deployment of PIT tags in the North Sea. North East Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus), is a widely distributed stock which exhibits significant seasonal migrations. Having a solid understanding of these migrations, including occupancy of different areas, is critical to successfully managing the stock. To better understand stock movements, Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tags have been deployed in mackerel on the West coast of the UK and Ireland by Norway since 2011. However, areas of the North Sea are not included in Norway’s tagging survey. Our study will aim to deploy tags in the North Sea, providing additional data to the international effort to understand stock characteristics, which will facilitate sustainable management of mackerel. Cefas require a suitable vessel to support the capture of mackerel and deployment of PIT tags in the North Sea. Cefas plan to deploy up to 15,000 tags on live mackerel and will provide a minimum of 6 personnel to tag the fish, working with the vessel to deliver the scientific objectives of the survey.