WANTED: Commercial Fishermen for herring sampling exercise

Date of Posting:  January 19, 2010
Project Contact: Alexis Cooper, 424-3447 (email)
Application Deadline: February 1, 2010

Download information packet - complete and return the enclosed application form:


CDFU has secured a contract with the PWSSC to charter 10 commercial fishing vessels to participate in a juvenile
herring sampling exercise in 30 bays throughout PWS in March 2010.  This study will be used to determine the
post-winter presence and location of juvenile herring in an effort to enable fishermen to participate in the
restoration of the herring fishery.

Detailed description of requirements: 

Contract Compensation

• Fishermen will be contracted by CDFU for their participation and paid an inclusive rate for travel, sampling, fuel and a misc./meals stipend. Rate of Pay:
• Training (1 Day) -  $250.00
• Flat rate for travel & 3 day sampling exercise - $4,725
• ADF&G Permits will be provided to you for this project.

Availability

• Fishermen shall be available for a training day given by the PWSSC at a date to be announced prior to the sampling exercise (late February or early March).
• Fishermen shall be available for 3-5 days to execute the PWS sampling exercise on an “on call” basis during the period of 03/10/2010 thru 03/20/2010.  Actual dates to be determined as weather permits.

Specific Requirements

• Vessels will be 24ft and above in length, jet or propeller driven, with the ability to retrieve a gill net.
• On board equipment will include a VHF radio, Video sounder and GPS.
• Minimum of three years commercial fishing experience.
• On board fuel capacity shall be a minimum of 250 gallons.  Auxiliary/spare tanks acceptable.
• Proof of current USCG Safety Inspection.
• Fishermen will be required to produce proof of insurance including Protection & Indemnity and Hull & Machinery.
• All other miscellaneous items required to be at sea for a period of 3-5 days shall be the responsibility of the vessel owner.
• Note, nets will be provided to you by CDFU.

To apply for a herring project sampling position:

Download an application packet, and complete and return the application form with a copy of your USCG documentation to:

Cordova District Fishermen United
Herring Project
PO Box 939
Cordova, AK 99574

Or alternatively email these documents to Alexis.

Vessels will be selected in tiers. First priority will be given to CDFU’s herring division members. Second priority will be given to any member of CDFU. There are 12 spaces available – 10 vessels for the sampling exercise, and 2 for standby positions.

If your application is successful, CDFU will contact you during the first week of February. Submission of an application does not guarantee position placement or award of contract. Note, applications must be recieved by February 1, 2010.

More information about the PWSSC Herring Project :

From a recent PWSSC press release: Juvenile herring are the focus of a four-year, $6.8 million research program approved this week by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. Cordova’s Prince William Sound Science Center (PWSSC) will coordinate the investigations to measure factors that may limit the success of herring recruitment including oceanographic conditions, food availability, disease, overwinter energetics of juvenile herring, and predation.

Other researchers participating in this effort are from the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of South Alabama, Flying Fish, Ltd. and the Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute. The program also incorporates community involvement and will include contracts to commercial fishermen for some of the sampling activities

Read the full Press Release - Researchers look for reasons limiting the success of juvenile herring recruitment