Newfoundland Winter Acoustic Herring Survey

TITLE: Newfoundland Winter Acoustic Herring SurveyCONTRACT PERIODContract award through to December 31, 2023, with options to renew for (3) three additional (1) one year periods at the sole discretion of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).Option periods if exercised will be January 1, 2024 through to December 31, 2024 and January 1, 2025 through to December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026 through to December 31, 2026.PROJECT WORKSurveys will take place in the winter each year. Exact dates to be provided if and when option years are exercised.BACKGROUND Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will be chartering a fishing vessel to conduct an acoustic herring survey which will include obtaining samples using a commercial capelin and/or herring seine.DFO intends to complete annual herring acoustic surveys in the winter for the next several years.Herring acoustic surveys were conducted in the past for Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) herring stocks to obtain acoustic biomass estimates (1982-2000) which were used in population models for assessments – the surveys were discontinued due to program reductions. Without these surveys it has not been possible to implement any quantitative model for these stocks to estimate biomass/total abundance or provide advice on the impacts of removals. Continued acoustic surveys will aid in the development of quantitative stock assessment models for herring.LOCATION OF WORKWinter 2023 and option year 2025 in Fortune Bay;Winter option year 2024 and option year 2026 in St. Mary's Bay and Placentia Bay.OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to conduct a herring acoustic survey to obtain acoustic biomass estimates to be used in stock assessments.