Vessel Survey for DFO Cetacean and Sea Turtle survey off southwest coast of Vancouver Island, BC

Contract Period May 1, 2015 through to April 30, 2016, with option to renew for 2 additional 1 year periods at the sole discretion of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

Option periods if exercised will be May 1, 2016 through to April 30, 2017 and May 1, 2017 through to April 30, 2018

Survey / Project dates: The Project work will take place between May through to March. Exact dates will be determined by the DFO Project Authority.

Background Annual cetacean and sea turtle surveys are conducted off the South West Coast of Vancouver Island (up to Estevan Pt.) to fill knowledge gaps in cetacean distribution, population size, and habitat use, as well as killer whale diet studies. Contractors have been hired in the past to perform vessel operations and sampling in close proximity to cetaceans, with an expert understanding of cetacean behaviour is required to complete this objective while minimizing cetacean disturbance and maintaining consistency in data collection in accordance with SARA research permitting regulations.

Scope of Work The estimated level of effort would require the Contractor for up to approximately 65 days, but is dependent on budget and bidders cost, of custom day-charter cetacean and sea turtle survey and research sampling effort off southwest Vancouver Island, seeking observations and encounters with killer whales, leatherback sea turtles and other cetaceans to obtain photo identifications and prey samples, as well as acoustic recordings. The successful bidder will be responsible for both the vessel operations related to the survey effort and independently conducting the research services required.