Do you have an idea or concept you would like to test or a new gear configuration to try?

The Northeast Consortium (NEC) has issued a request for proposals to provide grants of up to $25,000 toward projects that test the feasibility of a new idea, try out new and experimental gear, or otherwise lay the groundwork for new cooperative research projects.

This is a great opportunity to get funding for a creative solution you may want to prototype. NEC has reserved $250,000 in Cooperative Research funds for Project Development awards. These projects will be selected based upon a short letter Proposal.

The Northeast Consortium especially encourages letters from fishermen. While NEC aims for a cooperative research program-wide balance in its funding allocation of 75% to industry participants and 25% to research participants, a 75/25 split is not required for Project Development Awards. At the same time, fishermen participation in cooperative research is central to NEC's mission.

Letter proposals must be received by 4:30pm, Friday, October 17, 2003.

For full details about how to apply for funds, view the RFP here or you can directly contact Troy Hartley: 603-862-1729 or Rollie Barnaby: 603-679-5616.

MOSAC - The Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee (MOSAC), Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Maine Sea Grant Program invite preliminary proposals for research projects that will be funded in February 2004. The mission of the Maine Oil Spill Advisory Committee is to monitor the opportunities and constraints of scientific, engineering and technical advances in spill response and prevention techniques in order to make recommendations to the DEP. Deadline for Preliminary Proposals 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2003
Click here for more information on MOSAC

Maine Sea Grant - Maine Sea Grant seeks research preliminary proposals of 1-2 year duration for research projects that will be funded in February 2004. The research competition is open to all faculty and staff at any public or private research or higher education institution. Proposals should normally address the marine and coastal issues identified in the Maine Sea Grant 2001-2005 Strategic Plan "Marine Science for Maine People" (January 2001). The three major theme areas are Ecosystem Health, Aquaculture, and Fisheries. Deadline for Preliminary Proposals: 4:30 p.m. March 14, 2003
Click here for more information on Maine Sea Grant

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) is seeking commercial fishing vessels for industry-based survey (IBS) work for Gulf of Maine cod and monkfish from the mid-Atlantic area into the Gulf of Maine. MarineFisheries requires the services of commercial trawlers for the cod IBS and gillnetters for the monkfish IBS. Experience in these fisheries is required.

Deadline extended: Responses must be received by 5 PM, March 14, 2003.

For more information, download the request for response at
ftp://ftp.comm-pass.com/Data/0146300002.doc

The Northeast Consortium (University of New Hampshire, University of Maine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) is seeking planning letters from fishermen and scientists for cooperative research and selective fishing gear development projects.

Proposed projects should involve commercial fishermen and/or commercial fishing vessels; should address issues in fisheries and fisheries management, fishing gear technologies, and/or coastal ocean processes; and should be focused on the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.

Planning letters are due April 23, 2003.

For more information, visit
http://www.northeastconsortium.org/RFP_03.html

The National Marine Fisheries Service, in cooperation with the New England Fishery Management Council's Research Steering Committee, will hold two meetings in the New England region. The purpose of these sessions is to solicit input from fishermen and scientists to assist in identifying and prioritizing habitat-related research issues.

Monday, May 12, 10am - 4 pm, Portland, Maine
Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal Conference Room
56 Commercial Street
Portland, ME 04106
Telephone (207) 774-7871

Friday, May16, 10am - 4 pm, New Bedford, Massachusetts
School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at UMASS Dartmouth
706 South Rodney French Boulevard
New Bedford, MA 02744-1221
Telephone (508) 910-6353

All parties are encouraged to discuss a range of ideas that could lead to research projects that are undertaken as fishermen/scientist partnerships. Broad concepts identified at the meetings will be used by NMFS to define research priorities to be included in a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP, scheduled for distribution in early June, will contain details about funds available to support cooperative habitat-related research projects, proposal requirements, the evaluation process and a timeline for announcing projects that receive funding. An agenda will be available shortly and posted on the Council, NMFS and other websites.

For further information call or email either Patricia Fiorelli at the Council Office, 978/465-0492, pfiorelli@nefmc.org; or Earl Meredith at NMFS Cooperative Research Partners Initiative, 978/281-9276, earl.meredith@noaa.gov.

The Gulf of Maine Aquarium and the Maine Department of Marine Resources have received funding to carry out a cod tagging project to investigate cod distribution and migration in two areas: (Area 1) Cashes Ledge and Fippennies Ledge and (Area 2) offshore around Jordan Basin (Area 2a) and nearshore from Penobscot Bay to the Canadian boarder (Area 2b).

Vessels have already been contracted for Area 1; GMA now requests proposals from groundfish fishing vessels using trawls or hook and line from New England to conduct tagging operations in Area 2 from May 2003 through March 2005. Vessels may focus on either nearshore or offshore areas.

Proposals are due on April 25, 2003 before 2 pm (postmarked by Thursday, April 24, 2003).

Please visit our link at www.fishresearch.org/vesselrfparea2.doc for a detailed description of the RFP or contact Pat Foote at the Gulf of Maine Aquarium, phone: 207-772-2321; fax: 207-772-6855 (P.O. Box 7549, Portland, Maine 04112)

This acquisition is for a charter vessel that meets all requirements found in applicable sections of CFR, Title 46, part 28 and U.S. Coast Guard regulatory requirements. The vessel must be capable of trawling on the continental slope of Georges Bank in depths from 125 - 650 fathoms. Vessel shall not exceed 220 ft in length and have a draft not to exceed 18 ft when fully loaded. The vessel must include crew and be capable of sufficient size, deck space, range, and endurance to conduct operations safely and sufficiently. The vessel must also be capable of maintaining a minimum cruising speed of 8.5 knots and maintaining reduced speeds of 2.5 to 4.0 knots in moderate weather conditions at any heading while towing a commercial otter trawl. The vessel shall have a range of not less than 1,800 nautical miles at sustained cruising speed in moderate seas and have an effective endurance of not less than 12 days for the operation.

Additional vessel specifications and work to be performed shall be in accordance with detailed specifications to be provided with the solicitation. This award is intended for award under simplified acquisition procedures and is 100% set-aside for small business. All responsible sources may submit an offer to be considered by the agency.

Copies of the solicitation will only be posted on FEDBIZOPPS on or about 4/7/03. Telephone requests will not be honored. Questions may be referred to Margaret Rankin at (757) 441-6562 or email to margaret.a.rankin@noaa.gov.

Details of the program can be found at http://www.nfwf.org/programs/WhaleFund.htm.

For further information, please contact:
Sal Testaverde, Gloucester, MA --- (978) 281 9328 X 6502.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has released a revised RFR for the upcoming Industry-based Survey for Gulf of Maine cod. It is advertised in the May issue of CFN and the NAMA newsletter. It is posted on their website and has a brief description of what is to come, as well as information on how to bid:
http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dmf/index.html

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries has been awarded a contract to implement an Industry-Based Survey for Gulf of Maine cod. We are currently seeking proposals for industry support from vessels and trawl net builders. Two public informational meetings have been scheduled to answer questions regarding the survey and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Request for Response (RFR) process.

On May 14, 2003, a meeting will be held from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

A second meeting will be held on May 15, 2003 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal in Portland, Maine. (For directions to the ferry terminal, please visit http://www.cascobaylines.com or call Casco Bay Ferry Terminal at: (207) 774-7871.)

For project-specific and RFR information, as well as directions to our Gloucester facility, please visit our website: http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dmf/.

If you are interested in participating in the meeting, but are unable to attend or have any other questions concerning the survey please contact Bill Hoffman at (978) 282-0308 ext.106, Bill.Hoffman@state.ma.us

The National Marine Fisheries Service, in cooperation with the New England Fishery Management Council's Research Steering Committee, will hold two meetings in the New England region. The purpose of these sessions is to solicit input from fishermen and scientists to assist in identifying and prioritizing habitat-related research issues.

• Monday, May 12, 10am - 4 pm, Portland, Maine
  Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal Conference Room
  56 Commercial Street
  Portland, ME 04106
  Telephone (207) 774-7871

• Friday, May 16, 10am - 4 pm, New Bedford, Massachusetts
  School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at UMASS Dartmouth
  706 South Rodney French Boulevard
  New Bedford, MA 02744-1221
  Telephone (508) 910-6353

All parties are encouraged to discuss a range of ideas that could lead to research projects that are undertaken as fishermen/scientist partnerships. Broad concepts identified at the meetings will be used by NMFS to define research priorities to be included in a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP, scheduled for distribution in early June, will contain details about funds available to support cooperative habitat-related research projects, proposal requirements, the evaluation process and a timeline for announcing projects that receive funding. An agenda will be available shortly and posted on the Council, NMFS, and other websites.

For further information call or email either Patricia Fiorelli at the Council Office, 978/465-0492, pfiorelli@nefmc.org; or Earl Meredith at NMFS Cooperative Research Partners Initiative, 978/281-9276, earl.meredith@noaa.gov.

These are part-time, supplemental positions working aboard commercial fishing vessels specifically contracted for cod-tagging. These are mostly multiple day trips and may involve holidays and weekends. Tagging will take place in the spring and fall. Pay is on a per diem basis, plus travel expenses.

Responsibilities include tagging cod, recording accurate data and biological sampling. Previous experience on commercial fishing vessels is preferred. Please contact Susan Hann at 207-772-2321, extension 1019, or via email shann@gma.org.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is seeking bids from commercial otter trawl fishing vessels and otter trawl net builders for support in a pilot industry-based survey designed for Gulf of Maine cod.

Marine Fisheries seeks four vessels to conduct the survey. Two vessels shall be from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and one vessel each from the states of Maine and New Hampshire. The survey will consist of approximately 10 sea days of net calibration and two 10-sea-day sampling cruises. More information may be found on-line at: http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dmf/MarineFisheriesNotices/IBS_RFR_info_042803.pdf

The Department of Marine Resources, State of Maine, is seeking proposals to acquire underwater film footage of in situ lobster gear along the near-shore coast of Maine using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) with an experienced operator. The Department is also seeking proposals to provide a suitable platform vessel for this project.

The primary objective of this project is to document the profile of groundlines between lobster traps as they are fished on a variety of bottom-types and in different tidal areas in order to determine the actual groundline profiles, and to develop low-profile groundline alternatives in gear configurations and areas that present a risk to large whales.

Detailed specifications may be obtained by submitting a request by phone (207/624-6550), in writing to Gilbert M. Bilodeau, 21 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333 or on our website at www.maine.gov/dmr/rfp

Sealed proposals must be clearly marked "Department of Marine Resources: ROV/Operator" and received June 17, 2003 at 2:00 pm at the Division of Purchases, 9 State House Station, 4th Floor Burton M. Cross Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, Maine 04333.

The Department of Marine Resources, State of Maine, is requesting individual or group proposals to secure a vessel(s) to provide a platform for acquiring underwater video footage of lobster gear along the near-shore coast of Maine using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV).

Detailed specifications may be obtained by submitting a request by phone at (207/624-6550) or in writing to Gilbert M. Bilodeau, 21 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333 or on their website at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rfp/rov.htm

Sealed proposals must be clearly marked "Department of Marine Resources: ROV Vessel" and received by August 6, 2003 at 2:00 p.m.

The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are issuing a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit research proposals to study marine habitats including essential fish habitat and anthropogenic influences on marine habitats as they relate to groundfish or other species managed by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) and discussed in the CRPI Habitat workshop report described in the complete announcement available at http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/EASC/EAC-03-0001/Attachments.html

Below are examples of some of the research activities discussed at these meetings:

• Investigate the habitat conditions and benthos (sea floor characteristics and associated biological assemblages) that contribute to post-settlement survivability of important commercial fishes.
• Conduct fishing-industry supported high-resolution sediment habitat mapping in limited sized and specific areas of the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Southern New England, or the Mid-Atlantic regions.
• Map fisheries habitat using a variety of innovative technologies: acoustic multibeam, video or still photography coupled with image analysis software and geographic information systems are envisaged.
• Identify biological communities and geological features associated with mapped areas and determine relationships among sediment types and these communities.

A website has been established to provide public access to the BAA package at http://www.coopresearch.nero.noaa.gov/. Questions regarding proposal submission may be addressed via e-mail to Michelle.R.Morales@noaa.gov and should refer to this announcement.

Only research proposals submitted by August 8, 2003 will be considered.

Questions on the objectives or preparation of research proposals should be addressed to Nick Anderson at (978) 281-9383.

Questions related to contracting or cost issues should be directed to the Eastern Administrative Support Center, Attention: Michelle Morales at Michelle.R.Morales@noaa.gov.