Fisheries Science Partnership
The Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP) is a government-funded
initiative which began in 2003. Its aim is to encourage fishermen
and scientists to work in partnership.
Due to the national and international success of the programme,
money has been pledged until at least 31 March 2013 to continue
developing this close relationship.
The main aims of the FSP are to:
- provide information from commercial fishing catches on key
stocks to supplement data sources traditionally used
in assessments for the International Council of the
Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
- address fishermen's own concerns about scientific
assessments, or stocks not currently assessed
- investigate innovative scientific methods and/or more
selective/environmentally friendly fishing methods
- support the work of Regional Advisory Councils.
Eligible projects must meet one of these objectives, plus be
practical and able to deliver a real solution.
Project Tenders for 2012/2013
There are currently no tender opportunities
Following evaluation of the project ideas submitted in
January 2012 and the selection of those priority ideas for the
2012/13 programme, on behalf of Defra, tenders were invited for the
following projects:
- FSP 33 North Sea Whitefish
- Purpose: To undertake the fourth & fifth
years of the North Sea whitefish time series to compare the catch
rate of our whitefish species using an otter trawl on hard grounds
and a scraper trawl on soft grounds. Detailed measurements will be
made of cod, whiting, haddock and possibly plaice.
- FSP 34: Channel Sprats Stock Assessment
- Purpose: The aim of this project is to assess
western Channel sprat population given the importance of the
fishery to the local community.
- FSP 35: Monitoring Thornback Ray Movements & Assessing
Stock Levels
- Purpose: The aim of this project is to
usefully assess the abundance of local inshore stocks of thornback
ray at representative study sites along the eastern seaboard of
England.
- FSP 36: Scoping industry Approaches to Fully Documented
Fisheries
- Purpose: This project aims to establish what
data are required to deliver fully documented fisheries, the
mechanisms available to collect the data and assess to which
fisheries they are best suited.
The date for
submission of these tenders has passed and Cefas will shortly begin
the tender evaluation process.
Time Series Projects for 2012/2013
Defra have also agreed for the following time-series projects to
continue into FY2012/13. Current contracts will be extended
for year 2 of this 3-year time series cycle.
- FSP23: North East Cod & Whiting
- FSP24b: Western Channel Sole
- FSP25a&b: Western Anglerfish North & South
Defra wishes to discuss the eastern and western Irish Sea survey
for cod, haddock and whiting with industry before inviting
tenders.
Contact
Details about tender invitations, contracts and terms and
conditions, as well as general information about
turning project ideas into viable projects, can be
obtained from:
FSP Contract Office
Cefas
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT UK
Tel: +44 (0)1502 527706
Email: michael.fox@cefas.co.uk
or fsp@cefas.co.uk