May 8, 2014 — The following was released by the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation:
Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) issues a Request for Research Proposals under its “CFRF Proof of Concept Project – Options for Reducing Bycatch of Juvenile Butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus),” funded under NOAA Award Number NA08NMF4720595.
The overall goal of this one year project is to assist with the re-establishment of a sustainable butterfish fishery in the northeast by identifying promising conservation gear modification or deployment options that will reduce juvenile butterfish bycatch, a foreseeable conservation problem. The project will be used to provide an opportunity for teams of scientists, fishing vessel captains, and gear builders in the northeast region to begin to work together collaboratively to develop ideas on how to reduce the bycatch of juvenile butterfish as the butterfish fishery begins to rebuild, and conduct some initial field evaluations to identify promising gear modifications or techniques for future testing.
Through this project, the CFRF will issue up to two sub-award projects. To view the RFP please visit the CFRF website at www.cfrfoundation.org.
Questions can be directed to: Peg Parker, Executive Director, Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, e-mail: pparker@cfrfoundation.org, phone (401) 515-4662.