Seed mussel surveys tender information

Kent & Essex SFC have received funding from Defras Fisheries Challenge Fund to study the mussel populations within our district.  The project breaks down into 3 main components

·         To assess when mussels spawn and how fast they grow within the district.

·         To complete a base line survey of the known mussel beds.

·         To implement best management practice used by other seed mussel stock managers.

As part of this project we are aiming to use the mussel bed in the Medway approaches as one of our sampling populations.  We would like to involve local fishermen in the survey work to sample the Medway bed throughout the year, and invite people to tender for the contract to complete this work. 

Best safety standards will be required (able to conform to Cefas safety requirements) and the skipper will help plan the detailed programme. The survey work will involve the use of a mussel dredge (of a commercial size) provided by the tenderer and the vessel used must possess a GPS navigator/plotter and a recording echo-sounder.

For more information please contact

Kent & Essex Sea Fisheries Committee
The Ice House

Military Road

Ramsgate

Kent

CT11 9LG

Tel: 01843 585310