INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS
COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE POUR LA CONSERVATION DES THONIDES DE L’ATLANTIQUE
COMISIÓN INTERNACIONAL PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN DEL ATÚN ATLÁNTICO
CIRCULAR ICCAT # 11145 / 2023
Madrid, x 00 xxxxxxx xx 0000
XXXXXX: CONVOCATORIA DE OFERTAS – TÉRMINOS DE REFERENCIA – PRODUCTO PILOTO CON EL FIN DE PROBAR LA UTILIDAD DE LAS ECORREGIONES DE ICCAT PARA APOYAR EL DESARROLLO DE PRODUCTOS DE ASESORAMIENTO BASADO EN LOS ECOSISTEMAS
ICCAT se ha comprometido a poner en funcionamiento el enfoque ecosistémico de la ordenación pesquera (EAFM) de acuerdo con las normas acordadas internacionalmente. La puesta en funcionamiento del EAFM requiere la identificación de una extensión espacial dentro de la cual se puedan caracterizar, supervisar y comunicar los diferentes ecosistemas. En consecuencia, desde 2019 el Subcomité de ecosistemas y captura fortuita del SCRS ha estado desarrollando un proceso para avanzar en la identificación de regiones ecológicamente significativas (ecorregiones) dentro de la zona del Convenio de ICCAT, pero lo suficientemente grandes como para ser utilizadas como marco espacial para apoyar el desarrollo de herramientas y productos para guiar la puesta en funcionamiento del EAFM.
El proceso de ecorregión del SCRS de ICCAT, incluido el proyecto de propuesta de ocho ecorregiones, derivó del primer taller sobre ecorregiones celebrado en 2022. En abril de 2024 provisionalmente se celebrará un segundo taller sobre ecorregiones para perfeccionar el proceso que guiará la delimitación de las ecorregiones, basándose en el asesoramiento de los expertos y en los comentarios recibidos durante el primer taller.
El principal objetivo de esta convocatoria de ofertas es apoyar el desarrollo de un producto piloto para probar la utilidad de las ecorregiones como unidades de información para desarrollar productos de asesoramiento basado en los ecosistemas. Con este fin, el objetivo de este estudio es apoyar el desarrollo de una visión general de los ecosistemas y pesquerías (EFO) para dos ecorregiones contrastadas (la ecorregión atlántica tropical y la ecorregión atlántica templada meridional).
Por tanto, ICCAT quisiera solicitar una propuesta para dicho trabajo, que se desarrollará de conformidad con los términos de referencia adjuntos a esta carta. La oferta detallada se enviará únicamente a la atención del Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, secretario ejecutivo de ICCAT, y con copia a la Xxx. Xxx Xxxxxxxx, a las siguientes direcciones: xxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx y xxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx, a más tardar el 20 de octubre de 2023 (12:00 h, hora de Madrid).
La propuesta incluirá la siguiente información:
- una breve descripción de las actividades que se desarrollarán, teniendo en cuenta los objetivos fijados en los términos de referencia adjuntos.
- cronograma de las actividades y presupuesto correspondiente teniendo en cuenta el plazo de entrega de los resultados.
Le agradezco que distribuya esta convocatoria de ofertas entre las personas cualificadas que puedan estar interesadas.
Le saluda atentamente,
Secretario ejecutivo
Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx xx Xxxxx, 8 – 28002 MADRID – Spain, Espagne, España – Tel: x00 00 000 00 00 – Fax x00 00 000 00 00 – xxx.xxxxx.xxx - xxxx@xxxxx.xxx
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Distribución:
− Cargos de la Comisión:
Presidente de la Comisión: | X. Xxxxx Lado | Presidente del COC: | X. Xxxxxxxx |
Primera vicepresidenta: | X. Xxxxxxxx | Presidente GTP: | X. Xxxxxx |
Segundo vicepresidente: | X. Xxxxx | Presidenta del STACFAD: | X. Xxxxxx-Xxxxxx |
Presidentes Subcomisiones 1 a 4 | Presidente del SCRS: | X. Xxxxx |
− Jefes de delegación/Jefes científicos
− Partes, Entidades o Entidades pesqueras no contratantes colaboradoras Documentación adjunta: Términos de referencia (sólo en inglés).
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TERMS OF REFERENCE
PILOT PRODUCT TO TEST THE UTILITY OF ICCAT ECOREGIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADVICE PRODUCTS
1. Background and objectives
The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) requires the identification of a spatial extent within which different ecosystems can be characterized, monitored, and reported on (Xxxxxx et al., 2003; Xxxxxxx et al., 2014). Since 2019, the ICCAT Subcommittee on Ecosystems and Bycatch has been developing a process to advance the identification of ecologically meaningful regions (ecoregions) within the ICCAT Convention area, yet large enough to be practical, to be used as a spatial framework to support the development of tools and products for guiding EAFM implementation (Xxxx-Xxxxx et al., 2022; Nieblas, Xxxxx & Xxxx-Xxxxx, 2022). The ecoregions aim to provide a spatial framework to support regional collaborative and cross-sectoral ecosystem planning and prioritization, incentivize ecosystem research, and the development of regional integrated ecosystem-based advice products to inform fisheries management- decisions in ICCAT (Xxxx et al., 2011; Xxxxx et al. , 2016). During the 1st ICCAT Ecoregion Workshop in 2022, a total of eight candidate ecoregions were identified within the ICCAT Convention area (Figure 1) (Xxxx-Xxxxx et al., 2022). For delineating ICCAT ecoregions, pre-established criteria were used to guide the underlying regionalization and expected qualities of the resultant ecoregions (Xxxx-Xxxxx et al., 2022). The criteria were informed by three thematic factors: 1) the oceanography and biogeography of the epipelagic zone; 2) the macroecology of the target species managed by ICCAT; and 3) the spatial dynamics of main ICCAT fisheries and their fishing grounds (Xxxx-Xxxxx et al., 2022). Therefore, the resultant ecoregions possess a degree of internal homogeneity and are distinct in terms of their oceanographic characteristics and composition of target tuna and billfish species and fisheries targeting them. The ICCAT Scientific Standing Committee of Research and Statistics is currently being consulted on this ecoregion proposal to increase awareness of this planning, research, and advice tool to guide EAFM implementation, and to receive further feedback to continue to refine the ecoregion delineation process.
At this stage, the ICCAT candidate ecoregions should be considered a working hypothesis to be tested, validated, and refined before they are used for resource planning, research and management. Two approaches are generally used for validating ecoregions (Xxxxxx 1983; Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, 2004). One approach consists in statistically evaluating the hypothesis underlying the regionalization and the expected qualities of the resultant ecoregions. This approach is chosen when the aim is to quantitatively evaluate and verify the results of the ecoregion mapping. However, this validation approach of statistically evaluating the hypothesis underlying the regionalization and the resultant ecoregion mapping is known to be challenging. This is because the ecoregion maps are a synthesis and a compromise of many components of thematic factors underlying the criteria, and they are the result of a process of generalization to reduce complexity to a manageable spatial framework for a particular purpose. In addition, ecoregions boundaries are often considered gradients rather than sharp edges or “true” boundaries, which are considered transition zones. These characteristics do not lend ecoregion maps and their boundaries to easy verification using conventional statistical measures (Xxxxxx, 1983; Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, 2004). Therefore, it is advisable than when attempting to quantitatively evaluate the ICCAT candidate ecoregions to acknowledge: 1) that the ecoregions are a compromise of three underlaying thematic factors, and 2) that the homogeneity that distinguishes an ecoregion from another is most manifested at the core of the region, while distinguishable characteristics are less clear at the periphery (the regional edges).
A second approach for validating and verifying the ecoregion maps contend that the ultimate test of the utility of ecoregions as tools for resource planning, research, assessment and provision of advice may be the extent to which they meet the end user needs (Xxxxxx, 1983; Xxxxx & Xxxxxx, 1996; Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, 2004). Therefore, it consists of developing pilot products to test how the ecoregions support or affect the intended uses of the ecoregions. The ICCAT ecoregions were delineated to be used as a spatial unit of analysis for supporting regional ecosystem planning, ecosystem research and development of ecosystem-based advice products to complement the current single-species advice provided in ICCAT with
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bycatch advice, ecosystem-based advice, and climate-based advice at the ecoregional level. Following these intended uses, the Subcommittee on Ecosystems and Bycatch in the 2022 meeting requested the development of pilot studies of ecosystem-based advice products (e.g. Ecosystem and Fisheries Overviews) using a selection of case study ecoregions to show their applicability and intended use to the Commission.
The main objective of this work, which has been approved by the SCRS and the Commission in their 2022 Annual Meeting, is to support the development of a pilot product to test the utility of the ecoregions as reporting units for developing ecosystem-advice products. Towards this aim, the objective of this study is to support the development of Ecosystem-Fishery Overviews (EFOs) for two contrasting ecoregions (e.g., the Tropical Atlantic Ecoregion and the Southern Temperate Atlantic Ecoregion, Figure 2). An EFO potentially could incorporate multiple sections covering different topics (Figure 2). The incorporation of topics will ultimately depend on the interest of the end-users (the ICCAT scientific committee and Commission) and the capacity of experts to periodically update them, among other criteria. At this stage, the development of a pilot EFO product could have multiple aims: 1) testing the general applicability and uses of an ecoregion framework as “units of analysis” for the development of regional advice products, and
2) identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of such regional products in the context of ICCAT standard procedures to produce scientific advice for the Commission. Additionally, the Subcommittee on Ecosystems and Bycatch is already developing an Ecosystem Report Card (EcoCard), which is another ecosystem product. Therefore, it is crucial that the work developed as part of this contract finds synergies and is well coordinated with the ongoing EcoCard process.
2. Contractor tasks
Towards developing an EFOs as a proof of concept, the contractor is expected to carry out the following tasks below which aim to contribute towards the development of the following thematic topics of an EFOs (Figure 2): who is fishing, what are we fishing, status of fishery resources, effects of fisheries on ETP (endangered, threatened and protected) species and their state.
Task 1 – Who is fishing - Identify, map and describe the most important fisheries and fleets operating in each ecoregion, including the gears used and their spatio-temporal patterns of activity using ICCAT publicly available fishery statistics datasets. This will provide an overview of the core fisheries and fleets operating in each ecoregion and whether their fishing grounds are contained within a single ecoregion or over multiple ecoregions.
Task 2 – What are we catching - Based on the core fisheries and fleets identified for each ecoregion under Task 1, provide a description of the spatio-temporal patterns of catches (retained and discarded if possible) by species (target and bycatch), gears and fleets in each ecoregion using ICCAT publicly available fishery statistics datasets. This will allow to provide an overview of what species are caught in each ecoregion and their catches over time.
Task 3 – Status of fishery resources - Identify the core target species and stocks in each ecoregion and summarize their fishery exploitation status (whether they have been assessed or not and their current exploitation status relative to agreed objectives and reference points) based on the stock assessments performed by the ICCAT Working Groups. This will provide a synthetic overview of the core targeted species and stocks and their exploitation status in each ecoregion.
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Task 4 – Effects of fisheries on ETPs and their state - Focusing on the core fisheries and fleets identified for each ecoregion under Task 1, conduct a systematic-literature review on the impacts of these fisheries on the ecosystem in terms of bycatch of protected, endangered and threatened (PET) species. This will provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on the impacts of fishing on bycatch PET species in each ecoregion. In addition, based on the systematic literature review, conduct a preliminary comparative analysis of the bycatch interactions by main fishery and taxa groups of PET species in each ecoregion, by synthesizing the extent of the interactions of each taxa group for the main fisheries in the region and ranking the fisheries according to their degree of interactions with each taxa group. This will provide an overview of the extent of the bycatch interactions by fishery and taxa in each ecoregion.
Task 5 – SWOT analysis - Conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis to assess the potential role of EFOs as an advice product to complement the existing type of advice in ICCAT. This will be used to engage and communicate to the ICCAT community the potential benefits of this product.
3. Deliverables
1) The successful bidder shall provide to the Secretariat a SCRS document of the completed work and a Power Point presentation to be presented at the 2024 Preparatory Meeting for the Ecoregion Workshop (tentatively scheduled between end of March and beginning of April) organized by the Sub- Committee on Ecosystems and Bycatch. The SCRS document shall describe, in detail, the data and methodology used, as well as the expected outputs under each task. The expected outputs are:
- An overview of the core fisheries and fleets in each ecoregion;
- An overview of historical catches by taxa, fishery and fleet in each ecoregion;
- Overview of the core target species and stocks and their exploitation status in each ecoregion;
- An overview of the current state of knowledge on the impacts of fishing on bycatch PET species in each ecoregion and a preliminary comparative analysis with the extent of the bycatch interactions by fishery and taxa groups in each ecoregion; A SWOT analysis.
4. Contractor minimum qualifications
- University degree in one of the following: fisheries science, marine biology, statistics, natural sciences, biological sciences, environmental sciences or closely related fields (in the case of individual scientists).
- Excellent working knowledge of at least one of the three official languages of ICCAT (English, French or Spanish). A high level of knowledge of English is obligatory.
- Demonstrated experience (at least five years) in:
• using geospatially referenced data to identify, map and describe the most important fisheries and fleets operating in each ecoregion;
• using geospatially referenced fisheries data to describe the spatio-temporal patterns of catches (retained and discarded if possible) by species (target and bycatch), gears and fleets;
• conducting a systematic-literature review on the impacts of these fisheries on the ecosystem in terms of bycatch of protected, endangered and threatened (PET) species;
• conducting a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis to assess the potential role of EFOs as an advice product to complement the existing type of advice in ICCAT.
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5. Payment details
Disbursements will be made according to the following schedule:
• 40% of the total amount of the contract upon signing of the contract and after receiving a regular invoice which may be submitted at the latest 30 days after signature of the contract;
• 40% of the total amount of the contract upon submission of the Draft final report no later than 4 March 2024 which will be revised by the Conveners of the Subcommittee on Ecosystems and Bycatch, the SCRS Chair, in consultation with the ICCAT Secretariat, and will communicate any necessary revisions (if applicable) to the contractor and/or inform of approval within 5 days of the submission(s). The contractor shall submit the revised final report (if changes are request) together with the regular invoice, by 22 March 2024 at the latest.
• 20% after the approval of the final revised version of the report, and after receiving a regular invoice and a complete set of the documents concerning the expenses incurred under the contract.
6. Submission of proposals
Scientists and public or private Scientific Institutes or entities interested shall submit detailed offer(s) only to the attention of Mr Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, ICCAT Executive Secretary, at the following address: xxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx and Cc’ing Ms. Xxx Xxxxxxxx (xxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx) by 20 October 2023 (18:00h Madrid time) at the latest, including:
a) A description of methodology to be used;
b) The budget proposal;
c) A short Curriculum vitae of the tenderer detailing the experience regarding the minimum qualifications defined above;
d) The name, address, and telephone number of the tendering body;
e) The institutional and administrative background of the tendering body (e.g., statutes, type of institution, annual budget, budget control procedures, etc.), if applicable;
f) Acknowledgement of this Quotation request;
g) A statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions herein included.
If the tender is submitted by an institute/University, it must indicate the expert(s) who will be dedicated to the completion of the tasks and that he/she be available to present the work to the Subcommittee on Ecosystems and Bycatch. Offers sent after the deadline or that fail to furnish the required documentation or information or reject the terms and conditions of the Call for Tenders will not be considered.
Scientists and public or private Scientific Institutes or entities interested in applying shall provide a detailed budget and clearly identify costs related to main activities of the work (e.g. labour, including estimated number of days of work; travelling and subsistence).
7. Selection of proposals
The ICCAT Secretariat will review the offer(s). Following the review process, the ICCAT Executive Secretary will notify the entity selected for the contract as soon as the selection process is completed. Contracts will be awarded based on competitive tendering. The evaluation of proposals will be undertaken objectively, consistently and without bias towards particular suppliers. Proposal(s) will be evaluated against a pre-determined set of criteria, which include: (i) cost; (ii) proven track record; (iii) technical merit based on the work plan including the bidder’s qualifications; and (iv) flexibility to future changes to requirements.
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8. Logistics
The text report shall be in MS Word or compatible software. All other documents provided by the contractor must be in Open Office, Latex or compatible software. All documents submitted must be in English.
9. Copyright
All the material produced by the contractor will remain the property of ICCAT. All software written by the Contractor will be licensed under GLP or similar open-source license.
For additional information concerning this Call for Tenders, please contact ICCAT Secretariat at the following address: xxxx@xxxxx.xxx or xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx.
10. References
Xxxxxx, X.X. (1983) Delineation of Ecosystem Regions. Environmental Management, 7, 365–373.
Xxxxx, X.X. & Xxxxxx, S.E. (1996) Landscape-level ecological regions: linking state-level ecoregion frameworks with stream habitat classifications. Environmental Management, 20, 297–311.
Xxxxxx, S.M., Xxxxx, X., Xxxxxxx, C., Xx Chi, T. & Xxxxxxxx, X. (2003) The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. Issues, Terminology, Principles, Institutional Foundations, Implementation and Outlook. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No 443, FAO, Rome.
Xxxx-Xxxxx, M.J., Xxxxxxx, X., Xxxxx, X., Tsuji, S., Xxxxxxxx, E., Xx Xxxxxx, X., Xxxx, L., Xxxx, X., Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxxxxx, X., Xxxxx, X., Xxx, D.J., Xxxxxxxxxxxx, X., Xxxxx, X., Xxxxxxx, D., Niemeyer Xxxxxxx, X., Xxxxxxxx, B.E., Xxxxxx, X., Xxxxx, S., Xxxxxx-Xxxxxx, M., Xxxxx, P. & Xxxxxxx, X. (2022) Report of the ICCAT workshop on ‘identification of regions in the ICCAT convention area for suporting the implementation of ecosystem- based fishereis management’. SCRS/2022/107, 1–42.
Xxxxxxxx, T.R. & Xxxxxxxx, J.M. (2004) Ecoregions and Ecoregionalization : Geographical and Ecological
Perspectives. Environmental Management, 34, 1–13.
Nieblas, A., Xxxxx, H. & Xxxx-Xxxxx, M.J. (2022) Pre-workshop analysis in preparation for the 2022 ICCAT Ecoregion Workshop: “Identification of regions in the ICCAT convention area for supporting the implementation of ecosystem based fisheries management”. SCRS/2022/062, 1–73.
Xxxx, X., Xxxxxx, K.M., Xxxxxx, X., Xxxxx, S., Xxxxxxxxx, I., Xxxxxxx, X., Xxxxx, S. & Xxxxxxx, X. (2011) Policy relevance of biogeographic classification for conservation and management of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, and the GOODS biogeographic classification. Ocean and Coastal Management, 54, 110–122.
Xxxxxxx, D., Xxxxxxxx, R., Xxxxxxxxxx, S., Xxxxx-Xxxxx, S., Xxxxx, C., Xxxxxx, A., Xxxxxx, R., Xxxxxx, P., Xxxxx, M., X’Xxxxx, X. & Xxxxxxx, X. (2014) Essential EAFM. Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Training Course. Volume 1 – For Trainees. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand, RAP Publication 2014/13.
Xxxxx, S.G., Xxxxxxx, K.K., Aydin, X.X. & Xxxxxxx, S.K. (2016) Ecosystem considerations in Alaska: the value of qualitative assessments. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 74, 421–430.
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