U.S. Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/OFA/AGFS/AMD -- OFA51, 1305 East West Highway -- Station 7604, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

A -- RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SOL 00-00008 DUE 071300 POC Lawrence B. Frazier, (301) 713-0851, Vivian K. Smith (301) 713-0853 E-MAIL: Click here to reach Vivian Smith, Vivian.K.Smith@agf.noaa.gov. A -- The U.S. Department of Commerce/NOAA intends to procure on a sole source basis service from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, to perform data analyses and present a status review on the Dusty Shark in the Northwest Atlantic. The contractor will perform analyses on published and unpublished data sets on catch per unit of effort and size and age frequency of dusty sharks taken in the long-term fishery-independent shark-monitoring program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and from the fishery-independent observer program administered for NMFS by the Florida State Museum. Analysis will be performed on unpublished data at VIMS and published data concerning dusty shark embryo size as compared to month of the year. Additionally analyses will be performed using demographic data to model the estimated response of the dusty shark population to various levels of fishing mortality (including both directed and by catch). The objective of the present proposal is to review the status and ecology of the dusky shark in the Western Atlantic so that NMFS may determine whether the species should be proposed for listing as Threatened or Endangered under the ESA. This is a notice of intent. Award will be made under simplified acquisition procedures. 00-00008(VKS). Posted 06/26/00 (W-SN468344). (0178)

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