The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife frequently conducts surveys to assess fisheries in diverse waters across the state. Most field sampling techniques focus on capturing larger sportfish, and we have only limited methods to assess populations of smaller, forage fish species. A hydroacoustic unit would greatly enhance MDIFW’s capacity to directly survey smaller bodied fish (e.g., smelt, juvenile sportfish species), track populations over time, and determine interactions between smaller-bodied fish and other species. The requested unit is portable and would be useable across most MDIFW watercraft statewide. Kongsberg Ocean Science EK80 Portable Entry Hydroacoustics System with transducer and software license The EK80 portable entry hydroacoustics system is sold as a bundle which includes: - one EK80 WBT Mini Transceiver unit with EK80 software - one ES38-18/200-18C with Subcon 10m cable/connector - one EK80 WBT Mini license (narrowband) for transducer ES-38-18/200-18C - one Echoview Entry software license with Essentials, Habitat Classification, and Advanced Operators Modules with connection dongle. Necessary accessories also include: - an EK80 WBT Mini combined single and split beam wideband (FM) license for the transducer - a WC38.1 mm tungsten calibration sphere reference target in net bag with three suspension lines - a WC25 mm tungsten calibration sphere reference target in net bag with three suspension linesThe equipment must be turnkey, all accessories/software installed as necessary, and delivered to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife office in Gray, Maine.
