The School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University (SoMAS) and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wish to conduct a comprehensive surf clam population survey in the state waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Rockaway Point to Montauk Point. SoMAS is requesting a bid for charter services for a commercial surf clam vessel, with a three-person crew (captain, 2 deck hands), and the necessary harvesting and navigation equipment for SoMAS and DEC to conduct the survey within the fourmonth period of June through September 2025. The vessel will collect surf clam samples with a hydraulic dredge (range in size of 48 to 100 inches in width) from the certified waters of the Atlantic Ocean between Rockaway Point and Montauk Point. The vessel will be positioned on station using Global Positioning System (GPS) and approximately 250 stations will be sampled, one sample collected per station, in 10 subareas (strata) located from 0-3 nautical miles from shore. The surf clam vessel must be capable of collecting samples from up to 90 feet in water depth. The vessel must have equipment for safely and reliably emptying the contents of the dredge after each tow in a manner where SoMAS and DEC can easily sample the catch and determine the total clams collected at each station for estimating the surf clam population...
