DFO is responsible for assisting marine mammals and sea turtles in distress, including species listed under the Species at Risk Act. These populations face the threat of extinction, making immediate rescue efforts essential for their survival. In collaboration with conservation groups and non-governmental organizations, the Conservation and Protection (C&P) Directorate of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) plays a key role in supporting the department’s Marine Mammal Response Program (MMRP). The MMRP works with partners to track and respond to marine animal entanglements, strandings (dead & live), ship strikes, and other threats. C&P plays a vital role in the MMRP, with nearly 600 Fishery Officers distributed across the country in over 100 communities with the ability to respond to a variety of marine animal incidents.
To carry this work forward effectively and whereby safety is paramount, Fishery Officers must have knowledge of the risk of working around sea turtles, including: sea turtle identification and basic biology (i.e. sea turtle species), health, safety and animal welfare considerations, proper animal assessment and collection of gear (i.e. recovered from an entangled sea turtle for further analysis and investigation), sea turtle response protocols and techniques, and the safe and effective use of equipment for sea turtle response, which have been purchased by the program.
As such, C&P requires a contract for both curriculum development and delivery of training, commonly known as Sea Turtle Support, for its Fishery Officers to effectively and safely respond to sea turtles. Response to such incidents necessitates knowledge of proper: personal safety, animal assessment and behaviour, and response option. The Contractor will work with C&P to develop a course curriculum for the sea turtle support training, and then deliver training sessions in the DFO regions known as Maritimes, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Pacific, and Gulf Regions based on the C&P approved curriculum.
