Within the framework of the NORAD/FAO/UNDP Project GLO/82/001 arrangements were made for the R/V DR FRIDTJOF NANSEN to work off NW Africa during August - September and November - December 1986. The Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries, CECAF had also received an offer for the services at about this time of surveys with the Spanish research vessel CORNIDE DE SAAVEDRA. The CECAF Programme decided to make use of the presence of these two vessels to organize a cooperative acoustic survey jointly with national institutions in the region. A similar cooperative survey had been successfully conducted in 1981.
The detailed plans for the cooperative survey were worked out at a special planning meeting organized by CECAF at Tenerife 7-9 April 1986. The main part of the planned work was successfully completed. This report presents the main findings of the intercalibration experiments undertaken between the research vessels and of the survey work with the DR FRIDTJOF NANSEN. Brief preliminary Cruise Reports which outlined the work done and the main findings were issued upon completion of each cruise and distributed by CECAF. A data file listing the catch records, biological data and some tabulations is also made available for further processing both in a printed version and in computer storage form.
