The survey started from Muscat on 2 March and the first three days were used to do conduct a replicate survey of the mesopelagic resources investigated in the previous survey in the Oman Gulf. Thereafter the shelf was covered southwards between the depth limits 20 to 200 m with acoustical transects. Bottom and pelagic trawling was carried out whenever identification of the acoustic targets were required. In addition unaimed bottom trawling was carried out in randomly selected locations in order to assess the biomass by means of the swept area method.
Four hydrographical sections were worked and the sea surface temperature was continously recorded by a thermograph.
The main covering of the shelf was completed by the southern border on 15 March. After a short stop at Salalah for refueling the vessel returned to the Kuria Muria Island and Sauqara Bay area where fishing with traps was carried out. During work on a hydrographic section in Sauqara Bay a concentration of pelagic fish was located off the shelf and the remaining time of the survey was dedicated to mapping the extent of these resources. The survey was concluded by arrival in Salalah on March 19.
The cruise track together with trawl stations and hydrographical stations are given in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Cruise track and stations worked.
