1. Introduction

Survey objectives.

The general objectives of the programme as discussed and agreed at the planning meeting in Trinidad, 12-14 January 1988 are summarized in the Preliminary Report of Cruise No I, Part 1.

The objectives for Survey IV were further detailed as follows by letter from the Director of Fisheries of Trinidad of 14/9/88 and through discussions with representatives of the Fisheries Division:

North coast. Trawl - and acoustic exploratory survey covering the shelf from the coast to the slope with prepositioned trawl stations as in Survey II, but with some course tracks added for better coverage. Since trawling offshore had been unsuccessfull in Survey II this activity will this time be restricted to within 15 nm of the Trinidad coast.

East coast. Acoustic coverage of the whole shelf with swept area trawl survey of the inner bank south of 10° 30’. Some more attention to sampling for deep sea shrimp in the 400 - 700m depth range previously tested.

Joint Fishing Zone with Venezuela. Trawl and acoustic survey with trawl stations on both sides, fishing both day and night preferably where shrimpers operate, 15 - 20 trawl hauls. Objectives: shrimp distribution and by-catches, distribution and sampling of fin-fish and small pelagics. Replicate hauls day and night if time permits.

The following participated from Trinidad and Tobago:

Sita Kuruvilla, Fisheries Division, MFPMEFE
David Ramjohn, Fisheries Division, MFPMEFE
Anthony Nakhid, Fisheries Division, MFPMEFE
Erol Caesar, Fisheries Division, MFPMEFE
Sammy Alleyre, Fisheries Training and Development
Sherry Heileman, Institute of Marine Affairs

From Venezuela: Diana Zaera, L.W. Gonzales, Efigenio Velasquez.

The scientific staff from IMR was: G. Saetersdal, O. Alvheim, J. Kolding, I. Svellingen and M. Dahl.