The survey started in Pointe Noire on 2 March. The shelf was covered northwards with an acoustic survey grid with approximately 10 miles between the transects. Semi-random bottom trawl stations were laid out along the cruisetrack during daylight to assess the demersal biomass by the so called swept area method. The area just south of Cape Lopez is restricted due to heavy oil drilling activities. This area was not surveyed as no permit to navigate there had been received. The vessel called on Port Gentil on 9 March for refuelling. Thereafter the survey continued northwards to the northern Gaboneese border. A call was made on Owendo from 13 to 14 March to finalize the cruise report and meet representatives of the fisheries administration and UNDP, Libreville. The Gaboneese scientists were disembarked in Owendo, whereafter the vessel steamed to Pointe Noire to disembark crew and remaining scientist and for layup.
The cruise track with trawl and hydrographical stations are shown in Figure 1.
