Based on analyses of the echo diagrams the type of bottom along the course tracks was classified as follows: 1: smooth even bottom; 2: more uneven but probably still trawlable bottom; 3: rough not trawlable bottom, and 4: very steep bottom. Figure 5 shows these observations for the whole shelf. The bathymetric features of the nautical charts are inaccurate in many areas. Thus the 100 fathom line off most of Nicaragua is located 5-10 nm further offshore than shown on the charts. In some parts the slope was found to be too steep for trawling. This is indicated in Figure 5.
