The pelagic fish assessment survey of the North Arabian Sea was started with R/V "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" in February 1975. During the first year of operation the survey area (Figs 1 and 2) was covered twice; once prior to - and once after the south-west monsoon. In the original plan (Plan for a pelagic fish assessment survey, north Arabian Sea) it was presupposed that 1.5 research vessels like "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" were needed in order to have a sufficient coverage of the survey area. The overall coverage during 1975 is, therefore, somewhat less than prescribed in the plan.
The main objectives for the field work during 1975, were:
1) To locate areas where pelagic fish concentrations were distributed.During the second year of operation, 1976, more of the vessel's operation time will be put into the specific areas located during 1975 in order to:
2) To map out the principal distributions patters of these concentrations.
3) To gather knowledge of the biology of the species constituting the concentrations.
1. Obtain estimates of abundance of the located fish stocks.This report contains the main features of the observations done by R/V "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" during her first year of operation. The material are presented in Cruise reports nos 1-2 and 3 and in George Losse's reports to the Institute of Marine Research (Reports nos 1-11). Vessel, gear, instruments and methods are described in Cruise report no. 1.
2. Carry out fishing experiments.
