This report is available in both English and Spanish. A separate Data File has also been issued.
Within the framework of the UNDP/FAO Project GLO/82/001 arrangements were made for a survey programme with the R/V “DR. FRIDTJOF NANSEN” during 1987 of the Pacific shelf from the Gulf of Tehuantepec in Mexico to the southern border of Colombia. The programme was planned through the OLDEPESCA/FAO Working Group on Fisheries Research in the Region of Central America and Panama. The details of the programme including its overall objectives, organization, practical arrangements, work methods, data processing and reporting were discussed at a special meeting of this Working Group in Panama 28-30 January 1987. The main part of the planned work was successfully completed. Preliminary cruise reports which outlined the work done and some main findings were issued after each survey. This report presents an analysis and evaluation of the findings from all of the four surveys viewed as a whole. The two first chapters describe the methods and conduct of the surveys and the findings regarding the hydrographic environment and the faunistic regimes. All findings relating to the resources are described countrywise.
This report was submitted in draft form to a Technical Consultation convened with the assistance of FAO in San Jose, Costa Rica 25-27 May 1988 where the findings were considered and discussed with fishery scientists from all participating countries. This resulted in several amendments and additions particularly as regards CHAPTER 2, THE ENVIRONMENT. Brief summaries of the comments from participants referring to CHAPTER 3. THE COMPOSITION, DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE FISH RESOURCES are included under the heading: “Comments to the findings” under each country section.
It is foreseen that more comprehensive comments and conclusions will be produced within the fishery administrations of each of the participating countries and as a result of activities in the Fish Resources Working group of the NORAD/OLDEPESCA/FAO Regional Project on Fisheries Management and - Planning in Central America and Panama. Through this process the findings should be further interpreted in terms of their significance for the management and development of the fisheries.
It is recognized that the amount of observations and data collected during the four surveys will allow more detailed analyses of the biology and distribution of the commercial species than has been possible in this report. To facilitate such further work data files listing the catch records, biological data and some tabulations are made available both in printed versions and in computer storage form.
