In addition to the survey of the shelf resources the objectives of this coverage included an exploratory visit to off-shore parts of the Benguela Current, preferably to frontal areas to search for possible offshore resources of horse mackerel. The programme also included more extensive bottom trawling for survey of demersal resources both inside the shelf and on the slope down to 600 m.
Figures 1 to 4 show the cruise tracks and the fishing stations. The shelf from Porto Alexandre to the Cunene River was covered from 25 to 29 January. The acoustic instruments were calibrated in Baia dos Tigres.
4 days were then spent steaming about 250 n.m. offshore and covering part of the branch of the Benguela Current which moves northwards off the southernmost part of the Angolan shelf.
The work along the shelf was resumed on 1 February, and the important area from Benguela to Luanda was worked with a detailed programme of tracks and fishing stations up to 14 February. The shelf from Luanda to the Congo and off Cabinda was covered in the period 15 February to 4 March. A programme of fishing experiments to test the performance of the bottom trawl with and without bobbins gear was undertaken in the Ambriz-Luanda area from 5 to 9 March. On 9-11 March a track was worked about 200 n.m. offshore Ambriz.
A total of 244 fishing stations and 50 hydrographic stations were worked during the cruise.
