NOT TO CITED WITHOUT PRIOR REFERENCE TO THE AUTHOR(S) Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

A stratified random bottom trawl survey on Flemish Cap was carried out from June 25th to August 2nd 2004. This year, the area surveyed was extended up to depths of 800 fathoms (1400 meters) following the same procedures as in previous years and increasing the number of hauls planned (195). The survey was carried out by the R/V Vizconde de Eza and the last eleven days of the surveys were used to make 61 paired hauls with the R/V Cornide de Saavedra and to conclude the comparative fishing trial for calibration initiated in 2003 between the former vessel and the new one. A total of 124 valid hauls were made by the vessel R/V Vizconde de Eza with the usual survey gear (Lofoten) up to 730 meters depth. Survey results including abundance indices of the main commercial species and age distributions for cod, redfish, American plaice and Greenland halibut are presented. The general indexes for this year are estimated taken into account the traditional swept area (strata 1-19, up to depths of 730 m.) and the total area surveyed (strata 1-34, up to depths of 1400 m.). From the comparative fishing trial carried out during 2003 and 2004, the correction factors for the main species were estimated and the indexes from 1988 to 2002 were corrected to the scale of the new vessel. In the same way the corrected abundance at age indices was presented for cod, American plaice, redfish and Greenland halibut