DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.28062025
South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line on the RS Algoa Voyage 237, April 2017

The South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean was conducted on the RS Algoa Voyage 237 from 04 April 2017 to 12 April 2017. The cruise operated from Slangkop, off Cape Town, westwards to 15° E, in the South Atlantic Ocean along the SAMBA transect. The objectives of the cruise were to recover, service and re-deploy five (5) Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) moorings (1 x shelf mooring and 4 tall moorings); complete 3 Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) 1000m depth casts for the calibration of the SeaBird SBE37 sensors deployed on the moorings along the SAMBA transect; collect underway Thermosalinograph (TSG); Surface Photosynthetically Active Radiation (SPAR) and Ship-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (S-ADCP) data. Lastly, 4 Argo floats were deployed to enhance the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in the South Atlantic Ocean...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.01112023
South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line cruise on the Algoa Voyage 275, September 2021

The South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 275 from 13 September to 7 October 2021. The cruise operated from Cape Town towards Slangkop and westwards to 0° E, in an easterly direction in the South Atlantic Ocean along the SAMBA Monitoring Line (34.5°S). The objectives of the cruise were to recover, service and deploy 10 CPIES/PIES on the SAMBA transect; attempt to locate and recover DFFE current meter mooring (M7), that could not be recovered during 2020 cruise; undertake full depth Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) casts along the SAMBA transect (37 stations) using containerised winch system; undertake chlorophyll, oxygen, nutrient and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) sampling at CTD stations and underway along SAMBA transect; collect under-way Thermosalinograph (TSG); Surface Photosynthetically Active Radiation (SPAR) and Ship-mounted Acoustic Doppler...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11482023
South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line on the Algoa Voyage 291, March 2023

The South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean was conducted on the RS Algoa Voyage 291 from 01 March to 09 March 2023. The cruise operated from Slangkop, off Cape Town, westwards to 15° E, in the South Atlantic Ocean along the SAMBA transect. The objectives of the cruise were to deploy two Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) moorings (M3 & M4) along the Integrated Ecosystem Programme (IEP)’s Scarborough Monitoring line to collect current data on the Benguela Jet Current; deploy four tall moorings on the SAMBA transect (M7; M8; M9 & M10), incorporating ADCP’s and Sea-Bird Microcats; complete Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) casts (using the hydrographic winch), before each mooring deployment,for the calibration of the SeaBird microcats mounted on the moorings; collect underway Thermosalinograph (TSG); Surface Photosynthetically Active Radiation (SPAR); Underway PCO2 and Ship-mounted Acoustic...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.22112022
Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 282, May 2022

This Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) cruise was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 282 in May 2022. This is a long-term monitoring line conducted off the coast of Kleinsee, Namaqualand, Elands/St Helena Bay and Scarborough on the west coast of South Africa. The IEP:SB in 2013 consolidated a long-term, multi-decadal time-series (from 1951 onward) of information for this important region and has continued monitoring in the form of the IEP:SB. The programme is a multi-disciplinary, collaborative and capacity building platform undertaking relevant science, including updating technology, with the aim to develop ecosystem indicators that can be used to effectively monitor and understand the Southern Benguela. These include physical, chemical, planktonic, microbial, seabird, marine mammal, benthic and pollution (plastic) ecosystem indicators as required by ecosystem-based management regarding the following priorities: ocean warming, ocean acidification, trophic...

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Raw TSG data from the West Coast Cetacean Distribution and Abundance Survey on the Algoa Voyage 231, October 2016

Raw Thermosalinograph (TSG) data for the 2016 West Coast Cetacean Cruise. The survey operated on the shelf and slope regions off the west coast of South Africa, between Area 1 (Dassen Island, 18.23669, -33.457 and Groenriviermond, 17.52061, -30.8277) and Area 2 (North-East Robben Island and Cape Point). This cruise was undertaken for data collection as part of a collaborative project led by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in collaboration with the Whale Unit, Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA), Aqualie Institute (Brazil) and Oregon State University (USA). The greater programme is titled "Large whale research: genetic relatedness, stock identification, abundance, feeding and migratory behavious". The large whale research programme has two components, the east coast and west coast components. This cruise focused on the west coast humpback whales.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052212
Pelagic Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 290, October 2016

The principal aim of the Pelagic Biomass Surveys is to obtain estimates of the total biomass of anchovy, sardine and west coast round herring and to obtain data on their population length frequency compositions, for input to the operational management procedure (OMP) for making Total Allowable Catch (TAC) recommendations for the following year. The surveys also obtain information on the environment and food regime impacting anchovy, sardine and west coast round herring around the coast, although recent surveys (~2009 onwards) have included much less environmental sampling than earlier years. The survey uses hydro-acoustics to estimate fish density and abundance, and midwater trawling to identify acoustic targets and to obtain length frequency and other biological data, and ichthyoplankton and environmental sampling are also conducted. The abundance and biomass estimates from these surveys are an essential input into the management process and serve as a scientific basis for the...

(No DOI)
Processed SADCP data from Leg 1 of the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) II on the Algoa Voyage 177, July 2010

The Algoa sailed from Durban on 16 July 2010 to conduct a hydrographic survey of the Natal Bight as part of the winter African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) II. A total of 16 shore-normal transects were occupied between Scottburgh and St. Lucia. The aim of the synoptic survey was to determine the nutrient sources of the Natal Bight ecosystem, and to characterise the focus sites across the Bight. This dataset was processed using older standards which may not align with international best practices and the standards currently adhered to by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). The Department is re-processing and replacing data to ensure everything has the same format and is of the same quality and datasets will be marked as obsoleted once that is done. As such the user assumes the entire risk related to the use of these data in its current state and format. DFFE disclaims all warranties of the data whether expressed or implied, including without...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.02112024
Processed CTD discrete observations from the South Coast Demersal Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 072, May 1989

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast collected, between 10 May and 29 May 1989, during voyage 072 on the FRS Africana, in the Agulhas Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ACLME) region on the south coast of Southern Africa. Neil Brown MK3 and MK4 CTD instruments were used to measure pressure, temperature and conductivity through the water column during research and monitoring cruises between 1983 and 2000.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.37092025
Processed CTD discrete observations from the Demersal South Coast Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 129, April 1995

Here we present processed discrete Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data collected between 23 April 1995 and 15 May 1995, during the Demersal South Coast Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 129, in the Agulhas Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ACLME) region on the south coast of Southern Africa. The main objective of the cruise was to survey demersal fish stocks and collect hydrological data.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.07112024
Processed CTD continuous observations from the South Coast Demersal Inshore Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 106, September 1992

Here we present processed downcast Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data collected, between 02 September and 23 September 1992, during voyage 106 on the FRS Africana, in the Agulhas Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ACLME) on the south coast of Southern Africa. Neil Brown MK3 and MK4 CTD instruments were used to measure pressure, temperature and conductivity through the water column during research and monitoring cruises between 1983 and 2000.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.05282023
Processed CTD continuous observations from the South Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 063, May 1988

Here we present processed downcast Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data collected between 10 May and 03 June 1988, during the South Coast Hake Biomass Cruise on the Africana Voyage 063, in the southern part of the Agulhas Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ACLME) on the south coast of South Africa and the southern part of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast of South Africa. Neil Brown MK3 and MK4 CTD instruments were used to measure pressure, temperature and conductivity through the water column during research and monitoring cruises between 1983 and 2000. The objective of the cruise was to survey by means of trawling the abundance of adult and recruiting hake, sole and other trawl target species; to investigate the environment and interrelationships of hake and other demersal species in various depth strata; to study demersal community relationships; to investigate the occurence, distribution and abundance of squid; to...

(No DOI)
Raw CTD data from Southern Ocean Seasonal Cycle Experiment (SOSCEx) IV on the SA Agulhas II, Voyage 020, July 2016

The SA Agulhas II operated from Cape Town along the Goodhope Line, completing underway biogeochemical and physical oceanography observations along the transect, as part of the Winter 2016 Southern Ocean Seasonal Cycle Experiment (SOSCEx) IV and Marginal Ice Zone Dynamics. The cruise included deployment of expendable bathythermographs underway, deployment of four autonomous robotics instruments at two stations (2 wavegliders and 2 buoyancy gliders, per station), and the deployment of two Argo floats. One CTD for instrument calibration and verification was deployed at each glider station. The transect commenced to the Marginal Ice Zone for sample collection of sea ice and biological community composition in this region. This collection includes raw Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data from S.A Agulhas II, Voyage 020A (AGU020A) that took place between 15 July 2016 and 29 July 2016.

(No DOI)
Raw SDS data from Southern Ocean Seasonal Cycle Experiment (SOSCEx) IV on the SA Agulhas II, Voyage 020, July 2016

The SA Agulhas II operated from Cape Town along the Goodhope Line, completing underway biogeochemical and physical oceanography observations along the transect, as part of the Winter 2016 Southern Ocean Seasonal Cycle Experiment (SOSCEx) IV and Marginal Ice Zone Dynamics. The cruise included deployment of expendable bathythermographs underway, deployment of four autonomous robotics instruments at two stations (2 wavegliders and 2 buoyancy gliders, per station), and the deployment of two Argo floats. One CTD for instrument calibration and verification was deployed at each glider station. The transect commenced to the Marginal Ice Zone for sample collection of sea ice and biological community composition in this region. This collection includes raw Scientific Data System (SDS) data from S.A Agulhas II, Voyage 020A (AGU020A) that took place between 15 July 2016 and 29 July 2016.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.09882023
Processed underway Thermosalinograph (TSG) observations from the Algoa Voyage 257, January 2019

Here we present the 6-second resolution processed Thermosalinograph (TSG) data collected between 08 January 2019 and 25 January 2019 on the RS Algoa Voyage 257. A SeaBird SBE45 TSG is used to opportunistically collect underway near-surface temperature and conductivity measurements during research and monitoring cruises. Water is continuously pumped to the TSG from an intake located in the hull of the vessel, and the observations are continuously interfaced with navigational information. A temperature sensor close to the intake provides temperature measurements of the incoming water (T1). The temperature of the water inside the conductivity cell (T2) is used to accurately compute salinity (S) from the conductivity measurements (C).

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.13522023
Processed underway Thermosalinograph (TSG) observations from the SEAmester III and Agulhas System Climate Array (ASCA) Cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 033, July 2018

Here we present the 6-second resolution processed Thermosalinograph (TSG) data collected between 16 July and 26 July 2018 during the SEAmester III and Agulhas System Climate Array (ASCA) cruise on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 033. A SeaBird SBE45 TSG is used to opportunistically collect underway near-surface temperature and conductivity measurements during research and monitoring cruises. Water is continuously pumped to the TSG from an intake located in the hull of the vessel, and the observations are continuously interfaced with navigational information. A temperature sensor close to the intake provides temperature measurements of the incoming water (T1). The temperature of the water inside the conductivity cell (T2) is used to accurately compute salinity (S) from the conductivity measurements (C).

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.20210310
Processed CTD discrete observations from the Africana Voyage 011, August 1983

Neil Brown MK3 and MK4 Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) instruments were used to measure pressure, temperature and conductivity through the water column during research and monitoring cruises between 1983 and 2000. Here we present processed CTD discrete data from the upcast collected between 13 and 24 Aug 1983, during Voyage 011 on the Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast of South Africa.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.14882023
Student training and acoustic trials on the Africana Voyage 115, July 1993

The student training and acoustic trials cruise was conducted on the Africana Voyage 115 from 13 to 16 July 1993. The objectives of the cruise were training the third year / honours students and pupil technicians, conducting pollution sampling in Table Bay and development of acoustic software.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.14912023
West Coast Hake Biomass on the Africana Voyage 118, January 1994

The West Coast Hake Biomass cruise was conducted on the Africana 118 from 4 to 26 January 1994. The objectives of the cruise were to survey by means of bottom trawling the abundance of adult and recruiting hake, and other demersal species on the West Coast of South Africa; to investigate the environmental and ecological interrelationships of hake and other demersal species; to study the biology of chondrichthyan species; to investigate the maturity and feeding biology of horse mackerel; to obtain information on the hydrology and currents on the West Coast; to locate and attempt recovery of the offshore current meter/sediment trap array deployed 686m off Hondeklip Bay; to sample catches for hake sex ratios and frequency of gill parasites; to investigate the occurrence, distribution, reproduction and abundance of squid; to investigate the distribution and biology of demersal species in water at depths of greater than 500m by means of demersal trawl and to study the parasites of small...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052361
West Coast Physical Oceanography Cruise on the Africana Voyage 006, February 1983

The West Coast Physical Oceanography Cruise on the Africana Voyage 006 was held between 21 February and 02 March 1983. Research was conducted in St Helena Bay, Table Bay and Olifantsbos on the south-west coast of South Africa. This cruise was aimed primarily at current profiling and studies of the thermohaline structure of the shelf and slope zones.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.14612023
Processed Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) and Total Alkalinity (TA) data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 235, February 2017

This is processed Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) and Total Alkalinity (TA) data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme cruise in the Southern Benguela (IEP-SB). The cruise took place from 18 to 25 February 2017 aboard the RV Algoa. A total of 43 stations were occupied along four transect lines on the west coast of South Africa. Ten Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) stations were occupied along the Kleinsee Monitoring Line (KML) of Kleinsee, ten along the Namaqua Monitoring Line (NML) of Namaqua, twelve stations along the St Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML), two separate stations in the low oxygen zone in St Helena Bay, and nine stations along the Scarborough Monitoring Line (SCL) of Cape Columbine. Discrete water samples were collected in 500ml Certified Reference Materials (CRM) bottles from Niskin bottles and spiked with 0,02% of Mercuric chloride before being stored in the dark at room temperature for later analysis in the laboratory ashore using a Versatile INstrument...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052241
Integrated Ecosystem Programme cruise: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 232, November 2016

The Integrated Ecosystem Programme (IEP) cruise: Southern Benguela was conducted on the Algoa V232, 15 - 26 November, 2016. The Integrated Ecosystem Programme is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional platform to undertake relevant science in the Southern Benguela; also functioning as a platform for collaboration and learning. All projects aim to develop an ecosystem indicator that can be used to effectively monitor and understand the Southern Benguela i.e physical, chemical, planktonic, microbial, seabird and benthic ecosystem indicators, used for ecosystem-based management.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26500012
Compilation of validated and processed data (deck, flow and count) from the St Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) on the Africana Voyage 181, August 2003

Compilation of processed and validated data of mesozooplankton along the St Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) (now under the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB)) on the Africana, Voyage 181, from 12 to 13 August 2003. This includes the validated flow, processed counts and validated ship`s information. This is ready for analysis by a user. This is a long-term monitoring line conducted off the coast of Elands/St Helena Bay on the west coast of South Africa. SHBML started in 2000 as a BENEFIT-driven project on "shipboard monitoring" which linked with similar lines run in Namibia and Angola. The aims were to obtain seasonal and interannual information on the hydrology and productivity of the area. It was incorporated under the IEP:SB in 2013 consolidating a long-term, multi-decadal time-series (from 1951 onward) of information for this important region and has continued monitoring in the form of the IEP:SB. The programme is a multi-disciplinary, collaborative...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.15062023
Demersal South Coast Inshore Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 122, June 1994

The Demersal South Coast Inshore Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana 122 from 6 June to 5 July 1994. The primary objective of this cruise was to conduct a stratified bottom trawl survey to assess the biomass, abundance and distribution of hake, sole, horse mackerel, squid and other trawl species on the Agulhas Bank.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.13582023
Processed underway Thermosalinograph (TSG) observations from the SEAmester and Agulhas System Climate Array (ASCA) Cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 058, June 2023

Here we present the 6-second resolution processed Thermosalinograph (TSG) data collected between 20 June and 29 June 2023 during the SEAmester and Agulhas System Climate Array (ASCA) Cruise on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 058. A SeaBird SBE45 TSG is used to opportunistically collect underway near-surface temperature and conductivity measurements during research and monitoring cruises. Water is continuously pumped to the TSG from an intake located in the hull of the vessel, and the observations are continuously interfaced with navigational information. A temperature sensor close to the intake provides temperature measurements of the incoming water (T1). The temperature of the water inside the conductivity cell (T2) is used to accurately compute salinity (S) from the conductivity measurements (C).

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Raw TSG data from the West Coast Cetacean Distribution and Abundance Survey on the Algoa Voyage 211, October 2014

This is raw Thermosalinograph (TSG) data collected on the West Coast Cetacean Distribution and Abundance Survey on the Algoa Voyage 211, 28 October to 10 November 2014. The cruise operated on the shelf and slope regions off the West Coast of South Africa, between Dassen Island and Groenriviermond.The major objective of this cruise was to survey the abundance and distribution of cetaceans, in particular humpback whales, within the study area on the west coast. This objective, along with the research aims and proposed methodologies, are consistent with internationally accepted protocols. This work provided hands-on experience with logistical and technical cetacean specific problems associated with dedicated cetacean cruises. This work was a collaboration with the Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

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