DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.34122022
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West Coast Hake Biomass on the Africana Voyage 046, July 1986

The West Coast Hake Biomass was carried out on the Africana Voyage 046 from 1 to 24 July 1986.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.03592023
South Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 063, May 1988

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 investigate the occurence of linefish species in shallow waters; and to study the biology of sharks and skates. Oceanographic research assistants were also trained.

(No DOI)
Pre-processed chlorophyll-a data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 218, September 2015

This is pre-processed chlorophyll-a data from the St Helena Bay Monitoring Line September 2015 cruise (now under the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela). The St Helena Bay Monitoring Line was initiated as a BENEFIT-driven project on "shipboard monitoring" which linked with similar lines run in Namibia and Angola. The aims are to obtain seasonal and interannual information on the hydrology and productivity of the area. Data on harmful algal blooms, low oxygen water and intrusions of Agulhas Bank water along the west coast will also be collected. A long-term, multi-decadel time-series (from 1951 onward) of information already exists for this important region and has continued in the form of the IEP:SB to detect long-term changes in the hydrology and the plankton, which are important for the detection of regime shifts.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.01872023
South Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 048, September 1986

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; an investigation of the environment and interrelationships of hake and other demersal species in various depth strata; to investigate the occurence, distribution and abundance of squid and squid larvae; and to investigate the occurence of linefish species in shallow waters.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.01902023
West Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 050, January 1987

The objectives of the cruise were to survey by means of trawling the abundance of adult and recruiting hake; to investigate the the diurnal cycle of hake and other demersal species; to investigate the environment and interrelationships of hake and other demersal species; to establish the offshore limit of hake and monkfish distribution and to collect deep-water specimens of fish and cephalopods; to conduct mouth-opening experiments with transducers on each wing of the net, and to compare the mouth opening and fishing capabilities of V doors and Polyvalent doors; to study community interrelationships and assemblages and to collect data on hake and other species from the International Commission for the South-East Atlantic Fisheries (ICSEAF) Division 1.5, ie: north of the South African border.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.01922023
West Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 054, June 1987

The scientific targets of the trip revolved around the determination of biomass index of both Cape hake species off the South African west coast. The diurnal cycle of Cape hake and their relationship with environmental parameters was also studied. Some hake material were collected in South West African waters. Deep-water trawls were made to delimit the offshore extent of hake distribution and to collect rare specimens of fish for accession to museums. Demersal community interrelationships were studied, as were spatial distribution patterns and spawning fractions of round herring.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.01942023
South Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 056, September 1987

The objectives of the cruise were to survey by means of trawling the abundance of adult and recruiting hake, sole and other trawl target species; to investigate the environment and ecological interrelationships of hake and other demersal species in the various depth strata; to investigate the occurence, distribution and abundance of squid and squid larvae; to investigate the occurence of linefish species in shallow waters; to identify every species caught in the trawl net; and to do chondrichthyian research. Oceanographic research assistants were also trained.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.20240817
Raw CTD data collected to support calibration of Seaglider SG573 during GINA 2018 (Cast 3)

The Gliders in the Agulhas (GINA) project is a multi-institutional effort to implement sustained glider observations around South Africa’s coastline to enhance existing regional networks and complement larger international observations systems such as the Ocean Gliders Boundary Ocean Observing Network (BOON). This dataset includes all data collected by Seaglider SG573 during the first GINA deployment in 2018. The Seaglider was set-up to vertically profile the water column between depths of 0 and 1000m. Measurements collected included conductivity (salinity), temperature, depth (CTD), dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a fluorescence (proxy for phytoplankton concentration), Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and two wavelengths of optical back-scattering by particles, Bb(470) and Bb(700) (proxies for particle concentration). In addition, information collected from the Seaglider was used to derive surface and depth averaged currents. This is raw CTD data collected to support...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052148
Seaglider test data collected during GINA 2017 by Seaglider SG574 in Cape Town harbour

The Gliders IN the Agulhas (GINA) project is a multi-institutional effort to implement sustained glider observations around South Africa’s coastline to enhance existing regional networks and complement larger international observations systems such as the Ocean Gliders Boundary Ocean Observing Network (BOON). Ocean gliders are robotic platforms operated and piloted from land. The Seaglider during GINA was set-up to vertically profile the water column between depths of 0 and 1000m. Measurements collected included conductivity (salinity), temperature, depth (CTD), dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a fluorescence (proxy for phytoplankton concentration), Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and two wavelengths of optical back-scattering by particles, Bb(470) and Bb(700) (proxies for particle concentration). In addition, information collected from the Seaglider was used to derive surface and depth averaged currents. This is Seaglider data, collected outside of Cape Town Harbour, used...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.09112024
Horse Mackerel Hydroacoustic Survey on the Africana Voyage 107, October 1992

The Horse Mackerel Hydroacoustic Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 107 from 07-23 October 1992. The objectives of the survey were to obtain a hydroacoustic estimate of horse mackerel abundance in the area between East London and Mossel Bay; to obtain acoustic estimates of anchovy and pilchard abundance east of Mossel Bay to assist in the design of the pelagic spawner biomass survey in November; to obtain a target strength/length relationship for horse mackerel and target strength data for anchovy and pilchard; to collect biological data pertaining to horse mackerel; to investigate the foraging behaviour of horse mackerel and food preference of pilchard; to test for relationships between horse mackerel movement and near-surface and mid-water currents, and to add to the ADCP data base for the southeast coast; to measure thermal salinity structure of the water column and to measure basic biotic parameters (oxygen, nutrient and chlorophyll); to collect data from the...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.12112024
Pelagic Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 108, November 1992

The Pelagic Spawner Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 108 from 05 November to 02 December 1992. The objectives of the survey were to get an estimation of the biomass and population length structure of anchovy, pilchard and round herring off South Africa by means of echo-integration and midwater trawling; estimation of anchovy biomass by means of the egg production method, and trial estimation of pilchard biomass by means of the egg production method; description of distribution and behaviour patterns of commercially harvested epi-pelagic and meso-pelagic fish, and the influence of oceanographic variables on these; collection of biological data on reproduction, condition and diet of pelagic fish species; to determine phytoplankton biomass in the nanophytoplankton (<10 µm) and netphytoplankton (>10 µm) size-classes in surface waters; to obtain information on the distribution and abundance of meso-zooplankton; and lastly to estimate secondary production rates of...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.09022026
Behavioural responses of Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus to swim-with-seal tourism activities in the Robberg Marine Protected Area in South Africa

Behavioural changes are often regarded as a key indicator of the effect of human disturbances on animals, and responses are commonly used as indices of disturbances. Tourism is an increasingly common source of disturbance to wild animals, including marine mammals. Swim-with-seals (SWS) tourism is an emerging industry that has grown in countries such as New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. We studied behavioural impacts of SWS in the Robberg Marine Protected Area (Western Cape, South Africa) on the adjacent Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus colony through a modified Before-After-Control- Impact (BACI) behavioural study designed for simultaneous observations of impact and control sites (site factor) and before, during and after SWS activities (phase factor). Elevated observations were carried out at distances from the sites using sequential photography of the colony to enumerate seals in different behavioural categories, allowing comparisons between sites and between...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.29042026
West Coast Demersal Survey on the Africana Voyage 133, January 1996

The West Coast Demersal Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 133 from 12 January to 20 February 1996. The objectives of the cruise were to survey by means of trawling the abundance of adult and recruiting hake in South African waters; to conduct routine biological and length frequency sampling of demersal species; to investigate the environmental and ecological inter-relationships of hake and other demersal species; to investigate the occurrence, distribution, reproduction and abundance of squid species; to investigate the distribution and biology of demersal species in water at depths greater than 500 m by means of demersal trawling; to sample catches for hake sex ratios and frequency of gill parasites; to conduct demersal environmental studies including intercalibration of bottom temperature measurements with commercial trawlers, CTD and ADCP measurements at ALL trawl stations and other specified stations, and box cores and transmissometer profiles at HODSA sites on the...

(No DOI)
Raw SDS data from the Marion Island Relief Voyage on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 015, April 2015

This is raw Scientific Data System (SDS) data from the Marion Island Relief Voyage on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 015 from 9 April to 15 May, 2015. The 2015 Marion Relief Voyage on board South Africa’s polar research and supply vessel MV SA Agulhas II offered yet another opportunity to conduct multi-disciplinary ship-based oceanographic research focusing on links and interactions between air and sea, ocean physics, chemistry, biogeochemistry and biology, including microbial, planktic and benthic communities. The overall aim was to continue contributing to the establishment of an oceanographic observation and monitoring system directed by South African research institutions in support of South Africa’s needs – and where possible, the global requirements of the Global Oceans Observing System (GOOS), the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS), the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels...

(No DOI)
Raw SPAR data from the Transkei Shelf Oceanography Cruise on the Algoa 241, July 2017

This is raw Surface Photosynthetically Active Radiation (SPAR) data from the Transkei Shelf Oceanography Cruise on the Algoa 241, 12 July to 11 August, 2017. The area covered includes the Transkei shelf and continental slope (20m to 1000m), of the Eastern Cape, between Cape St Francis and Port Shepstone in the South-West Indian Ocean.Our knowledge of the distribution of offshore benthic biodiversity on the Transkei shelf is very limited. The region between Algoa Bay and Port Edward is not only important for understanding the functioning of existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) such as Pondoland, Dwesa-Cwebe, and the Amathole, but is of particular relevance to the new Operation Phakisa proposed MPA network that will potentially include additional MPAs such as the Protea Banks, Amathole Expansion, and the proposed Addo MPA. In addition, further knowledge is needed to support decision-making about the offshore extent of the Dwesa-Cwebe MPA. The oceanography in the form of water...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.605207
Analysed Nitrate isotope data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) cruise on the Algoa Voyage 235, February 2017

Nitrate isotope data for the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB): Feb 2017.IEP:SB focuses on the biologically productive, cold waters of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem, which are inherently variable on short time-scales and responsive to changing weather patterns. The research aims to provide relevant, reliable and improved assessment of the ecosystem, in support of its effective management, preservation and conservation, so that South Africans can benefit from a healthy and well-functioning ocean environment. The overarching objective is to enhance understanding in process studies by assessing the importance, timing and magnitude of mechanisms and processes that influence the Southern Benguela ecosystem structure and functioning, including the climate variability.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.605202
Analysed Particulate Organic Matter data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) cruise on the Algoa Voyage 239, May 2017

Particulate Organic Matter data (stable isotope) for the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB): May 2017. IEP:SB focuses on the biologically productive, cold waters of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem, which are inherently variable on short time-scales and responsive to changing weather patterns. The research aims to provide relevant, reliable and improved assessment of the ecosystem, in support of its effective management, preservation and conservation, so that South Africans can benefit from a healthy and well-functioning ocean environment. The overarching objective is to enhance understanding in process studies by assessing the importance, timing and magnitude of mechanisms and processes that influence the Southern Benguela ecosystem structure and functioning, including the climate variability.

(No DOI)
Raw SADCP data from the Winter Shakedown Cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 003, July 2012

This is raw Shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (SADCP) data from the Winter Shakedown Cruise on SA Agulhas II, Voyage 003, 9 July to 6 August, 2012. The cruise started in Cape Town and went down to the GoodHope Line then up to the Prince Edward Islands, on to Port Elizabeth and then back to Cape Town. After the arrival of SA Agulhas II back to South Africa, an inaugural Southern Ocean cruise was undertaken, which included a multidisciplinary program to measure oceanographic and biological parameters that characterise the state of the Southern Ocean in the region of interest to South Africa, along with the ecosystem properties of the major gyres, frontal systems and shelf and plateau areas. Additionally, land-based research on marine mammals and seabirds was undertaken at South Africa’s Prince Edward Islands (PEIs). The aim of the cruise was to test the research vessels capability and its equipment and to increase our understanding with regard to the influences of...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.05252023
Processed CTD discrete observations from the West Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 059, February 1988

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast collected between 02 February and 25 February 1988, during the West Coast Hake Biomass Cruise on the Africana Voyage 059, in 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 main objective of the cruise was to survey by means of trawling the abundance of adult and recruiting hake in South African waters; to investigate the diurnal cycle of hake and other demersal species; to make some experimental trawls in deep water to collect deep-water specimens of fish and squid; to collect routine biological material on demersal species from South West African waters; to investigate the occurence, distribution and abundance of squid and squid larvae;...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052225
South Coast Mooring Cruise on the Algoa Voyage 208, July 2014

The South Coast Mooring Cruise was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 208, 9 to 24 July 2014. Two ADCP current moorings and a thermistor chain were deployed along the Cape Point Monitoring line. Cape Recife ADCP current mooring was recovered. Four ADCP current moorings were recovered and serviced in Algoa Bay. Port St. Johns ADCP current mooring was recovered. Port St. Johns Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD)/bongo survey lines were completed. SVP drifters in the Agulhas Current core were deployed. ALEX real-time surface buoy and current meter mooring of Port Edward were deployed.The South Coast Mooring Cruise had two scientific objectives: (1) Service, maintain and extend the in situ operational oceanography network currently deployed around South Africa and (2) to investigate the dynamics of the Port St Johns eddy and biological implications. Between 1988 and 2011, environmental and plankton sampling was conducted every summer along the South Coast during the annual pelagic...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26500005
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Processed Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) and Total Alkalinity (TA) data from the International Indian Ocean Expedition 2 (IIOE2) cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 032, June 2018

This is processed Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) and Total Alkalinity (TA) data from the IIOE2 cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 032, between 18 June and 30 June 2018. The International Indian Ocean Expedition 2 is a collaborative regional cruise to build capacity and strength within Africa. The focus will be on developing students in the region in the areas of physical oceanography, chemistry, biological oceanography, benthic biodiversity, marine top predators and marine plastics.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.12642023
Cape Canyon Benthic Invertebrates Tissue samples

Submarine canyons are heterogeneous environments known to support a variety of benthic organisms, and often considered biodiversity hotspots. Canyon morphological features facilitate the funneling of organic matter to the seabed, making them significant hubs of food resources for benthic life. In light of this, the DFFE: Oceans and Coasts initiative undertook the collection of benthic tissue data aimed at understanding how hydrography affects food availability for benthic species within and surrounding the Cape Canyon. This effort involved examining 15 stations, comprising six within the canyon and nine outside it, leading to the identification of six distinct trophic groups.

(No DOI)
Raw SDS data from the Marion Island Annual Relief Voyage on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 024, April 2017

This is raw Scientific Data System (SDS) data from the Marion Island Annual Relief Voyage on the MV SA Agulhas II Voyage 024, 06 April to 12 May 2017. The 2017 Marion Relief Voyage offered the fifth opportunity to conduct multi-disciplinary, shipbased marine research focusing on links and interactions between air and sea, ocean physics, chemistry, biogeochemistry and biology, including microbial, planktic and benthic communities on board South Africa’s polar research and supply vessel MV SA Agulhas II en route to, and around, the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward archipelago. The overall aim was to continue contributing to an oceanographic observation and monitoring system directed by South African research institutions in support of South Africa’s needs – and where possible, in support of global requirements of inter alia the Global Oceans Observing System (GOOS), the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS), the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052250
Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 235, February 2017

This Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) cruise was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 235 from 16 February 2017 to 28 February, 2017. IEP:SB focuses on the biologically productive, cold waters of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem, which are inherently variable on short time-scales and responsive to changing weather patterms. The research aims to provide relevant, reliable and improved assessment of the ecosystem, in support of its effective management, preservation and conservation, so that South Africans can benefit from a healthy and well-functioning ocean environment. The overarching objective is to enhance understanding in process studies by assessing the importance, timing and magnitude of mechanisms and processes that influence the Southern Benguela ecosystem structure and functioning, including the climate variability.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052268
International Indian Ocean Expedition 2 (IIOE2) cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 032, June 2018

The International Indian Ocean Expedition 2 is a collaborative regional cruise to build capacity and strength within Africa. The focus will be on developing students in the region in the areas of physical oceanography, chemistry, biological oceanography, benthic biodiversity, marine top predators and marine plastics.

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