(No DOI)
SDS data from the South Coast Mooring Cruise on the Algoa Voyage 208, July 2014

This is Scientific Data System (SDS) data collected on the South Coast Mooring Cruise on the Algoa Voyage 208, 9 to 24 July 2014. 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 spawner biomass surveys. Data collected during these cruises has provided valuable insight into environmental change in this region. There has been significant decline in copepod biomass on both the western and central Agulhas Bank over the past two decades, as well as a decline in the proportion of the large dominant species Calanus agulhensis, resulting in a shift towards a smaller copepod-dominated community. These changes are thought to have been largely...

(No DOI)
Processed CTD data from the South Coast Mooring Cruise on the Algoa Voyage 208, July 2014

This is processed Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data collected on the South Coast Mooring Cruise on the Algoa Voyage 208, 9 to 24 July 2014. 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 spawner biomass surveys. Data collected during these cruises has provided valuable insight into environmental change in this region. There has been significant decline in copepod biomass on both the western and central Agulhas Bank over the past two decades, as well as a decline in the proportion of the large dominant species Calanus agulhensis, resulting in a shift towards a smaller copepod-dominated community. These changes are thought...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.20112024
Experimental manipulations of the density of Cymbula granatina on rocky shore community

Densities of a commonly-harvested intertidal limpet Cymbula granatina were manipulated at two sites within a no-take marine protected area on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa, using four treatment levels ranging from zero to maximum natural densities, together with control plots, to evaluate the effects of different harvesting intensities on rocky shore community composition. Following removal or thinning of C. granatina, community composition changed: cover of corticated and ephemeral algae increased and recruitment of C. granatina decreased. These outcomes were, however, dependent on the time frame considered, as algae underwent an annual cycle, and the effects of limpet removal were evident predominantly during the summer upwelling season when the algae proliferated. The management implications of the results of this experiment are discussed.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.15052023
Anchovy and Pilchard Recruitment Survey on the Africana Voyage 121, May 1994

The Anchovy and Pilchard Recruitment Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 121 from 3 to 27 May 1994. The cruise objectives included an estimation of the abundance and size-structure of anchovy and pilchard recruits, a description of distribution and behaviour patterns of anchovy and pilchard recruits and the influence of oceanographic variables on these, the collection of biological data on pelagic fish species and an examination of the distribution and abundance of plankton in relation to the environment and to recruit distribution and condition.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052267
Marion Island Relief Voyage on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 030, April 2018

The Marion Island Relief Voyage was conducted on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 030 from 13 April to 28 April 2018. The 2018 Marion Relief Voyage 030 offered the 6th 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 and planktic 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 (CCAMLR), and the Agreement on the Conservation of...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.30042025
Short-term observations of currents and sub-surface temperatures at the Walters Shoal, May 2014

The Walters Shoal project, part of the broader African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP III), conducted an oceanographic and biological survey of the Walters Shoal, a shallow seamount in the southwest Indian Ocean, in order to understand the biodiversity and ecological processes occurring on this unique seamount. The project used a multidisciplinary approach that included the sampling of sponge fauna, fish populations, and oceanographic conditions. Oceanographic data (including moored ADCP data, CTD profiles, as well as underway S-ADCP and TSG data) was collected to understand the circulation patterns and hydrography that could influence the biological communities on the seamount. Here, we present the moored ADCP data that was collected to determine currents and sub-surface temperatures. Two ADCP moorings were deployed, one on the northern part and the other on the southern part of Walters Shoal, at depths of 500m, between May 2014 and August 2015.

(No DOI)
Raw Shipboard ADCP data from the Moorings and Monitoring Lines Cruise: Cape Point and Port St Johns on the Algoa Voyage 204, November 2013

This is raw shipboard ADCP data from the Moorings and Monitoring Lines Cruise: Cape Point and Port St Johns on the Algoa Voyage 204, 25 November to 6 December, 2013. 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.

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...

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.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.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.

(No DOI)
Chl-a data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on Algoa Voyage 205 from 03 to 22 February 2014

First look at Chl-a data from a survey of West Coast of South Africa, Algoa Voyage 205, as part of the Integrated Ecosystem Programme.

(No DOI)
First look at Chl-a data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme cruise: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 223, February 2016

This is pre-processed chla data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme (IEP) cruise: Southern Benguela on the Algoa V223, 8 - 17 February 2016.The Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela 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.

(No DOI)
Pre-processed Chl-a data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme cruise: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 232, November 2016

This is chl-a data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme (IEP) cruise: Southern Benguela 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.

(No DOI)
Processed chlorophyll-a data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on Algoa Voyage 239, May 2017

This is processed chlorophyll-a data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) onboard the Algoa Voyage 239 (ALG239) from 22 to 29 May 2017. This 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.

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

This is raw Scientific Data System (SDS) 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 column and energy...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11682023
Processed CTD continuous observations from the West Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 075, July 1989

Here we present processed downcast Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data collected between 14 July and 17 August 1989 during Voyage 075 on the FRS Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west 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. The objectives of the West Coast Hake Biomass Survey were 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 investigate the environmental and ecological interrelationships of hake and demersal species; to make some experimental trawls in deep water to determine hake distribution limits and to collect deep-water specimens of fish and squid; to collect routine biological material on demersal species from South West...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11742023
Processed CTD continuous observations from the Pelagic Fish Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 078, November 1989

Here we present processed downcast Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data collected between 07 November and 30 November 1989 during Voyage 078 on the FRS Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast and 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. The objectives of the Pelagic Fish Biomass Survey were to conduct an estimation of the biomass and population structure of anchovy, pilchard and round herring off South Africa by means of echo-integration and midwater trawling; to conduct an estimation of anchovy biomass by means of the egg production method; to describe the distribution and behaviour patterns of commercially harvested epi-pelagic and meso-pelagic fish, and the influence of...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11692023
Processed CTD discrete observations from the West Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 075, July 1989

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast collected between 14 July and 17 August 1989 during Voyage 075 on the FRS Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west 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. The objectives of the West Coast Hake Biomass Survey were 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 investigate the environmental and ecological interrelationships of hake and demersal species; to make some experimental trawls in deep water to determine hake distribution limits and to collect deep-water specimens of fish and squid; to collect routine biological material on demersal species from South...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11752023
Processed CTD discrete observations from the Pelagic Fish Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 078, November 1989

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast collected between 07 November and 30 November 1989 during Voyage 078 on the FRS Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast and 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. The objectives of the Pelagic Fish Biomass Survey were to conduct an estimation of the biomass and population structure of anchovy, pilchard and round herring off South Africa by means of echo-integration and midwater trawling; to conduct an estimation of anchovy biomass by means of the egg production method; to describe the distribution and behaviour patterns of commercially harvested epi-pelagic and meso-pelagic fish, and the influence of...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11532023
Processed CTD discrete observations from the West Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 069, January 1989

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast collected between 05 and 26 January 1989 during Voyage 069 on the FRS Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west 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. The West Coast Hake Biomass Survey was multi-disciplinary. The main target was to determine, by means of the swept area method, the present status of the hake resource on the South African west coast. In carrying out this study, it was possible also to collect some information on the environment and zooplankton (including squid larvae) in the vicinity of the catches and to determine some ecological interrelationships of hake and other demersal fish species, to investigate squid distribution, to study some aspects of the biology and...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052196
Marion Island Relief Voyage on SA Agulhas II Voyage 011, April 2014

The Marion Island Relief Voyage was conducted on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 011, 14 April to 14 May 2014. The 2014 Marion Relief Voyage on board South Africa’s polar research and supply vessel MV SA Agulhas II, offered 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. 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 GOOS, SOOS, CCAMLR, ACAP, etc. With the recent declaration in April 2013 of the Prince Edward Islands (PEIs) as South Africa’s first offshore Marine Protected Area (MPA), the outcomes of this cruise will further contribute toward an integrated view and a better understanding of the functioning of the combined island/marine PEI ecosystem.

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