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.26122022
West Coast Physical Oceanography on the Africana Voyage 025, October 1984

The objectives of this cruise included studying shelf circulation in the vicinity of Port Nolloth by placing three current meter moorings across the shelf; exploring the deep circulation in the Cape Basin which is thought to be a driving mechanism for the preponderance of southward flow observed on the shelf by placing a current meter in 3000m of water; recovering one current meter in the Cape Canyon and deploying two current meter moorings and a thermistor string near Cape Columbine and obtaining Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) data at these sites; collecting chemical samples and CTD data along a line between Port Nolloth to the deep current meter site, this included 100ml samples for analysis by M.J. Orren on routine CTD casts; a line of six coastal CTD stations was to be worked in the Hondeklipbaai upwelling tongue; the surface flow over the 1000m contour was to be studied using an acoustic drifter and samples were to be taken at various CTD stations for nitrogen cycling studies.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.01022026
Anchovy Recruitment Survey on the Africana Voyage 009, May 1983

The Anchovy Recruitment Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 009, between 4 May and 30 May 1983. Research was conducted off the west coast of South Africa between Cape Point and Orange River.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26000015
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St Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) on the Africana Voyage 189, February 2004

This St Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) cruise was conducted on the Africana Voyage 189 in February 2004. 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 Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (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 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...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.25010011
South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 041, December 2019

The South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) is an annual cruise undertaken by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) to change the overwintering teams in Antarctica and to replenish the supplies at the SANAE IV Research base. This voyage was to deliver the SANAE 59 team to the island and return with the SANAE 58 team. The cruise was undertaken on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 041 between 12 December 2019 and 27 February 2020 with a full scientific complement.

(No DOI)
Raw CTD data from the St Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) on the Algoa Voyage 195, March 2013

This is raw Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data from the St Helena Bay Monitoring Line, which now falls under the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela, on the Algoa Voyage 196, 4 to 8 March, 2013. 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.14962023
Processed CTD continuous observations from the Pelagic Fish Spawner Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 117, November 1993

Here we present processed downcast Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data collected between 09 November and 04 December 1993 during Voyage 117 on the FRS Africana, in the Agulhas Current Large Marine Ecosysten (ACLME) region on the south coast of Southern Africa and the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) 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.

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.26052265
South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 022, November 2016

The South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) is an annual cruise undertaken by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) to change the overwintering teams in Antarctica and to replenish the supplies at the SANAE IV Research base. This voyage was to deliver the SANAE 56 team to the island and return with the SANAE 55 team. The cruise was undertaken between 30 November 2016 and 07 February 2017 with full scientific complement.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.14972023
Processed CTD discrete observations from the Pelagic Fish Spawner Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 117, November 1993

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast collected between 09 November and 04 December 1993 during Voyage 117 on the FRS Africana, in the Agulhas Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ACLME) region on the south coast of Southern Africa and the Benguela Current Large Marine ecosystem (BCLME) 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.

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.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 Gough Island Relief cruise on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 021, September 2016

This is raw Scientific Data System (SDS) data from the Gough Island Relief cruise on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 021, between 01 September 2016 and 06 October 2016. The Gough Island Relief Voyage is an annual cruise undertaken by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) to change the overwintering team in Gough Island and to replenish the supplies at the British’s leased Gough Island Research base. The cruise also serves as a means to transport the residents and/or visitors to Tristan da Cunha using a signed agreement between South Africa and United Kingdom (UK). This voyage was to deliver the Gough 62 team to the island and return with the Gough 61 team. There was no scientific team onboard this voyage, however the Chief Navigations officer activated the ship mounted ADCP along the journey.

(No DOI)
Processed and corrected CTD data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on Algoa Voyage 239, May 2017

This is processed and corrected Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) 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. 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...

(No DOI)
Raw SADCP data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on Algoa Voyage 220, November 2015

This is raw Shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (SADCP) data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela on Algoa Voyage 220, 18 - 25 November 2015. 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)
Raw TSG data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on Algoa Voyage 220, November 2015

This is raw Thermosalinograph (TSG) data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela on Algoa Voyage 220, 18 - 25 November 2015. 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.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.30042026
Processed CTD continuous observations from the West Coast Demersal Survey on the Africana Voyage 133, January 1996

Here we present processed downcast Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data collected between 13 January and 19 February 1996 during voyage 133 on the Africana in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) 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.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.31042026
Processed CTD discrete observations from the West Coast Demersal Survey on the Africana Voyage 133, January 1996

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the downcast collected between 13 January and 19 February 1996, during voyage 133 on the Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) 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.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.03632023
Processed CTD discrete observations from the Anchovy Recruitment on the Africana Voyage 047, August 1986

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast collected between 04 August and 29 August 1986, during the Pelagic Winter Survey on the Africana Voyage 047, in the southern part of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast of South Africa and in the Agulhas Current Large Marine Ecosystem (ACLME) on the south 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 objectives of the cruise were a direct assessment of the biomass of adult anchovy and pilchard on the South and East coasts by acoustic survey, supplemented by aerial fish spotting (East Coast only); an acoustic investigation of the distribution and behaviour of other pelagic fish of commercial importance; an investigation of the relationship between anchovy, pilchard and the...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.42042026
Processed CTD continuous observations from the Pelagic Pre-Recruit Survey on the Africana Voyage 143, March 1997

Here we present processed downcast Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data collected between 08 March and 25 March 1997, during voyage 143 on the Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) on the west coast of Southern Africa and 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.

(No DOI)
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Echo sounder data from ACEP Deep Secrets: The Outer Shelf and Slope Ecosystems of the Eastern Cape on the Algoa Voyage 230, September 2016

This is Echo Sounder data collected on the ACEP Deep Secrets Cruise which set out to fill in gaps and shed light on the priority areas and research questions identified during the recent Marine Protected Area and Marine Spatial Planning Initiatives of Operation Phakisa’s Marine Protection and Governance Lab. Using underwater cameras (SkiMonkey and Drop camera), grabs, dredges and a CTD the study aimed to improve our knowledge on marine offshore habitats, as well as to build understanding of the effects of the expanding fishing and petroleum industries on marine offshore communities.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.08122024
Physical-Chemical Oceanography on the Africana Voyage 085, August 1990

The Physical-Chemical Oceanography Cruise was conducted on the Africana Voyage 085 from 16 - 29 August 1990. This cruise was divided into two legs with the first leg focusing on physical oceanography and the latter on chemical oceanography. The main objectives of the cruise were primarily to find and investigate an eddy shed from the Aqulhas Retroflection in the Cape Basin using XBT, CTD, ADC and WP II net stations; to investigate shelf edge jets on the West Coast continental shelf using ADCP and CTD stations; to recover a thermistor chain (32°50'S, 17°15'E) and a current meter array (32°50'S, 16°45'E) off Cape Columbine deployed prior to the cruise from Benguela; to occupy lines of CTD stations to 50 miles offshore of the Orange River mouth (28°35'S) and Roodewal Bay (30°27'S) and to occupy a NIO bottle sampling line from a gemini in the vicinity of Oubeep Reef (29°20'S).

(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...

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.

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