DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11882023
Pelagic Fish Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 078, November 1989

The Pelagic Fish Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 078 from 7 - 30 November 1989. The objectives of the cruise 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 oceanographic variables on these; to collect biological data on reproduction, condition and diet of pelagic fish species; to conduct an examination of the distribution, abundance and production of zooplankton in relation to the environment and to pelagic fish distribution, condition, diet and spawning activity; and lastly to conduct a profiling of currents by means of the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).

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

This is processed Shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (SADCP) 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...

(No DOI)
No Download
Processed Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) data from the International Indian Ocean Expedition 2 (IIOE2) cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 032, June 2018

The International Indian Ocean Expedition 2 (IIOE2) 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. This is processed Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data from the IIOE2 cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 032, between the 10th June and 13th July 2018. 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...

(No DOI)
State of the marine environment off South Africa: December 2007

Please note: 1. This report has not been peer-reviewed; 2. The conditions of use outlined in the report are superseded by the conditions specified by the License field in this metadata record; 3. The contact information included in the report is superseded by the contact information that can be found in the Responsible Parties field of this metadata record. This is the third in a series of informal biannual reports introduced in December 2006, intended to provide an overview of marine environmental conditions off South Africa. The reports are based on data from a variety of sources, including web sources, satellite sensors, the South African Weather Service, MCM's coastal and moored instruments and MCM's research cruises and inherent to all of these there is an inevitable lag between the time of data capture and the time when the data first become available for use. The lags are all different. For example, wind data from the Cape Point lighthouse is updated monthly, the moored...

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

This is raw Scientific Data System (SDS) 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 oceanographic conditions...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.36072024
Pelagic Pre-Recruit Mesopelagic Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 090, March 1991

The Pelagic Pre-Recruit Mesopelagic Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 090 from 05-19 March 1991. The objectives of the cruise were to get an estimation of the biomass and population structure of epi-pelagic pre-recruit fish off the West Coast by means of echo-integration and midwater trawling; get an estimation of an epi-pelagic pre-recruit biomass index using quantitative Methot trawls; get an estimation of the biomass and population structure of mesopelagic fish using echo-integration and midwater trawling; to investigate the behaviour of pelagic pre-recruit fish in relation to oceanographic variables; get a collection of biological material for age, oil content, diet and condition studies on pelagic pre-recruits; to determine oxygen concentrations in rock lobster distribution areas; the profiling of currents by means of the acoustic doppler current profiler; and testing the feasibility of the acoustic assessment of juvenile hake.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11122024
Anchovy Recruitment Survey on the Africana Voyage 103, May 1992

The Anchovy Recruitment Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 103 from 12 - 28 May 1992. The main objectives of the cruise were to estimate the abundance and size-structure of anchovy and pilchard recruits; to describe the distribution and behaviour patterns of anchovy and pilchard recruits and the influence of oceanographic variables on these; to collect biological data on pelagic fish species and to examine the distribution, abundance and production of plankton in relation to the environment and to recruit distribution and condition.

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

This is raw Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) 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.12072024
South Coast Demersal Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 082, May 1990

The South Coast Demersal Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 082 was conducted from 23 May - 13 June 1990. The objectives of the cruise were to survey by bottom-trawling the abundance of adult and recruiting hake, sole and other trawl target species; to make experimental bottom-trawls in deep water to establish the limit of hake distribution, and to collect deep-water specimens of fish and squid; to investigate the environment and ecological interrelationships of hake and other demersal species in the various depth strata; to study demersal community relationships; to investigate the occurrence, distribution and abundance of squid and squid larvae; to investigate the occurrence of line fish species in shallow waters; to study the biology of sharks and skates; to study the biology of kob; and to train senior staff and oceanographic research assistants.

(No DOI)
State of the ocean and coasts around South Africa 2016 report card

Please note that the contact information included in the report is superseded by the contact information that can be found in the Responsible Parties field of this metadata record. This report is compiled primarily by staff within the Chief Directorate: Oceans and Coasts Research that resides within the Branch: Oceans and Coasts. Contributors from outside the Department are acknowledged. The Branch maintains and seeks to grow human capacity and infrastructure in all aspects of marine sciences towards improving understanding and management of marine ecosystems. In this report, DEA provides updated information on the status of some parameters for South Africa’s oceans and coasts, ranging from chemical and physical properties to biological assessments. These have been selected as potentially-useful indicators of the change, health and management of South Africa’s marine ecosystems. The format of this report card is aimed at providing a brief overview of the research and monitoring...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052263
Southern Ocean Seasonal Cycle Experiment (SOSCEx) IV on the SA Agulhas II, Voyage 020A, 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.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.41112024
Anchovy Recruitment Survey on the Africana Voyage 112, May 1993

The Anchovy Recruitment Survey on the Africana Voyage 112 was conducted from 18 May 1993 to June 05 1993. The main objectives of the cruise were to estimate the abundance and size-structure of anchovy and pilchard recruits; to describe the distribution and anchovy and pilchard recruits and the influence of oceanographic variables on these. To collect biological data on pelagic fish species and to examine the distribution, abundance and production of plankton in relation to the environment and to recruit distribution and condition.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052222
Moorings and Monitoring Lines Cruise: Cape Point and Port St Johns on the Algoa Voyage 204, November 2013

The Moorings and Monitoring Lines Cruise: Cape Point and Port St Johns was conducted 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. On this cruise, the French ADCP SAMOC mooring was deployed. The Cape Recife mooring was recovered and serviced. The Cape Morgan moorings were retrieved. The Port St. Johns CTD/bongo survey lines were completed. The Port St. Johns ADCP was serviced. The SVP drifters and Argo floats were deployed in the Agulhas Current core. Four new ADCP moorings were deployed in Algoa Bay.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052203
Marion Island Relief Voyage on the MV SA Agulhas II Voyage 019, April 2016

The Marion Island Relief Voyage was conducted on the MV S. A. Agulhas II Voyage 019, 7 April to 16 May 2016. The 2016 Marion Relief Voyage 019 offered the 4th opportunity to conduct multi-disciplinary, ship-based 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 (CCAMLR), and the Agreement on the...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.26052100
Wirewalker wave-powered profilers from three nearshore moorings in St Helena Bay, South Africa, Feb-Apr 2011

Concurrent nearshore measurements of temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll fluorescence from three moorings offshore of Elands Bay, within St Helena Bay, Southern Benguela, in water depths of ~22 m (mooring 3), ~50 m (mooring 2) and ~62 m (mooring 1). The data were originally presented in "Lucas, A. J., Pitcher, G. C., Probyn, T. A., & Kudela, R. M. (2014, March). The influence of diurnal winds on phytoplankton dynamics in a coastal upwelling system off south -western Africa. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography,101,50–62. doi: 10.1016/j.dsr2.2013.01.016", and were further investigated in "Fearon, G., Herbette, S., Veitch, J., Cambon, G., Lucas, A. J., Lemarié, F., & Vichi, M. (2020). Enhanced vertical mixing in coastal upwelling systems driven by diurnal‐inertial resonance: Numerical experiments. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 125, e2020JC016208. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016208".

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.200521-5
Processed drop camera data to investigate benthic invertebrate fauna and associated habitats of the Southern Benguela Ecoregion on Algoa Voyage 263, August 2019

This is processed drop camera data from the Southern Benguela Cruise, which was conducted in the Southern Benguela Ecoregion on the Algoa Voyage 263, August 2019. This study focuses on providing a better understanding of the benthic invertebrate communities and associated habitats of three priority areas within the southernmost portion of the Southern Benguela Ecoregion. This includes Robben Island, the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area (TMNP MPA) and the newly proposed Seas of Good Hope Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA). The aims are: 1) To contribute to the first baseline assessment for continuous long-term monitoring. 2) To determine the species diversity of benthic invertebrate communities, and how geological (i.e habitat type) and physical factors (i.e. location, depth) may be responsible for driving their distribution and abundance. 3) To verify habitat types: Verification of the habitats associated with physical features (e.g. geological...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.37042025
Short-term observations of hourly currents at the Walters Shoal, southwest Indian Ocean at location WSN01 (25 May 2014 - 02 August 2015)

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. Here we present processed...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.01852023
Anchovy Recruitment on the Africana Voyage 047, August 1986

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 hydrobiological environment, specifically water temperature and plankton distribution; a determination of the extent to which anchovy recruits penetrated onto the South Coast, as follow-up to recruit surveys on the West Coast in May and June (Voyages 44 and 45) and a study of the broad physical and chemical features of the Agulhas Bank and East Coast continental shelf in winter.

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

This is raw Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) 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 oceanographic...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.35042025
Short-term observations of hourly currents at the Walters Shoal, southwest Indian Ocean at location WSS01 (29 May 2014 - 02 August 2015)

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. Here we present processed...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.34042025
Short-term observations of daily bottom temperatures at the Walters Shoal, southwest Indian Ocean at location WSN01 (26 May 2014 - 01 August 2015)

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. Here we present processed...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052146
Preprocessed Seaglider data collected during GINA 2017 by Seaglider SG574

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 preliminary processed Seaglider data collected during GINA...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.27072024
Pelagic Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 087, November 1990

The Pelagic Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 087 from 06 - 30 November 1990. The objectives of the cruise were to obtain 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; estimation of anchovy 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; examination of the distribution, abundance and production of zooplankton in relation to the environment, and to pelagic fish distribution, condition, diet and spawning activity; profiling of currents by means of the acoustic doppler current profiler; investigation into the feasibility of assessing inshore squid biomass acoustically, and of mapping the...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052232
Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 216, May 2015

The Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 216, 06 to 15 May, 2015. 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. 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...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.09122024
South Coast Demersal Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 086, September 1990

South Coast Demersal Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 086 from 07 September - 02 October 1990. The objectives of the cruise were to survey by means of bottom trawling (under 200 m) the abundance and distribution of adult and juvenile hake, sole, squid, horse mackerel and other demersal target species and to make biomass estimates of each; to study the hydrological environment using the CTD and ADCP and to relate this information to the catches of hake , sole, squid, horse mackerel and other trawl species. The investigation included hydrological transects off the Eastern Cape Coast from inside the bay areas outwards to the shelf -break or main Agulhas stream; a pilot survey using a Calvet net to investigate the feasibility of determining sole egg distribution for the egg production technique; data on the eggs and larvae of other species were also collected. A study was also conducted on demersal community relationships, particularly of chondrichthyians and...

Geographic extent

Temporal extent