DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.08072024
Anchovy Recruitment Survey on the Africana Voyage 081, May 1990

The Anchovy Recruitment Survey on the Africana Voyage 081 was conducted from 07-12 May 1990. The objectives of the survey were to attain an estimation of the abundance and size-structure of anchovy recruits; describe the distribution and behaviour patterns of anchovy recruits and the influence of oceanographic variables on these; collect biological data on pelagic fish species; examine the distribution, abundance and production of zooplankton in relation to the environment, and to recruit distribution and condition; and the profiling of currents by means of the acoustic doppler current profiler.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26000007
St Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) on the Algoa Voyage 091, February 2001

This St Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) cruise was conducted on the Algoa Voyage 091 in February 2001. 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.26052261
Gough Island Relief on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 017, September 2015

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 61 team to the island and return with the Gough 60 team. The cruise was undertaken between 03 September 2015 and 06 October 2015. The scope of ship-based science for this takeover voyage was limited to underway observations and SAWS drifting buoy deployments. The ship’s underway thermo-salinograph (TSG) initially suffered from a blockage due to debris in the pressure regulator in the wet biology lab. This problem was rectified on 4 September around 08:30 UTC, and logging of TSG data was started around 09:00 UCT.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11892023
West Coast Hake Biomass on the Africana Voyage 079, January 1990

The West Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 079 was conducted from 4 to 29 January 1990. The objectives of the cruise 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 other demersal species, to make some experimental trawls in deep water to determine hake distribution limits and collect deep-water specimens of fish and squid; to collect routine biological material on demersal species from Namibian waters (if time permitted); to investigate the occurence, distribution and abundance of squid and squid larvae; to study demersal community interrelationships; to study the biology of sharks and selected non-commercial fish species; to investigate zooplankton scattering layers and their influence on the feeding behaviour of small hake; to obtain coverage of...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.11782023
Processed CTD discrete observations from the West Coast Hake Biomass on the Africana Voyage 079, January 1990

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the upcast collected between 04 January and 29 January 1990, during Voyage 079 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.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.25010012
Processed underway Thermosalinograph (TSG) observations from the SA Agulhas II Voyage 041, December 2019

A SeaBird SBE45 Thermosalinograph (TSG) is used to opportunistically collect underway near-surface temperature and conductivity measurements during research and monitoring cruises. Water is continuously pumped to the TSG from an intake located in the hull of the vessel, and the observations are continuously interfaced with navigational information. A temperature sensor close to the intake provides temperature measurements of the incoming water (T1). The temperature of the water inside the conductivity cell (T2) is used to accurately compute salinity (S) from the conductivity measurements (C). Here we present the 10-second resolution processed TSG data collected, between 12 December 2019 and 27 February 2020, during Voyage 041 on the SA Agulhas II.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.03612023
Processed CTD continuous observations from the Anchovy Recruitment on the Africana Voyage 047, August 1986

Here we present processed downcast Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) continuous data 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...

(No DOI)
Raw CTD data from SANAE on SA Agulhas II Voyage 014, December 2014

The is raw Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data from the SANAE on SA Agulhas II Voyage 014, 14 December 2014 and 19 February 2015 with full scientific complement. 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 54 team to the island and return with the SANAE 53 team.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.31092025
South Coast Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 129, April 1995

The Demersal South Coast Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 129 took place from 21 April to 16 May 1995. The cruise surveyed demersal fish stocks and collected hydrological data along the Agulhas Bank, trawling from Cape Agulhas (20°E) eastwards past Port Elizabeth (27°E) to depths of up to 500m. CTD transects extended to the shelf margin and comparative trawl and longline sampling was undertaken in the 'Blues' region of the Agulhas Bank.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.20210413
Processed underway Thermosalinograph (TSG) observations from SA Agulhas II Voyage 019, April 2016

A SeaBird SBE45 Thermosalinograph (TSG) is used to opportunistically collect underway near-surface temperature and conductivity measurements during research and monitoring cruises. Water is continuously pumped to the TSG from an intake located in the hull of the vessel, and the observations are continuously interfaced with navigational information. A temperature sensor close to the intake provides temperature measurements of the incoming water (T1). The temperature of the water inside the conductivity cell (T2) is used to accurately compute salinity (S) from the conductivity measurements (C). Here we present the 10-second resolution processed TSG data collected between 08 April 2016 and 12 May 2016, during Voyage 019 on the SA Agulhas II.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.13122022
Processed CTD discrete observations from the Shoal Ecology Cruise on the Africana Voyage 018, April 1984

This is processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the Shoal Ecology Cruise on the Africana Voyage 018 collected between 9 and 19 April 1984. The cruise operated in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) region on the west coast of South Africa. The objectives of this cruise were to obtain a broad picture of pelagic fish shoal distribution in relation to the prevailing mesoscale environmental features; to investigate intensively the diel shoal behaviour pattern of anchovy, pilchard and round herring, with particular reference to their feeding behaviour in relation to food supply. If time permitted the plan was to carry the investigation out in two areas of contrasting environmental features ie St Helena Bay and off Saldanha Bay. Shoals of fish close to strong environmental gradients (in a horizontal plane) will be surveyed to investigate the effect, if any, upon diel behaviour patterns on either side of the gradient. A number of extended lines,...

(No DOI)
Raw SDS data from SANAE on SA Agulhas II Voyage 005, December 2012

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 52 team to the island and return with the SANAE 51 team. This is raw Scientific Data System (SDS) data from SANAE on SA Agulhas II Voyage 005, 6 December, 2012 to 19 February, 2013.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052255
Gough Island Relief on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 004, September 2012

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 58 team to the island and return with the Gough 57 team. The cruise was undertaken between 06 September 2012 and 11 October 2012 with full scientific complement.

(No DOI)
Raw TSG data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme cruise: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on the Algoa Voyage 223, February 2016

This is raw Thermosalinograph (TSG) 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.

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052252
Sardine, Hake, and Anchovy Recruitment Programme (SHARP) / St. Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) on the Ellen Kuzwayo Voyage 108, March 2012

This Sardine, Hake, and Anchovy Recruitment Programme (SHARP)/St. Helena Bay Monitoring Line (SHBML) cruise was conducted on the Ellen Kuzwayo Voyage 108 from 19 to 23 March, 2012. SHARP: At the initiation of the original SARP project the operational objective was to investigate variability in the transport of clupeiod eggs and larvae by the Benguela jet current from the south coast spawning grounds to the west coast nursery area as this would impact recruitment, thereby influencing the abundance of pelagic resources. To date 17 years worth of data have been collected on a transect perpendicular to the coast off Slangkop, the SARP line. Many valuable conclusions have been drawn using the information. Though the SARP line has contributed to its initial goal, the wealth of data and knowledge accumulated over the years suggests it is time for a revamp and extension of the SARP line. The idea is to strengthen the sampling strategy to include a more comprehensive experimental design...

(No DOI)
Raw SADCP data from the South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean on Algoa Voyage 221, November 2015

This is raw Shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (SADCP) data from the South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean on Algoa Voyage 221, 30 November to 14 December, 2015. SAMBA forms part of the South African component of the International South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation project (SAMOC-SA), which aims to characterise the time-mean and time-varying components of the SAMOC in the South Atlantic Ocean and monitor the variability of the main Southern Ocean frontal systems associated with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), south of Africa.

(No DOI)
Raw SADCP data from Gough Island Relief on SA Agulhas II Voyage 012, September 2014

The is raw Shipboard Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (SADCP) data from the Gough Island Relief Voyage on SA Agulhas II Voyage 012, 04 September 2014 and 9 October 2014. 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 60 team to the island and return with the Gough 59 team.

(No DOI)
Raw CTD data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela (IEP:SB) on Algoa Voyage 229, August 2016

Raw Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data from the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela on Algoa Voyage 229, 10 - 19 August 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.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.01112024
South Coast Demersal Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 072, May 1989

The South Coast Demersal Hake Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 072 from 10 May to 29 May 1989. The objectives of the cruise were to survey by means of bottom-trawling the abundance of adult and recruiting hake, sole and other trawl target species; to make experimental bottom-trawls in deep water to collect deep-water specimens of fish and squid; to test the feasibility of an acoustic assessment of horse mackerel; 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; and to train Oceanographic Research Assistants.

(No DOI)
No Download
Processed Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) data collection from the International Indian Ocean Expedition 2 (IIOE2) cruise on SA Agulhas II Voyage 028, October 2017

This is processed Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data from the IIOE2 on SA Agulhas II Voyage 028 from October - November, 2017. 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. This dataset was processed using older standards which may not align with international best practices and the standards currently adhered to by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). The Department is re-processing and replacing data to ensure everything has the same format and is of the same quality and datasets will be marked as obsoleted once that is done. As such the user assumes the entire risk related to the use of these data in its current state and format. DFFE disclaims all warranties of the data...

DOI: 10.15493/dea.mims.26052258
Gough Island Relief on the SA Agulhas II Voyage 012, September 2014

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 60 team to the island and return with the Gough 59 team. The cruise was undertaken between 04 September 2014 and 9 October 2014 with full scientific complement.

(No DOI)
Raw CTD data from the South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean on Algoa Voyage 221, November 2015

This is raw Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data from the South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean on Algoa Voyage 221, 30 November to 14 December, 2015. SAMBA forms part of the South African component of the International South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation project (SAMOC-SA), which aims to characterise the time-mean and time-varying components of the SAMOC in the South Atlantic Ocean and monitor the variability of the main Southern Ocean frontal systems associated with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), south of Africa.

(No DOI)
Raw CTD data for the South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean on Algoa Voyage 210, September 2014

This is raw Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data for the South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Basin-wide Array (SAMBA) Monitoring Line in the South-East Atlantic Ocean on Algoa Voyage 210,15 to 29 September, 2014. This cruise had a primary scientific objective of extending the SAMBA mooring line, the offshore section of the Cape Point long-term monitoring line, and deploying the four offshore tall moorings.

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.30072024
West Coast Hake Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 088, January 1991

The West Coast Hake Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 088 from 07-29 January 1991. The objectives of the cruise were to survey by means of bottom trawling the abundance of 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 investigate the possible recovery of the stocks of West Coast Sole; to study the biology of chondrichthyan species; to collect material for the electrophoretic comparison of the southern African kingklip, Genypterus capensis, with the Australian G. blacodes and G. microstomus and the South American G. blacodes and G. chilensis; to investigate zooplankton scattering layers and their influence on the feeding behaviour and distribution of small hake; training of Oceanographic Research Assistants; to investigate the feasibility of using carbon and nitrogen isotopes for tracing hake diet; to obtain coverage of...

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.28042026
Processed CTD discrete observations from the Pelagic Fish Spawner Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 132, November 1995

Here we present processed Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) discrete data from the downcast collected between 13 November and 28 November 1995, during voyage 132 on the Africana, in the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) on the west coast of Southern Africa and 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.

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