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 important trawl caught species; to sample squid to establish their distribution, abundance, biomass and biology prior to the main fishing season (jig fishery); to study the biology of kob; to study the fecundity and batch spawning of sole and hake and finally to conduct routine biological sampling of the main demersal species and to train junior ORA and technical staff.