EAF-Nansen Programme
9 February 2018
Since not much trawling has been done deeper than 200 meters off the eastern coast of South-Africa, one of the objectives for this survey was to trawl in the deeper areas. However, the waters here are quite challenging with one of the strongest currents, varying vertically in direction and speed (up to 6 knots), and strong winds often blowing in the opposite direction of the surface current. We were therefore only able to conduct 3 trawl stations deeper than 200 m. In total, 22 trawls have been done, from 20-511 m. The catches have mostly been quite small, particularly north of Richards Bay. Overall, catches have been dominated by anchovies (Engraulis), sand soldiers (Pagellus), greeneyes (Chlorophthalmus) and minikob (Johnius). The dominance of anchovies is perhaps surprising as mainly bottom trawls have been used, but these fish form very large shoals and most of them were caught in just two trawls. Few species of commercial interest have been caught, apart from prawns and langoustines on the deep water crustacean trawl grounds. In total 350 different species were caught in the bottom trawl hauls, of which 200 were various fish species. One of these are rarely caught, the sailfin velifer which was presented in an earlier post. We might also have caught a new species in the group called rover fishes (Emmelichthys sp.), but this remains to be confirmed. The fish is preserved and brought back to the South-African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity for further analysis. We also caught a shark which Oddgeir didn't have in his photo archive, the lined catchark (Halaelurus lineolatus). Antoher fish caused us some problems to identify, but in the end the taxonomy experts onboard did agree that is must be a blue and gold fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea).
Text: Sean Fennessy and Kathrine Michalsen,
Photo: trawl catch at 56 m, 198m and 186m - Kerry Sink
A possibly new species among the rover fishes (Emmelichthys sp.) - Oddgeir Alvheim
Blue and gold fusilier- Oddgeir Alvheim
Lined catshark - Oddgeir Alvheim
9 February 2018
Since not much trawling has been done deeper than 200 meters off the eastern coast of South-Africa, one of the objectives for this survey was to trawl in the deeper areas. However, the waters here are quite challenging with one of the strongest currents, varying vertically in direction and speed (up to 6 knots), and strong winds often blowing in the opposite direction of the surface current. We were therefore only able to conduct 3 trawl stations deeper than 200 m. In total, 22 trawls have been done, from 20-511 m. The catches have mostly been quite small, particularly north of Richards Bay. Overall, catches have been dominated by anchovies (Engraulis), sand soldiers (Pagellus), greeneyes (Chlorophthalmus) and minikob (Johnius). The dominance of anchovies is perhaps surprising as mainly bottom trawls have been used, but these fish form very large shoals and most of them were caught in just two trawls. Few species of commercial interest have been caught, apart from prawns and langoustines on the deep water crustacean trawl grounds. In total 350 different species were caught in the bottom trawl hauls, of which 200 were various fish species. One of these are rarely caught, the sailfin velifer which was presented in an earlier post. We might also have caught a new species in the group called rover fishes (Emmelichthys sp.), but this remains to be confirmed. The fish is preserved and brought back to the South-African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity for further analysis. We also caught a shark which Oddgeir didn't have in his photo archive, the lined catchark (Halaelurus lineolatus). Antoher fish caused us some problems to identify, but in the end the taxonomy experts onboard did agree that is must be a blue and gold fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea).
Text: Sean Fennessy and Kathrine Michalsen,
Photo: trawl catch at 56 m, 198m and 186m - Kerry Sink
A possibly new species among the rover fishes (Emmelichthys sp.) - Oddgeir Alvheim
Blue and gold fusilier- Oddgeir Alvheim
Lined catshark - Oddgeir Alvheim