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The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is satisfied with the progress of the West Coast Demersal Survey, currently being undertaken with the assistance of the R.S. Dr Fridtjof Nansen, and the Benguela Current Commission.

With Chief Scientist and cruise leader, Oddigeir Alvheim, at the helm, and a number of DAFF scientists on board, the Nansen started her research-cruise from Cape Town Harbour on the 15th of January and is expected to dock in Walvis Bay on Thursday morning (14 February 2012) after completing the survey.

The objective of this important survey is primarily to survey the hake resource (Merluccius capensis and Merluccius paradoxus) and to evaluate the status of the hake stocks relative to previous years. Biological sampling will also be done to survey amongst others its growth and reproductive cycles.

During this survey, information on various by-catch species including kingklip (Genypterus capensis), monkfish (Lophius vomerinus), sole (Argyrosomus inodorus), squid (Loligo reynaudii) will also be collected.

The data collected during this survey will then inform the Operational Management Procedure (OMP) for hake and will, as a result, be used to determine the total allowable catch for the next hake season and will satisfy the requirements of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for science-based decision-making in managing the hake resources, and thus ensure continued certification of South African hake by the MSC.

Due to the unavailability of the SAS Africana to complete this year’s West Coast Hake Abundance Estimate Survey, and as advised by an international panel of fisheries stock assessment experts in November last year, DAFF has commissioned an industry vessel, the FV Andromeda, to start a new time series for this survey in 2013.

The results of this survey will only be used to start this new time series and will not be used immediately to inform the OMP for hake.

The Andromeda will depart this afternoon (Tuesday, 12 February 2012) for the 35-day cruise with DAFF scientists on board.