Pelagic Pre-Recruit Mesopelagic Biomass Survey on the Africana Voyage 101, March 1992

The Pelagic Pre-Recruit Mesopelagic Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 101 from 11-23 March 1992. The objectives of the cruise were to get an estimation of the biomass and population structure of pelagic pre-recruit fish off the West Coast by means of echo-integration and midwater trawling; to get an estimation of a pelagic pre-recruit biomass index using quantitative Methot trawls; to get an 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; to collect biological material for age, oil content, diet and condition studies on pelagic pre-recruits; to profile currents by means of the acoustic doppler current profiler; and to test the feasibility of using a towed transducer for the acoustic assessment of pelagic pre-recruits.