The South Coast Demersal Biomass Survey was conducted on the Africana Voyage 102 from 31 March to 21 April 1992. The objectives of the cruise were to conduct a random stratified bottom trawl survey to assess the biomass, abundance, and distribution of hake, sole, horse mackerel, squid and other trawl species; to investigate the hydrology and current profiles of the South Coast and to relate this to the distribution of the major demersal trawl species. This included five transects extending from specified areas on the South Coast and approximately perpendicular to the coastline outwards toward the main stream of the Agulhas Current; to survey acoustically the major squid spawning grounds to determine the extent of aggregation of squid shoals at the time of the year; to do a selected number of mid-water trawls to test for the abundance of kingklip and hake and other demersal species as close as possible to the bottom and in midwater over grounds normally inaccessible to bottom trawl gear; to conduct routine biological sampling of the main demersal species; to sample squid intensively to establish their distribution and abundance on the South Coast; to collect shells and other marine organisms for the Mossel Bay Museum; to obtain mature live sole for land-based experimental research and sole ovaries for histological analysis; to collect sharks and rays for the South African Museum; to sample for squid and other fish eggs and larvae using bongo nets; to collect and identify fish species as well as collect unusual specimens for taxonomic work; to do seal observations; and to collect the following specific material for land-based research: Snoek gut contents, Kob, Rocks, South Coast rock lobster, crabs, and any other unusual specimens, echinoderms, mackerel and myctophiids.