MONITORING THE SOUTHERN BENGUELA ECOSYSTEM

The Environmental Research Vessel ‘Algoa’ departed Cape Town on the 22^nd of August for the Integrated Ecosystem Programme: Southern Benguela voyage. This scientific cruise is a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional platform aimed to ensure collaboration, enhance learning and develop an ecosystem indicator that can be used to effectively monitor and understand the physical, chemical, planktonic, microbial, seabird and benthic ecosystem indicators, used for ecosystem-based management in the Southern Benguela. During the voyage which was completed on the 31^st of August, the ‘Algoa’ operated in the shelf and slope regions off the west coast of South Africa, between Scarborough and Port Nolloth.

AMSOL provides a turn-key vessel management service to the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment; ensuring professional manning, maintenance and management of the ‘Algoa’ as well as the Antarctic Supply Vessel ‘SA Agulhas II’.