An updated trophic model of the southern Benguela ecosystem in the period 2004−2008 was constructed, complementing trophic models for earlier periods. The model represents the trophic structure of the system after a southward shift of major resources. There was an increase in biomass of small pelagic fish and cephalopods between the 1980s and 2004-2008 periods, accompanied by declines in several higher trophic level groups. A 3 step process was followed: (1) a series of snapshots of the ecosystem was used to explore changes in the food web structure over time, (2) trophic indicators were extracted from these models to detect changes, and (3) model-derived ecological indicators which were deemed most meaningful for management within the ecosystem were selected for use in decision trees, providing a logical framework in which to access synthesised information on trends in ecosystem status as a result of fishing. Three decision trees were developed which examined the ecosystem at the community level (pelagiccaught fish and demersal-caught fish community decision trees) and at the system level (ecosystem decision tree).

Vertical distributions of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus and sardine Sardinops sagax eggs and larvae within the upper 50 m of the water column on the eastern Agulhas Bank, South Africa, were examined using discrete depth samples collected with a multiple, opening/closing plankton net. Eggs and larvae of sardine and anchovy had significantly different vertical distributions with eggs closer to the surface and larvae deeper for both species. Eggs of both anchovy and sardine were concentrated near the surface, but their vertical distribution patterns differed significantly with sardine eggs being generally closer to the surface than anchovy eggs. Early-and late-stage anchovy eggs were mainly near the surface, but had significantly different depth distributions, whereas most middle-stage eggs were at depth. This high, near-surface abundance of early-stage anchovy eggs on the eastern Agulhas Bank differs from observations made on the western Agulhas Bank, indicating that anchovy spawn at shallower depths on the eastern Bank. There were significant differences between the vertical distributions of small (<7 mm standard length; SL) and large (≥7 mm SL) anchovy larvae, suggesting that the larger larvae exhibit vertical migratory behaviour.