SPECIES COMPOSITION AND ICHTHYOPLANKTON NUMERICAL ABUNDANCE IN THE NAMIBIA SHELF WATER IN 1988-1989

The ichthyoplankton was collected on the Namibia shelf in the Benguela upwelling region in 1988-1989. These investigations were a continuati on of the studies which began in 1987 - 1988. Analysing the obtained d ata one can conclude that spawning period lasts for several months and some species, for example Merluccius capensis, reproduces for all yea r round. The spawning duration of the same species can be different de pending on the region. So, eggs and larvae of Trachurus trachurus cape nsis were in the northern part of the shelf for 9 months and in the ce ntral part - for 5 months. All mass species had periods of most intens ive reproduction. It could be seen from the existence of season pick o f numerical ichthyoplankton abundance which could be in summer or in w inter season. Summer spawning pick was noticed for T. trachurus capens is, Merluccius capensis, Sardinops ocellata, winter spawning pick was noticed for Lampanyctodes hectoris, Maurolicus muelleri and for M. cap ensis, which reproduced in the central part. The existence of seasonal variability of reproduction seems to adaptate to seasonal fluctuation of upwelling activity.