A survey with a fine-meshed midwater trawl in Prydz Bay in January/February 1991 indicated the potential for the shelf area of the Bay to be a nursery ground for nototheniid and channichthyid fish. Nearly all juvenile fish were caught in the top 50 m over the shelf, and more than 95% were Pleuragramma antarcticum. This species was abundant (up to 9 100 were caught in a 30 minute haul) especially near the shelf break. The dominant size class was of 45 mm standard length, which corresponds to an age of 1⁺. Nototheniids and channichthyid juveniles were much less common, and were found in the central and western parts of the shelf. Although no specific nursery grounds were identified, the whole of the Prydz Bay shelf area could be considered a nursery area.