AROUND 100 crates of sardines were netted on Scottburgh Beach at about lunchtime on Wednesday. A video uploaded by I Love Durban has already been shared 19 000 times with many suggesting the haul signaled the start of this year’s sardine run.

However, according to KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board head of operations, Mike Anderson-Reade, said it was a bit premature to say the run had started.

“It is highly likely that some, but not all of these, are sardines (pilchards). These shoals were not accompanied by the normal predator activity. The Sharks Board will be undertaking a flight tomorrow to see if any shoals can be seen further southwards. It is very generally difficult to try and predict the movement of these fish especially when they move in from deep offshore which we suspect was the case this morning. The next day or so should give us a better understanding of whether the netting this morning was a once off or a sign of more to come.

“Shark safety gear has been removed from Scottburgh, Umgababa and Karridene at this stage. All the other shark safety gear along the coast remains in place and beaches are open for bathing,” he said.

The sardine run occurs from May through July when billions of sardines spawn in the cool waters and move northward along the east coast of South Africa.

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