Sardine season best in 20 years

The 2021 Sardine Run has been one of the best – and longest – in recent times.

Pockets of the silver fish were reportedly netted in Durban during the mid August long weekend (Women’s Day) when the weather was cold.

This is generally regarded as being quite late in the season for sardines.

Greg Thompson Acting HOD/Operations said that, like the previous three years, 2021 had turned out to be a great run.

“The 2021 Sardine Run has possibly been one of the best runs in the last 20 years from a sardine bio-mass and netting point of view, with approximately 140 successful nettings to date,” said Thompson.

“This year the consistent waves of sardines entering KZN was most impressive, starting in the last week of May and continuing filtering through to the end of July.”

As a point of comparison, Thompson said the approximate number of nets taken in 2018 was 122, in 2019 it was 95, in 2020 it was 117 nets and this year it was 140 nets in total.

He said there were reports of sardines in the Scottburgh and Pennington area over the Women’s Day long weekend, and while the biggest concentration seems to have moved on, there’s always a possibility of odd netting still taking place.

Sardines were first spotted off the coast this year at Port Edward.

Dr Ryan Daly of the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban, South Africa, and the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity was just one of the experts following the movement.

“It’s been a good year. There’s was a lot of action on the South Coast with a lot of netting in the Pumula and Scottburgh areas,” said Daly.

The KZN Sharks Board (KZNSB) monitors sardine activity and removes or replaces KZNSB gear as required, ensuring safe bathing conditions throughout the season.

During this year’s bumper season, seine netters dodged hungry sharks to bring home the big catches.

“We are excited that, for a second year running, the KZN South Coast experienced a great Sardine Run,” said Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT) CEO, Phelisa Mangcu.

“With the country in hard lockdown last year, few were able to get to the beaches to experience the Sardine Run. It’s great that lowered restrictions this year have allowed more visitors to come and witness the exciting spectacle.”

Known as the #GreatestShoalOnEarth, the annual Sardine Run is one of the planet’s greatest biomass migrations.

The massive sardine shoal is accompanied by a variety of ocean predators including sharks, whales, dolphins and big game fish, while overhead gannets and other sea birds dive into the ocean getting their share.

Commercial fishermen flock to the beaches, using seine nets to encircle the fish that which then dragged ashore and, from there, scooped into baskets.

This social occasion also sees recreational anglers and other interested parties heading to the shores with baskets and nets to capture the fish, which are then used in meals or sold for bait.

Visitors can also get up-close to the action by scuba diving or free diving, with Aliwal Shoal (off Umkomaas) and Protea Banks (off Shelly Beach) considered two of the world’s best dive sites.

The Sardine Run is accompanied by the annual whale migration as the humpback and southern right whales head northwards towards Mozambique. These magnificent creatures can be spotted breaching from the seaside or from the many whale decks at Umtentweni Conservancy Whale Deck, Ramsgate Whale Deck, Impithi Beach Kiosk, and Umdoni Golf Club Whale Deck.

Those looking to enjoy a day at the beach can head to one of the many golden sandy beaches along the KZN South Coast – five of which are Blue Flag beaches at Marina, Trafalgar, Southport, Umzumbe and Hibberdene.

There are numerous rock pools to be explored, and the KZN South Coast is home to the most tidal pools in the province, offering protected bathing conditions.

In addition to the deep-see fishing opportunities, there’s great shore angling found here, with many rock-and-surf fishing spots along the shoreline.

But beyond angling, the unmatched conditions along these beaches make for great surfing, with international surfers attracted to Umzumbe, Shelly Beach, St Michael’s-on-Sea, Scottburgh, Southbroom, Margate, Port Edward and Lucien Beach.

Stand-up paddling, kayaking, windsurfing and snorkelling are also some of the other water-sports activities enjoyed here.

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