WAYNE HARRISON – Area Operations Manager at KZN Sharks Board.
An upbeat Harrison says this year’s Sardine Run has been spectacular so far.
“The currents and conditions were ideal for the arrival of the sardines. Everything lined up for them to pitch.”
Harrison points out that if the surf hadn’t been so rough it would have been a brilliant start.
“If we didn’t have have the 2.5m to 3m waves it would have been a phenomenal Sardine Run on a different level.”
Harrison said the phenomenon is brilliant for tourism, for visitors and locals, and it doesn’t cost a thing to see the show.
“Where is the world can anyone view this kind of marine life spectacle (sardines and sharks) from the beach?”
Harrison added the way netters released the sharks caught in the nets, was a positive for conservation.
“Sharks are around, one just doesn’t see them. This year they have been seen in great numbers as they have been ‘on the money’ with the fish, especially in the mornings. By the afternoon, they are full of fish and out of action.”
Harrison said the show is far from over, with months of marine viewing still to come.
The bottle nose and common dolphins are expected to make a grand appearance followed by the whales who migrate up the coastline next month late into October.
ANDY COETZEE – Published author, National Geographic presenter, free diver and films marine wildlife.
Coetzee has been closely following this year’s run, and so far, has some exceptional footage of the experience.
He said the sardines are early this year, but not by much, maybe a week to 10 days which is a normal variance in nature.
Coetzee said the shoals are bigger than last year, and the year before, even some 10 years ago.
“Also, a noticeable difference is that the fish are bigger in size than the juvenile fish caught last year. Not sure why, but they are. Lots of sharks around, but very few edible fish (like salmon) are around.”
Another interesting point that Coetzee made is that sardines don’t normally come close to shore in the Transkei. They are normally first seen in Port Elizabeth,
Gqeberha and East London, but never washed ashore in the Transkei. However, this year they came very close to shore, and people caught them at Hole in the Wall, Mdumbi and Coffee Bay.
“Generally sardines come ashore on the Natal South Coast and people net them, but not on the Wild Coast.”
JOHN MILLER – Pioneer in shark cage diving and a diving specialist with more than 25 years at Aliwal Shoal.
Miller who is no stranger to Sardine Runs, remembers sharks activity (like we are seeing) in the early 1980s and 1990s.
He said it’s awesome to see the change in attitude towards the ocean’s predators.
“Previously sharks trapped in the nets would have been either killed or left to die. But last weekend, we saw the netters trying their utmost best to get the sharks (copper/bronze whaler and dusky) back into the water.”
Speaking about the spin-offs of the run, Miller said dive operators have seen a worrying shift in the tourism industry in the last two to three years.
“We are not getting tourists flocking to see the Sardine Run like previous years. They are rather opting to go to Cape Town, or money is tight. We are concerned about it,” he said.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
