THE shimmering shoal of sardines swims along the Cape Agulhas up to the Sapphire Coast’s stretch of the sea every year around June and July. The ‘sardine run’ causes frenzy among excited beachgoers, domestic and international tourists, as well as marine life and birds, all of whom are vying for the perfect catch.

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The sardine run has become a staple on the calendars of tourists and locals alike, making it one of the biggest tourist spectacles on the South Coast.

Romy Wenzel, of Sapphire Coast Tourism, encourages visitors from far and wide to experience the sardine run.

“A big benefit from the shoal is that the underwater world tends to be far busier, with bigger predators following its migration. Some operators within the diving industry offer special packages including diving, accommodation, meals and transport for visitors to experience the sardine run. The local economy benefits greatly from the netting that takes place along the shores, as domestic visitors will decide to watch the action on a short notice basis as one never knows when the sardines will be close enough to shore, which can lead to accommodation bookings and a big boost in tourist activity,” said Wenzel.

She advised spectators to give way when boat launches or beaching takes place to avoid getting injured. She further encourages those interested in the sardine run to follow local media and municipal channels to get updates on bathing areas during the sardine run, as they will be temporarily closed if and when sardines are spotted and netting takes place.

The KZN Sharks Board removes the shark nets when the shoal is approaching, and sharks tend to move close to shore, following the shoal.

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“The birding life is absolutely amazing during the sardine run as birds constantly dive in and out the water to catch the sardines. It is breathtaking and beautiful to watch with amazing bird sounds to be heard and enjoyed. It is definitely something for avid birders to see and experience,” said Wenzel.

Wayne Harrison of the KZN Sharks Board said that around May 17 a considerable amount of fish passed by East London, but it is not certain if these were sardines. It came in around Haga Haga through Morgan Bay, around the Wild Coast.

“On May 18 there were gannets diving into the water to catch fish. On May 19, several common dolphins went past Morgan Bay around a kilometre of shore. The sardines are believed to have passed Transkei headed up north. On May 21, due to strong winds, gannets are flying north in their numbers off the coast of Port St Johns. We just have to wait and see now what the cold front will bring, as things could continue moving further north,” he said.

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