NATIONAL NEWS - Scottburgh fisherman Demetree Stimatus has been following the sardines his entire life.

This weekend alone he netted four nets, which are around 60 baskets per net, in Elysium and Scottburgh beaches.

The Scottburgh fisherman, who usually travels far and wide along the KwaZulu-Natal coast in search of the sardines, said he was lucky to net loads of them at his “home beach”.

The “sardine run”, consisting of millions of individual sardines, occurs when a current of cold water heads north from the Agulhas Bank up to Mozambique where it then leaves the coastline and goes further east into the Indian Ocean.

The South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) said the sardine run gives KZN South Coast visitors front-row seats to all the marine action, from the Blue Flag beaches, world-class dive sites, as well as marine and aircraft facilities.

“We’re so excited to welcome the sardine run to the KZN South Coast, a hugely anticipated natural phenomenon that always arrives in its own time,” said Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of SCTIE.

This is a bucket-list event for divers, anglers, and ocean lovers, with sightings of the migrating humpback whales also a real treat. While there are many ways to view the sardine run, we do advise bathers that the shark nets have to be lifted for their safe movements, making it vital to check with lifeguards on duty as to which beaches are open for bathing.

Reports indicate that sardine-run action has been noted along the Eastern Cape the past couple of weeks, with the pilot shoal making an appearance on the KZN South Coast on Friday, June 9.

Sharks board

Wayne Harrison, acting head of operations at KZN Sharks Board, said they were notified of underwater sardine activity at Glenmore on the lower KZN South Coast at 6.30 am.

“On the echo sounder they were showing large masses going through but very low down on the sand bypassing Glenmore,” explained Harrison.

There was also an increase in bait fish at Port Edward near the lighthouse, heading north. We couldn’t track them any further north around the Margate and Uvongo areas.

On Sunday, Harrison said the fish started appearing just south of Pumula and attempts to net there and Hibberdene were unsuccessful: “At Umfazazane the whole area was covered with sardines but nobody was able to net there, but by the time the fish got to Elysium, three nets were made, ranging from 60 to 80 crates per net.”

He said the bulk of sardine action was along East London to Kei Mouth, with fish coming closer inshore.

“If things materialise, it could be quite some season!”

Stimatus said on Sunday the sardines were moving towards Durban. However, on Monday it seemed they were moving towards the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.

Article: Caton Publication, The Citizen 

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