No sight of sardines off KZN coast

THE KZN Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence (KZNSB) undertook an observation flight earlier this week to try and determine where the shoals of sardines that are normally near to or off the KZN coast by July each year are. 

According to Head of Operations at KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence, Mike Anderson-Reade, unfortunately no sardines or associated predators were seen.

“The KZNSB’s interest in monitoring the annual sardine run lies in ensuring that the shark safety gear in place off protected beaches is managed ahead of the movement of the fish. This is necessary to minimise captures of sharks and other predators that follow these shoals in vast numbers. The Province of KwaZulu-Natal is blessed with relatively mild winters and warm sea temperatures and as a result many visitors flock to KZN at this time of the year,” he said.

Anderson-Reade said the KZNSB attempts to keep bathing open at the protected beaches for as long as is practically possible to accommodate both local beach user groups and visitors to the province. This however can be a difficult task due to the unpredictability of the movement of the sardine shoals.

“To date KZN Sharks Board staff have not seen any confirmed shoals of sardines off the KZN coast however this may change at any time. Sardine shoals have arrived off KZN as late as in August on a few occasions in past years and we shall have to wait and see what the weeks ahead bring,” he said.

All shark safety gear remains in place at the 37 protected beaches along the KZN coastline and the KZNSB will continue to monitor activity in the days ahead.