The sards have finally arrived!
Last weekend, shoals of the popular silver fish were spotted at numerous beaches on the South Coast with netting at Ifafa and Mtwalume on Sunday.
After the first successful netting at Ifafa, sardines were brought to Park Rynie and sold for R1 300 per crate (later dropped to R500 in the afternoon) and R50 a dozen.
There were also reports of sardines washing out in Kelso.
On Monday this week, Scottburgh caught a bit of the action with some successful nettings too.
“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,” explained Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (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.”
What made the start of this year’s run more exciting, is that it came just after the area celebrated World Oceans Day, through the first-ever Ocean Festival in Scottburgh. Visitors enjoyed a four-day festival that included beach, river, and reef clean-ups; the Ocean Festival Coastal MTB Social Ride; Cutty Sark Pro presented by SMTH Shapes surfing contest; Made for More Surf Contest; the Leatherback Rum Surfski Challenge and live music featuring Qadasi and Maqhinga.
To keep yourself updated on all the Sardine Run action, visit South Coast Tourism on Facebook; South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise on YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram and South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise on LinkedIn. Follow the hashtags #greatestshoalonearth #sardinerun #sardinerun2023 #kznsouthcoast #extendyourstay #seakznsouthcoast.
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