Sardine Run 2019
-Naadiya Adams
Kwa-Zulu Natal is on the hunt for those much-loved sardines during the sardine season.
If you’re not accustomed to life on the coast, a sardine run may be somewhat unheard of to you, but for residents in Kwa-Zulu Natal a sardine run is one of the most highly anticipated natural events of the year.
It occurs annually when the fish migrate from the Agulhas area up to the East Coast. According to Adam Kamder, a fishing expert, its an amazing experience that draws in both local and international guests, its particularly popular among Japanese tourists who bring along high-tech camera equipment to get those beautiful migration shots.
Sardines generally prefer water temperatures between 13 to 22 degrees Celsius and as with many animals when temperatures drop, sardines begin their migration
“Our KZN waters are usually above 22 degrees but in winter when it drops below 22 that’s when we find the sardines coming up and following those cold water channels.”
According to Kamder, Sardines are not meaty fish but it’s got a unique taste which makes the phenomenon one that many look forward to.
“We love waiting for the annual Sardine run just to get a taste of that fried sardine in our diet,” says Kamder.
The shoals make for spectacular viewing from the shoreline, it creates a huge frenzy as the sardines come with thousands of birds, dolphins, and sharks. The KZN shark board is on high alert during this period, as shoals have been seen recently in the Transkei area. They are expected to be moving through Durban’s coastline soon.
According to Kamder, nettings have been out for about two weeks now.
“What we are enjoying is basically the pilot shoals that have come up and they’ve come close enough for the netters to reach and they’ve been netting over the last two weeks quite regularly.”
Sardines measure up to 25 cm in length and live for 6 to 8 years, they tend to follow the same channels every year and netters are able to identify where the shoals are heading.
“This year the first nets landed in Port Edward on the 31st of May. Then they netted a few days later on Phumula, they followed the progress up to Winkelspruit and Warner Beach which are seemingly the hotspot at the moment. They were also spotted in Isipingo beach,” explained Kamder.
The sardine run is not only a highlight for locals but also a major boost for the KZN Tourism industry.
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