Sardines spotted off Port Edward coast

Sardines have been spotted at Port Edward on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, and are expected to make their way to the Durban coastline.

Last week, large concentrations of sardines were seen off the Eastern Cape Coast between East London and Mazeppa Bay, during winter colder sea temperatures schools of sardines move from the Agulhas Bank at the Southern Cape up the coast to KwaZulu-Natal.

In KwaZulu-Natal’s shallower waters it culminates in the well known sardine run.

Local fishing expert Adam Kamder says although the sardine fever is running high, fisher folk are fearing the lockdown regulations may dampen their spirits.

Kamder says, “ At the moment the sardines are just off Port Edward. We are not sure how the sardine run is actually going to pan out because of the regulations and the restrictions placed on netters, so we are still waiting for clarity…”

“I spoke to netters yesterday, they have the license to net and they have a limited number of pullers they can take to assist them but we don’t know when they catch the sardine, how will they distribute them and how will they sell to the public as before. This lockdown is affecting everyone economically, especially the recreational fishermen,” added Kamder.