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Did you know this about the Sardine run?

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The annual Sardine run begins it’s ‘life’ in the Agulhas Banks south-east of Port Elizabeth before making it’s way up to Kwazulu-Natal to be scooped up in buckets in the surf.

From February onwards sardines come into the area between Cape St Francis and Port Alfred, followed by thousands of dolphins, sharks, whales, gannets and penguins.

From May onwards, when the first winter storms hit, these fish then begin to move north towards Durban. The almost 1000 km long swim to Kwa-Zulu Natal takes them until June and July.

Now scientists are trying to prove that the sardines that appear on the KwaZulu-Natal coastline are a different population group in the hope to pressure government to provide them better protection.

There is a belief that time is running out with research revealing that with each passing season the annual sardine run is becoming less predictable.

It is unclear why, but over-fishing of the commodity before it reaches our coastline is believed to be a contributing factor.

Last week a pilot shoal landed in Margate, but recent rough seas may have dashed any hope of another shoal being spotted any time soon.

The shoal moves up the East Coast generally when water temperatures drop during winter, beginning their trek at the Agulhas banks south-east of Port Elizabeth. The main batch heads up the West Coast while a smaller group, just two to five percent of the entire South African population, come to KZN.

KZN Sharks Board operations head Mike Anderson-Reade admitted another poor season could be problematic with the last two years having been lacklustre.

“Last year was the first time I did not handle a sardine in my career. If we have three bad cycles then we possibly have a reason to be concerned.

“It is important. It is nature’s bounty. Very little is for free yet these fish provide good protein. It is a special event,” said Anderson-Reade

Dr Allan Connell, a South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity honorary research associate who has been collecting sardine eggs for 25 years at Park Rynie, said his data has revealed that the last 12 years have been less “predictable than the first 12 years”.

Connell takes samples weekly, sometimes daily, which includes 226 separate species on eggs and early larvae of fishes spawning pelagic eggs.

“The first half of my data in relation to sardines was stable and predictable, the second half not so.”

Connell said they are trying to prove that sardines spawned on the KZN coast return every year for their approximate five year life cycle. To do this they are peering into the otolith (ear bone) for their study. The study is currently focused on juveniles of about 10-15 mm, with larger sardines expected to be part of a later study. “Our first study has shown that the chemistry of the otolith is different in the Natal Sardine to the West Coast Sardine.”

He said they are waiting to complete two more studies.

“One batch in research is not conclusive enough to convince statisticians.

“But because the sardine runs have been wobbly, the chances are less that we will find juveniles.”

He said if their research was conclusive and proved the KZN sardine was a different population to that of the West Coast sardine, it could be used to tighten up fishing controls.

“Without the science it will be difficult to convince the politicians on the need to better manage the sardines”.

Justin Mackrory, CEO of South Coast Tourism, said the annual sardine run, nicknamed “The Greatest Shoal on Earth”, helped contribute to the about R500 million economic injection into the region during winter.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) was approached for comment but was unable to provide a response at the time of going to press

Jonathan Erasmus, The Witness

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.