The KZN Sardine Run - An Annual Natural Wonder

the KZN sardine run AN ANNUAL NATURAL WONDER what are sardines?

Sardines are small silver fish that are also known as pilchards Sardinops sagax (Family: Clupeidae)

They filter feed by straining tiny plants and animals (plankton) from the water using their gill rakers.

They mature at 20 to 22 cm at an age of 2-3 years.

Most do not live longer than 4 years.

They are fast growing fish, growing 0.6mm per day!

The females produce many thousands of eggs.

WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? Sardines make up a high Most people know sardines percentage of the world's fish catch. as tinned pilchards!

Sardines (and anchovies) comprise the main catch of the South African pelagic purse-seine fishery.

Sardine is the most popular bait used by recreational anglers in South Africa.

1

Most of the sardines landed are canned for human and pet consumption.

WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? Catches fluctuate widely but have been decreasing.

From an average annual catch of 232 000 tons during the early 2000s, catches have declined to 12 000 tons in 2019.

The fishery supports thousands of jobs and sustains many coastal communities mainly in the Western Cape.

South Africa

WC

WHERE are our sardines found?

They form huge shoals in the upper layers of the ocean.

Sardines primarily spawn on the Agulhas Banks off the Southern Cape Coast.

Sardines are associated with cold upwelling of nutrient rich water that occurs in shallow coastal areas.

South Africa

Agulhas Bank

The larvae move northwards up the West Coast.

South Africa

South Africa

Sardine larvae move northwards Agulhas Bank Adults return to spawn

2

WHAT IS THE KZN SARDINE RUN? Adults of the eastern stock migrate annually northwards up the east coast of southern Africa in a narrow band of cooler water that exists between the coast and the warm Agulhas Current.

Occurs primarily in the winter months of June and July.

They spawn inshore in KZN until spring.

South Africa

Agulhas Current

Eggs and larvae are dispersed southwards.

Seine netters travel up and down the coast in search sardine shoals.

Up to 600 tons are netted each year in beach-seine nets along the KZN coast during the annual sardine run.

Dive operators, fishing charters, hotels and accommodation facilities along the KZN and the Eastern Cape coast rely on the sardine season for tourism during the winter months.

Fishermen flock to the beaches following the sardines in search of gamefish – the related expenditure on tackle, bait, accommodation and food are a boost to the local economy.

People of all shapes and sizes gather sardines with anything that holds a few fish – buckets, shirts, skirts, hats – anything goes!

3

Where do they go after the RUN? It is believed that the remaining sardines move oshore into deeper water and may gradually move southwards.

South Africa

?

Agulhas Current

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT ecologically?

Copper, blacktip, dusky and spinner sharks join gameďŹ sh such as geelbek, shad and garrick, dolphins, seals, gannets, cormorants and the occasional penguin all accompany the shoals.

Up to 100 000 gannets may follow the shoals.

Thousands of common dolphins may follow the sardines.

Brydes and humpback whales also join the feast.

Watch the video https://youtu.be/I43YyFaf2Dc

4