Staff undertook the second sardine survey flight from Virginia Airport to East London earlier this week, and even though activity was fairly intense last week off the Waterfall Bluff area in the northern region of the Eastern Cape, it now seems to have subsided and disappeared. Very few signs of sardines or associated predators were evident.
Although a disappointment to the team, this type of “here today gone tomorrow” activity is a common scenario with the early smaller shoals of sardines. These fish may well have moved back southwards or further offshore. Waterfall Bluff is a well-known holding area for sardines and is situated about 55kms south of the KZN Eastern Cape border.
The activity noted further south was as expected with large concentrations of Cape gannets and dolphins seen feeding off Hole in the Wall, Dwesa Nature Reserve, Mazeppa Bay and Cintsa, which is just north of East London. Hole in the Wall about 140kms south of KZN.
The water clarity off the Eastern Cape Coast is extremely good at present with an estimated visibility of in excess of 25m. It is expected that the sardines will continue moving northwards, however, at the moment it’s not possible to speculate on their expected arrival date for the KZN coastline.
These fish are notorious for delivering surprises with their arrival on to the KZN coast, and the Sharks Board will continue to monitor the progress of the larger concentrations of sardines. Shark nets off Port Edward, to Strand and Leisure Bay remain out of the water, however drum lines are being baited as normal. Discretionary bathing remains in place.
KZN Sharks Board website – www.shark.co.za