No new sardine mortality reports, investigations continue: DFFE

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) reports they have received no additional sardine mortality reports, as investigations into the widespread incidents continue. Thousands of sardines washed ashore on South Africa's West Coast in late July, leading to testing. The presence of pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) was confirmed in the deceased fish.

Departmental spokesperson Zolile Nqayi stated that the reports subsequently extended to include Gqeberha by the end of August, East London, and the northern Wild Coast, including the region between Port St Johns and Mbotyi Beach in KwaZulu-Natal by the beginning of the month. Nqayi noted that similar strandings were reported in Namibia at Walvis Bay's Langstrand, Swakopmund, and Henties Bay, but these could not be conclusively linked to the South African event until laboratory comparisons were completed. He emphasized that monitoring is ongoing and the situation remains unresolved.