SARDINE SQUEEZE: DFFE limits catches to 25% while fish die-off impact uncertain
Sardine fishing will be limited to 25% of the remaining 2026 quotas until 2 October, as scientists assess the impact of a mass die-off linked to pilchard herpesvirus. The loss of a key food source has raised concerns for Algoa Bay’s already depleted African penguin colonies.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has imposed a temporary catch limit of 25% on sardine fishing along South Africa's coast until October. The decision follows a mass die-off linked to the pilchard herpesvirus (PHV), which has alarmed conservationists and the fishing industry due to its potential impact on Algoa Bay's African penguin colonies.
The investigation into the cause and extent of the mortality is ongoing, with samples tested from various locations along the southern coastline. While the department's scientific working group could not conclusively determine the virus's reach or origin, PHV is believed to be the primary cause.
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