WE TALK ABOUT
The annual sardine run
EVERY year, between May and July, the coast of KwaZulu-Natal buzzes with excitement during the annual sardine run.
During this period, billions of South African sardines spawn in the chilly waters of the Agulhas Bank and migrate northward to the warmer waters of KwaZulu-Natal.
This event is phenological, meaning it happens consistently at the same time every year.
It occurs along the coast stretching from the Cape Peninsula to Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape. This area is where the warm Indian Ocean meets the cold Atlantic Ocean, creating a nutrient-rich environment.
This migration is made up of massive schools of fish that can stretch over 7km long, 1,5km wide and 30m deep – attracting a diverse array of marine predators such as dolphins, sharks and birds
