The eThekwini Municipality announced on Monday, 2 June, that the public was now banned from swimming on certain Durban beaches.
As reported by the The Witness, this was due to a decision to remove shark nets at these Durban beaches because of the annual sardine run which is currently underway.
“The public is advised that swimming is prohibited at all southern beaches from today, 02 June 2025 until further notice. This is due to the removal of shark nets for the sardine run,” eThekwini Municipality said on their Facebook page.
The sardine run begins
The sardine run officially kicked off on Saturday, 31 May, after the first shoal was netted in Port Edward, along Durban’s south coast. And sardines weren’t the only fish caught in the nets.
According to TimesLive, a whopping 17 bronze whaler or copper sharks were also caught in one net, proving just how dangerous the waters are for swimmers.
The famous sardine run, also known as ‘The Greatest Shoal on Earth’, is an annual event in South Africa where millions of sardines migrate along the east coast, particularly in the KwaZulu-Natal region, during the winter months.
This migration draws a wide array of predators, including sharks, dolphins, whales, birds, and game fish, creating a spectacular display of marine wildlife. It’s a sight to behold!
Have you spotted sardines before?
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