Cape Town – The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment says it has received no further reports of dead or dying sardines since the isolated fresh wash-up near Mbotyi on the northern Wild Coast on 10 September 2026.
“The absence of further reports indicates that the acute phase of the mortality event has ended,” the department said in a statement on Sunday, 4 October 2026.
“Monitoring and reporting arrangements nevertheless remain in place because further occurrences cannot yet be ruled out.
“Coastal authorities, fishers and members of the public are encouraged to report any new sightings promptly.”
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The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity has confirmed pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) in a sardine sample collected from the beach at Port St Johns on 1 September 2026.
This extends confirmed PHV occurrence in mortality-associated fish to the northern Wild Coast.
“Laboratory and epidemiological investigations are continuing to improve understanding of the cause of the mortalities, the distribution and possible origin of the virus, and the possible contribution of oceanographic or other environmental conditions,” the department said.
“PHV remains the leading biological factor associated with the event, but important questions about its prevalence, timing and origin remain unresolved.”
The department said preparations for the planned end-of-year hydroacoustic survey were continuing.
The survey will provide the first fisheries-independent estimate of sardine biomass and distribution following the mortality event.
“Monitoring of possible effects on sardine-dependent predators and other components of the marine ecosystem is also continuing under the coordinated response plan,” the department said.
“PHV is a fish virus and is not known to infect people. Commercially produced sardine products released through regulated channels remain safe.
“Members of the public should nevertheless not collect or consume dead or dying sardines found on beaches or floating near the shore, feed them to animals, or use them as bait.”
