DFFE: Sardine Mortality Fishing Restrictions Maintained Until October 2

• The DFFE's temporary sardine fishing restrictions, implemented September 11, remain in effect until October 2 following a sardine mortality event.
• Fishing right holders are limited to landing 25% of their outstanding 2026 directed sardine total allowable catch under the current measure.
• Pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) genetic material was found in sampled sardines, but its role in the deaths is still under investigation.
• No widespread renewed sardine deaths have been reported, and commercially produced sardine products are deemed safe.
• The DFFE continues monitoring and scientific work, with additional KZN samples expected to clarify PHV's regional spread.

Under the current DFFE temporary precautionary measure, fishing right holders are permitted to land a maximum of 25% of their outstanding 2026 directed sardine total allowable catch.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has maintained a temporary precautionary measure, initially implemented on September 11, to address a recent sardine mortality event. This restriction is slated to remain active until October 2. Despite the ongoing measure, there have been no further widespread reports of sardine deaths, with the exception of a single, isolated stranding of fresh sardines observed near Mbotyi on the northern Wild Coast during the past week.

This regulatory action follows a significant increase in sardine mortalities along South Africa's coastline, first noted in July. Authorities are actively investigating the precise causes behind this sharp rise in deaths. The DFFE's continued vigilance underscores the seriousness with which it is approaching the ecological implications of these events, even as the immediate crisis appears to have subsided from its peak.

Under the current DFFE temporary precautionary measure, fishing right holders are permitted to land a maximum of 25% of their outstanding 2026 directed sardine total allowable catch (TAC). This limitation applies broadly across fishing zones, both west and east of Cape Agulhas, while scientific assessments and monitoring efforts continue. The department clarified that a complete cessation of fishing was not deemed necessary, as available data did not suggest the mortality event had sufficiently depleted the sardine population to warrant such a drastic step.

The DFFE has characterized this intervention as both precautionary and time-limited, indicating a potential for earlier review should environmental conditions deteriorate. Practical fishing operations have also been impacted by external factors; industry reports confirm that strong winds have recently prevented fishing activities west of Cape Agulhas, and adverse weather conditions similarly constrained opportunities in Algoa Bay. Consequently, only a single sardine catch, totaling 26 tonnes, has been recorded since the beginning of September, highlighting the combined effect of regulation and environmental challenges on the South Africa sardine quota.

A central component of the ongoing investigation into the sardine mortality involves the detection of pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) genetic material in sampled sardines through laboratory sequencing. This finding is particularly noteworthy as PHV has not been previously documented in South African sardine populations. However, the exact role of this virus in the recent mortality event remains a subject of intense scientific scrutiny, with officials working to determine its causal link.

Further complicating the picture, earlier samples collected from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) tested negative for PHV, though only a limited number were analyzed. The DFFE anticipates receiving additional samples from the region, which are crucial for establishing whether this negative result is consistent across a broader population. Should these subsequent tests also yield negative results, it would lend support, though not definitive proof, to the hypothesis that the mortality event did not extend into KZN, aligning with observations that the mortality front concluded before reaching the province. Similar sardine strandings have also been observed in Namibia, prompting broader regional interest in the phenomenon.

While the DFFE continues its comprehensive investigation into the sardine mortality, there have been no confirmed adverse effects on sardine-dependent seabirds or marine mammals. This suggests that, at present, the ecological impact on other marine species reliant on sardines has not been widely observed or verified.

Furthermore, the department has reassured the public that commercially produced sardine products, which are distributed through regulated channels, remain entirely safe for consumption. This clarification aims to mitigate any public health concerns arising from the mortality event, ensuring confidence in the safety of marine resources regulation South Africa. The ongoing monitoring and the temporary fishing restrictions underscore the DFFE's commitment to managing the health of marine ecosystems and the sustainability of the South Africa sardine quota.

Lawyers advising clients in the South African fishing industry must monitor the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's (DFFE) ongoing temporary sardine fishing restrictions and the investigation into sardine mortality, as these could lead to further regulatory changes or impact quota allocations. Compliance officers in affected companies need to ensure strict adherence to the current reduced quotas to avoid penalties.

Source: Original reporting via Moneyweb