Durban beaches closed due to sardine run
Durban's main beaches have been closed, as it braces for the arrival of sardines and the predators that follow them.
The fish have already been netted at south coast beaches, as the annual sardine run works its way northwards along the province's coastline.
"The whole of Durban has been taken out. Nets at Ansteys and Brighton Beach on the Bluff and all the way south have also been removed. There is just so much activity with these fish that we can't afford to leave gear in the water and catch animals unnecessarily," he said.
Weather conditions and larger sea swells have meant little netting has taken place over the past few days, but shoals were already off Warner Beach near Amanzimtoti, south of the city yesterday.
Listen to the latest sardine update from Thursday, 21 June
"The whole of Durban has been taken out. Nets at Ansteys and Brighton Beach on the Bluff and all the way south have also been removed. There is just so much activity with these fish that we can't afford to leave gear in the water and catch animals unnecessarily," he said.
Anderson-Reade said earlier in the week that they expect sardines to reach the city by the weekend.
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eThekwini says the beaches will remain closed until after the sardine run.
The municipality says swimming has been banned at the city's southern and central beaches until further notice.Tourists flock to the beaches during the sardine run to watch fishermen netting the fish.
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