Durban beaches closed due to sardine run

The fish have already been netted at south coast beaches, as the annual sardine run works its way northwards along the province's coastline.

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 KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board's Mike Anderson-Reade says all shark safety gear has been removed from Durban's beaches.

"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.

NOW READ: Sardine frenzy off KZN south coast

All nets from Durban to Port Edward on the province's extreme south coast have been pulled from the water.

eThekwini says the beaches will remain closed until after the sardine run.

Watch: Shark caught in Durban

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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