Sardine mass-mortality spurs coast-to-coast investigations

South African authorities are investigating widespread sardine mortalities along the Western and Eastern Capes, including Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Bakoven near Cape Town, and Tsitsikamma, with reports of masses washing ashore and in harbors. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment says pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) has been detected in tested dead sardines and is the leading explanation for the die-offs, though officials confirm testing is ongoing to confirm links between incidents. PHV has been identified in sardines off South Africa for the first time, and scientists are examining other contributing factors such as harmful algae, cold water, or low oxygen, while some declines are already observed in the Western Cape. Observers note that PHV poses no known risk to human health, although public advisories caution against consuming washed-up fish. Samples are being collected for further testing, including international cooperation with Namibian authorities providing samples for PHV testing. Officials emphasize the need for continued monitoring as the source and scope of mortality events are studied, with activity also noted at Koeberg’s cooling-water intake basin and other coastal sites.