Shad Run vs Sardine Run
Shad Run vs. Sardine Run: The clear lack of shad in numbers this year and last raises questions about the health of our beloved shad community. Have we done it again? Cleaned them all out like we did in the 70s?
By Sean – Reporting from Mdumbi, Wild Coast
The 2025 sardine run has blown us all away with its scale and duration. Starting unusually early in May and extending into mid-July (and still on at the time of writing), so many shoals of sardines have passed through the Wild Coast and up along KwaZulu-Natal, invigorating local communities and ecosystems. Mdumbi continues to see active migration, while netting has remained consistent as far north as Amanzimtoti and Durban’s other southern beaches. Highly popular beaches for sardines each year.
From crazy bait balls offshore to gannets and dolphins arranging feeding frenzies, this marine spectacle has been vibrant and sustained. For many in the coastal belt, this run is the most abundant in recent memory — a powerful symbol of nature’s cycles when left relatively undisturbed.
Our sardine communities are in good health. And this is according to Garry Hook, who has been chasing and catching sardines his entire life. Garry and The Sardine News team have been working closely together recently and we have a sardine surprise coming your way soon!
The Sardine Run: Migration, Magnitude, Meaning
The sardine run is not merely seasonal — it is ecological choreography. Sardinops sagax migrate from colder Cape waters into the nutrient-rich zones of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal coastline each year at almost exactly the same time. The run is kicked off by sardine interactions with the currents. Mainly the Agulhas and its counter c.urrent. Their movement catalyses marine activity across multiple trophic levels, supporting predators, fishers, and communities dependent on oceanic abundance.
This year’s arrival — observed as early as late May and intensifying in June — delivered big time. Everybody has had an absolute blast so far.
But its dangerous business – these nets, ropes, land cruisers – and people all around. Crew and crowd. Big strain is put on the equipment and accidents happen. This year has been no different with at least one sardine team operator landing up in hospital.
From Ezimvelo to DAFF: Another Questionable Shift in Coastal Oversight
Under the Zuma administration, a controversial change stripped Ezimvelo KZN Wildlife of its beach policing mandate, transferring responsibilities to DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries). Ezimvelo, with its extensive field experience and local presence, had become a trusted fixture in coastal management.
DAFF’s replacement agents, by contrast, were ill-equipped. Numerous reports cite species misidentification — such as mistaking karanteen for shad — as well as erroneous arrests and enforcement targeting higher-income areas while neglecting subsistence-heavy zones. The reduction in trained personnel and inconsistent patrols left a vacuum in coastal protection.
This shift coincided with a noticeable uptick in illegal and unregulated fishing activities. In particular, shad (Pomatomus saltatrix), which are vulnerable during spawning aggregations and subject to catch limits, became increasingly depleted.
Shad Depletion Amidst Sardine Abundance
Despite the sardine run’s robust scale in 2025, shad populations have not seen a commensurate recovery this season. Instead, anglers have observed a long-term decline in legal-sized shad over the past several seasons. Undersized fish are frequently caught and retained, and spawning behaviour appears disrupted or diminished.
There is no conclusive scientific study linking sardine biomass directly to shad abundance. However, ecological interdependencies suggest that sardines — as both bait and nutrient source — play a supporting role in shad population health. The absence of proper enforcement, not sardine availability, appears to be the primary pain point here.
The Cost of Weak Regulation
The transition from Ezimvelo to DAFF represents a wider erosion in ecological governance. Effective coastal stewardship depends not only on seasonal abundance but on sustained regulation, education, and scientific support. When oversight fails, even bumper seasons can mask underlying declines in species resilience.
“Leave them shad alone” is not just a slogan — it’s a call for informed fishing, equitable enforcement, and policy corrections that restore ecological balance.
Ok, now we are talking everyone’s favourite fish – shad…
Looking Forward: Conservation Through Community
The Sardine News urges all stakeholders to treat this year’s sardine run not only as a huge privilege to be a part of, but as an opportunity for ecological reckoning. We must:
- Reassess enforcement frameworks for coastal species protection.
- Prioritize education campaigns for sustainable fishing.
- Support community-led monitoring in underserved coastal regions.
- Demand accountability in biodiversity regulation at government levels.
The fish are running — so must we. Toward protection, toward regeneration, and toward a coastal culture that understands its inheritance and its impact.
