Tag: port shepstone

Full Moon Spring Tides and Coastal Safety Precautions

For Immediate Release
10 January 2025
NSRI Advisory: Full Moon Spring Tides and Coastal Safety Precautions:
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) urges holidaymakers and visitors to the coast to exercise caution during the final days of the school holidays, as the upcoming full moon spring tide is set to peak on Wednesday, 15 January 2025.

The spring tide on January 15, 2025, coincides with the full moon on January 14, 2025, significantly impacting tidal conditions during the last days of the school holidays.

This natural phenomenon occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align during the new moon phase, amplifying the gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans.
What to Expect During a Full Moon Spring Tide:

1. Higher High Tides: Water levels will rise significantly, reaching further up the shoreline.
2. Lower Low Tides: More of the seabed will be exposed as water levels dip below average.
3. Increased Tidal Range: The difference between high and low tide levels will be at its maximum.
   Impacts and Hazards of a New Moon Spring Tide:
   Spring tides often result in stronger tidal currents, particularly in narrow inlets.
   This natural phenomenon can present potential dangers:
   • Rip Currents: Stronger tidal flows intensify rip currents, posing a risk to swimmers.
   • Coastal Hiking Hazards: Some hiking trails near the coast may become inaccessible or hazardous during high tide.
   • Fishing Precautions: Shoreline anglers should exercise extra caution, as higher waves may reach beyond usual safe zones.
   Safety Measures to Follow:
   To ensure your safety while enjoying coastal activities, the NSRI recommends the following precautions:
   Beach and Swimming Safety
   • Swim at lifeguard-protected beaches: Go into the water between lifeguard flags to avoid rip currents.
   • Be aware of rip currents. Rip currents are particularly strong during spring tides, especially during outgoing tides, which will occur in the late afternoon.
   • Stay informed: Check daily weather forecasts from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and consult tide timetables.
   Coastal Activities
   • Hiking: Plan your hikes carefully, avoiding trails that may be cut off during high tide in the late afternoon.
   • Fishing: Shoreline anglers should maintain a safe distance from the water. When fishing from rocks or cliffs, they should wear a life jacket and carry flotation equipment (for example, a 5L plastic container with a rope attached) that can be thrown to someone in the water.
   • Boating and paddling: Always wear life jackets, carry essential safety equipment, and keep your cell phone fully charged in a waterproof pouch. The free NSRI SafeTrx smartphone app allows you to log your trip and call the NSRI for help quickly and easily.
   General Water Safety
   • Alcohol and water do not mix: Drinking alcohol before doing an activity in or near water may put your life at risk.
   • Supervise children: Ensure children have responsible adult supervision in and near the water.
   Additional Precautions
   • Time your activities: Be cautious during tide changes, especially when high tide recedes to low tide (in the late afternoon) for beach visitors and on the incoming tide (in the early afternoon) for rock anglers and hikers.
   • Stay informed: Follow local safety alerts and warnings issued by authorities.
   • Save the emergency number 112 on your cell phone.
   Enjoy Coastal Activities Responsibly:
   The effects of spring tides will last several days before and after January 15th. By adhering to these safety measures, you can minimise risks and responsibly enjoy the ocean’s natural beauty.
   For further updates and emergency assistance, please visit our website www.nsri.org.za
   Issued by:
   For interviews or information, please get in touch with NSRI Communications Manager Andrew Ingram at andrewi@searescue.org.za or on 082 990 5977

ABOUT THE NSRI

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a registered non-profit organisation that is committed to drowning prevention and focused on saving lives, changing lives and creating futures for those threatened by drowning in South Africa.

The NSRI is unique in South Africa as the only non-profit organisation focusing exclusively on safeguarding lives and livelihoods in South African waters through education, prevention, and rescue operations. We envision a nation where drowning incidents are minimised, ensuring the safety of all.

The NSRI strives to innovate and evolve constantly and extend its water safety initiatives through empowerment and visibility. Our volunteers are on call 24/7 and rely on donations and sponsorships.

Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.

NSRI EMERGENCY: 087 094 9774

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 200 000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

Duty to Warn: The ANC’s Polluted Waterways and the Impact on Tourism

Duty to Warn: The ANC’s Polluted Waterways and the Impact on Tourism: The concept of “Duty to Warn” in South African law mandates that individuals or entities must inform others of potential hazards to prevent harm. This principle can be aptly applied to the current state of South Africa’s water systems under the ANC’s governance. Over the years, the ANC has systematically neglected the country’s water infrastructure, turning South Africa into a vast, polluted toilet. This negligence has led to severe contamination of rivers, lakes, and ultimately the ocean, posing significant health risks to locals and tourists.

Recent reports highlight the alarming levels of E. coli in South Africa’s waterways, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. The Umgeni River, for instance, has become a breeding ground for this harmful bacteria due to untreated sewage spills. The situation has deteriorated to the point where several beaches in Durban have been closed, and tourists are falling ill after exposure to contaminated water2. The presence of E. coli indicates not only fecal contamination but also the potential presence of other dangerous pathogens.

The ANC’s failure to maintain and upgrade sewage treatment facilities has exacerbated this crisis. Untreated sewage flows into rivers and oceans, leading to eutrophication and the proliferation of harmful algae blooms. This not only devastates aquatic ecosystems but also poses a direct threat to human health. Tourists, unaware of the dangers, continue to swim in these polluted waters, resulting in gastrointestinal illnesses and other health issues (See below results sheet from ANC victims at Uvongo, KZN, recently).

The Duty to Warn principle obligates the government and relevant authorities to inform the public about these hazards. However, the ANC’s lack of transparency and accountability has left many in the dark. Local municipalities, tourism boards, and environmental organizations must step up and provide clear warnings to both residents and visitors. By doing so, they can prevent further harm and hold the ANC accountable for its gross mismanagement of South Africa’s precious water resources.

In conclusion, the ANC’s neglect has turned South Africa’s waterways into a public health hazard. Adapting the Duty to Warn concept to this situation underscores the urgent need for transparency and action to protect both the environment and public health. Tourists and locals alike deserve to be informed about the risks they face, and it is the responsibility of those in power to ensure this information is disseminated effectively.

The following sickening molecular biology results sheet is bona fide and from this year as you can see the date top right corner…from swimming at Uvongo.

And so a major problem is the misconception that the KZN South Coast that is the polluted area. Meanwhile, it’s the very same poo that washes down from cities, towns and provinces inland. The entire country empties its sewage into the sea ultimately. Every river town has another town further upriver. They ALL have been subject to the ANC’s inability to honour a contract.

ALL that sewage is coming to a beach near you.

This is Harding…

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 199,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts