Pretoria:The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has announced that there have been no additional reports of dead or dying sardines in the past two weeks, suggesting a possible subsiding of the acute phase of the sardine mortality event. Despite this, the department cautions that it is still too early to conclude that the event is entirely over.

According to South African Government News Agency, the last occurrence of sardine mortalities was a localized wash-up near Mbotji on the northern Wild Coast on September 10, 2026. As a preventive measure, surveillance and reporting systems remain active, with encouragement for coastal authorities, fishers, and the public to report any new incidents promptly.

The primary biological factor linked to the sardine deaths is the Pilchard herpesvirus (PHV), which affects fish but is not known to infect humans. Sardine products from regulated commercial sources are considered safe for consumption. However, the public is advised against collecting or consuming dead sardines found on beaches, feeding them to animals, or using them as bait.

Ongoing laboratory and epidemiological investigations are analyzing samples collected before, during, and after the mortality event, including those from commercial sardine catches. This research aims to clarify the cause of the mortalities, the virus's origin, and any potential environmental contributions.

The temporary catch limitation set on September 11, 2026, remains until October 2, 2026. The Small Pelagic Scientific Working Group will convene on September 29, 2026, to review recent data and advise on future management of the sardine fishery post-limit.

The department assures that any management decisions will be communicated once finalized. Additionally, an end-of-year hydroacoustic survey will estimate sardine biomass and distribution post-mortality event, as part of ongoing scientific and stakeholder efforts under the High-Level PHV Task Team's response plan.