CAPE TOWN – The City of Cape Town is carrying out a large-scale clean-up operation following the washing ashore of large numbers of dead sardines between Silwerstroomstrand and Milnerton.

Dead and dying sardines have been reported at several locations along the Western and Southern Cape coastline in recent weeks, with affected areas stretching from Saldanha Bay on the West Coast to Cape Agulhas on the Southern Cape coast.

The City’s Urban Waste Management Cleansing Department is currently removing the fish from affected beaches.

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Awaiting greenlight

The clean-up has, however, been delayed by the need to obtain an exemption allowing the dead fish to be disposed of at Vissershok Landfill, as the fish have been classified as potentially infected.

The exemption request is being processed and has been escalated to David Maynier, national minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), due to the urgency of the matter.

The City said it is working to remove the dead fish as quickly as possible and would keep residents updated on the progress.

Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment, said the fish pose no health risk to residents, although they can cause an unpleasant smell.

Testing confirms virus

Residents are urged not to collect the dead fish, while dog owners are asked to prevent their pets from accessing them.

DFFE has also released results from diagnostic testing conducted on sardines collected from various affected beaches.

The testing confirmed the presence of genetic material from pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) in sampled sardines.

However, the role of the virus in the recent sardine deaths remains under investigation.

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