The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) says it is investigating new reports of sardines washing ashore and has secured samples to test for Pilchard herpesvirus (PHV). Isolated sightings of sardine mortality events were reported at Bakoven, in the Western Cape, and off Tsitsikamma, in the Eastern Cape. On August 27, there were widespread reports of sardines washing ashore around Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape, and floating offshore and within the harbour.

Pilchard herpesvirus is a fish virus and poses no known risk to human health.

Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleNetters use a huge fishing net as they try to catch thousands of sardines at the Scottburgh beach, south of Durban (AFP/Getty)Scientists…