SEWAGE-polluted Nahoon beach is closed, probably until Tuesday, and the Billabong Junior Series has moved to scenic Gonubie.
Overloaded storm drains spilled into the Ihlanza “Turdy” river after the weekend rain, causing a die-off of thousands of hardy indigenous Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis Mossambicus).
Sewers from city suburbs converge at a seven-pump station above the Ihlanza mouth, which pushes effluent westwards over the river and dunes to the East Bank treatment works behind Nahoon Point Nature Reserve.
Adventure tour guide and Nahoon resident Andrew Carter said he has been raising the issue of manholes blowing and spilling into the Ihlanza for some time.
Organisers of this weekend’s R750000 Billabong Junior Series surf competition based close to the estuary appealed to their hosts, Buffalo City Municipality (BCM), for a short-term solution.
“Beach closed” signs went up late yesterday, and an emergency meeting was held with senior officials after water samples revealed depleted oxygen levels (two percent) and sewage.
The Dispatch learned from an official that the leak was sealed, but the system would need three days to “clear”.
Scores of young South African surfers among the top 100 were called from the waves, and were seen walking away, boards under arms.
Surfers said it was unpleasant sitting out at the back-line watching fish flopping and dying.
Billabong marketing manager Chad D’Arcy was relaxed about moving saying most of their kit had not been unpacked yet, and the event would happily go ahead.
Renowned local surf photographer Louis Wulff said: “If it’s Gonubie or Eastern Beach – our city has got waves bru!”
On Tuesday and Wednesday, thousands of tilapia corpses appeared on the river banks. A few were “gulping” at the surface.
Sea birds, mainly kelp gulls, flocked to feast on the small carcasses, and Carter’s son Jay, 6, tripped and fell into the Ihlanza while running towards the ocean as he tried to “save” a fish.
Later, Jay got “a Dettol bath”.
Rhodes University ichthyologist professor Peter Britz said: “Excess nutrients, typically from sewage release, causes algal bloom which sucks up all the oxygen. It needs investigation.”
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese blamed the spill on “illegal stormwater ingress” into the sewers.
Marine and estuarine specialist Greg Brett said: “ Gulls have eaten all the dead fish along the bank. There are some silversides alive – and a few dead ones, as well as some small dead mullet.”
However, most of the estuarine species had escaped into the sea with the help of spring tides flowing freely through the mouth.
But, he said: “The tilapia will not willingly.” —
Billabong moves as beach shut
Overloaded storm drains spilled into the Ihlanza “Turdy” river after the weekend rain, causing a die-off of thousands of hardy indigenous Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis Mossambicus).
Sewers from city suburbs converge at a seven-pump station above the Ihlanza mouth, which pushes effluent westwards over the river and dunes to the East Bank treatment works behind Nahoon Point Nature Reserve.
Adventure tour guide and Nahoon resident Andrew Carter said he has been raising the issue of manholes blowing and spilling into the Ihlanza for some time.
Organisers of this weekend’s R750000 Billabong Junior Series surf competition based close to the estuary appealed to their hosts, Buffalo City Municipality (BCM), for a short-term solution.
“Beach closed” signs went up late yesterday, and an emergency meeting was held with senior officials after water samples revealed depleted oxygen levels (two percent) and sewage.
The Dispatch learned from an official that the leak was sealed, but the system would need three days to “clear”.
Scores of young South African surfers among the top 100 were called from the waves, and were seen walking away, boards under arms.
Surfers said it was unpleasant sitting out at the back-line watching fish flopping and dying.
Billabong marketing manager Chad D’Arcy was relaxed about moving saying most of their kit had not been unpacked yet, and the event would happily go ahead.
Renowned local surf photographer Louis Wulff said: “If it’s Gonubie or Eastern Beach – our city has got waves bru!”
On Tuesday and Wednesday, thousands of tilapia corpses appeared on the river banks. A few were “gulping” at the surface.
Sea birds, mainly kelp gulls, flocked to feast on the small carcasses, and Carter’s son Jay, 6, tripped and fell into the Ihlanza while running towards the ocean as he tried to “save” a fish.
Later, Jay got “a Dettol bath”.
Rhodes University ichthyologist professor Peter Britz said: “Excess nutrients, typically from sewage release, causes algal bloom which sucks up all the oxygen. It needs investigation.”
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese blamed the spill on “illegal stormwater ingress” into the sewers.
Marine and estuarine specialist Greg Brett said: “ Gulls have eaten all the dead fish along the bank. There are some silversides alive – and a few dead ones, as well as some small dead mullet.”
However, most of the estuarine species had escaped into the sea with the help of spring tides flowing freely through the mouth.
But, he said: “The tilapia will not willingly.” —
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