Fast-moving shoals of sardines are making netters' lives difficult‚ but they still managed to grab some of the sought-after fish on Friday.
Dubbed "the greatest shoal on Earth"‚ the annual sardine run is always a big attraction on the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
On Friday shark nets had to be lifted on the KZN south coast as the fish moved closer into shore.
Mike Anderson-Reade‚ KZN Sharks Board head of operations‚ said: "Sardine activity has increased in the Scottburgh and Pennington areas‚ with many shoals of fish visible from the shore. Two large nets have been taken at Scottburgh so far and there are a number of seine netters currently on the beach. The shoals are moving very quickly and the netters have been finding it difficult to set their nets around them.
"Four decent-size nets have also been taken at Pennington and a shoal was missed at Rocky Bay‚ Park Rynie."
He said the main concentration of the sards was between Scottburgh and Umtwalumi‚ while small pockets were also seen near St Michaels and Uvongo.
"Shark safety gear has been removed at Scottburgh and bathing will remain closed until such time as the activity subsides‚" said Anderson-Reade.
He said that shark nets previously removed from other areas - including Hibberdene‚ Southport‚ St Michaels‚ Margate Main Beach‚ Ramsgate‚ San Lameer/Marina and T.O. Strand - had since been replaced and the beaches open for swimming.
-TimesLIVE
Source: TMG Digital.