No sardines?

Global warming may have been the reason why "the greatest shoal on Earth" did not make it to Durban this year, the Natal Sharks Board said on Saturday.

"People were saying it’s global warming… and that may have had something to do with it, but we can’t jump to that conclusion," the board’s chief executive Mike Anderson-Reade said.

"It could also probably be a combination of water temperatures and ocean currents."

The last shoal had made an appearance in Umzumbe near the resort town of Hibberdene last Friday with 40 baskets being netted. There were also sightings in Richards Bay.

The board noted this year that the sardine movement was different as compared to previous years because it stayed in deeper water, rather than moving to the shallow parts.

"This week it was really quiet," said Anderson-Reade.

"I think this is the end of it. There’s no way there would be more sightings.

I just hope next year would be better."

This was not the first year that sardines had not made it to Durban, a city labelled as "South Africa’s playground".

"We have almost 30 years of data that show it hadn’t come in some years.’

"Maybe Durban will have better luck next year," said Anderson-Reade.

In the past 36 months, no shoal had beached.

Every catch had been netted and this year there was no exception. The few shoals that were netted along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline were sold by traders who took full advantage of their catch.

They were spotted selling sardines by the dozen to motorists on various highways.

Since early June, KwaZulu-Natal residents and international tourists were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the sardines.

Scores of documentary makers and tourists had booked into chalets in resort towns along the south coast waiting to get a glimpse of the annual sardine run.

It is extremely popular in Durban as families gather on the beachfront in June and July waiting for the slippery delicacy to reach the shore.

And when it does, parents and children, armed with baskets and crates, hastily pack their baskets and head home for a fresh and tasty meal.

In the Indian community, masala-marinated sardines were favourites.

Sapa