Sardine Mortality Event Triggers Permit Changes in Small Pelagic Fishery

An extraordinary sardine mortality event began on the West Coast in late July and spread along the southern Cape and into the Eastern Cape and northern Wild Coast. This event has been linked to African penguins losing weight, prompting changes to permit conditions for the small pelagic fishery. These changes follow previous agreements that established strengthened no-take zones for commercial sardine and anchovy fishing around six key penguin breeding colonies.

The mortality event raises concerns about the availability of fish stocks in the region, threatening the effectiveness of conservation measures put in place to protect African penguins. The amended permit conditions directly affect the operational parameters of the small pelagic fishery.

A sardine mortality event in the Western Cape requires immediate management intervention.