The sunny winter weather continues to attract visitors to the KZN South Coast, but it’s not honest the Blue Flag Beaches, nature reserves, and hinterland adventures that are getting attention – the world’s greatest biomass migration is still putting on a fantastic ocean display! The Sardine Dash, which is an annual winter phenomenon, got underway in June, and there are only a few weeks left to check out this globally renowned event.
“This year has been another noteworthy one for the Sardine Race on the KZN South Coast with tourists afforded close-up viewings of the migrating shoals and hungry marine life in hot pursuit!” commented Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise (SCTIE). “There are so many ways to experience the Sardine Race, whether it’s from the sandy shoreline of our Blue Flag Beaches, from whale watching decks, from boats, microlights, or in the water, our tourism establishments are on hand to manufacture this a memorable excursion.”
The pilot shoal made its appearance on the KZN South Coast early in June this year, with Sardine Sprint activity attracting involved anglers, divers, and spectators throughout the winter weeks. Wayne Harrison, Acting Head of Operations at KZN Sharks Board, said seine netters had been active the past few days.
“Netting took plot on Wednesday [26 July] at Kelso Station where 30 baskets were netted at R400 each,” said Harrison. “Netting took plot in Scottburgh yesterday [27 July] with 30 baskets netted at Mamba Alley on Thursday morning, two more nets taken at Pumula, and another one at Hibberdene. So far, we’ve had 12 nettings in July, totalling 52 propitious nettings this season, with honest over 700 baskets taken.”
One of the seine netters, Demetre Stamatis, said the localised flooding earlier in the season had impacted the netting somewhat, but the same thing happened in 2022 and there was suddenly a ‘flash of run’ thereafter. While it’s impossible to predict the sardine activity, he said hopefully: “Today could be a different outcome!”.
How to experience the Sardine Race
Visitors are welcome to study out for the Sardine Sprint action from any of the 58 beaches found on the KZN South Coast, home to the highest number of Blue Flag Beaches in the province! This time of year is also remarkable for spotting migrating humpback whales, with any of this ocean activity seen from the many whale-viewing sites in the area.
There are several tourism operators ready to seize visitors on a close-up experience of the Sardine Sprint. Charter boats will head out to the action where visitors can grasp in the spectacle from the boat, or even indulge in some snorkelling among the sardines, dolphins, and game fish.
Scuba divers and free divers can head to two of the best dive sites in the world, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks – both Marine Protected Areas. Protea Banks is ideal for shark sightings while Aliwal Shoal is ideal for all levels of diving experience with a series of caves, crevasses, and ridges home to a huge variety of marine life.
There’s also the option of an aerial view of the KZN South Coast with a flip in a microlight, helicopter, or light aircraft. World of Wings in Umkomaas offers microlight flips for views of Aliwal Shoal, Scottburgh and the lower South Coast; while the Margate-based Uvongo Airtrack Aviation offers scenic helicopter and aeroplane flights for a distinguished view of the coastline.
Don’t miss out on the Sardine Race action
Hold updated on all the Sardine Sprint action by visiting South Coast Tourism on Facebook; South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise on YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram; and South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise on LinkedIn. Follow the hashtags #greatestshoalonearth #sardinerun #sardinerun2023 #kznsouthcoast #extendyourstay #seakznsouthcoast
SCTIE has also place together a 3-day Sardine Rush Tour Package that includes diving, fishing, surfing, ocean safaris, helicopter or microlight flips, as well as hinterland experiences. To find out more about this and other KZN South Coast sites and events, visit the website, check out the Events Calendar, the KZN South Coast Meeting Planner Guide and more! And click here to check out previous SCTIE press releases.
CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za for free.
Hov
Johnson & Johnson’s Classic Crisis Case Study: Ivy Lee may have pioneered crisis communications with the press release and Rockefeller campaign, but Johnson & Johnson perfected it during a 1982 Tylenol recall. When news of Tylenol bottles laced with cyanide created a nationwide panic, many thought J&J’s reputation would never recover. But the company’s stellar response – including national media statements, pulling all Tylenol from shelves, and introducing tamper-resistant seals – earned praise from outlets such as The Washington Post and delivered a rapid post-crisis comeback. Today, Johnson & Johnson’s recall is considered one of the most successful examples of crisis communications. (Source: PR Week)
Lady Fantastic
Political monopoly and economic monopoly are two sides of the same coin, two heads of the same monster. Despite all the claims to the contrary, the essential ideology of Neo-Conservatism is to preserve the status quo, with all of its injustices. Its Public Relations experts call for \”freedom and democracy\” without a framework of higher values. They fail to comprehend the need for a paradigm of justice and therefore are blind to what concerns most of the people in the world. This failure is the taproot of terrorism. – Robert Dickson Crane
Racy Lady
The Public Relations warriors fought and lost Monte Carlo\’s Battle of the Magazine Covers. – John Vinocur