Jakarta:The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has reported no new instances of dead sardines since September 10, suggesting the acute mortality phase has concluded.
According to South African Government News Agency, ongoing surveillance is in place, and laboratory tests for pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) have resumed to determine the virus's presence and its potential link to the sardine deaths. Tests are being conducted on samples collected before, during, and after the mortality events to understand the virus's timeline, its association with affected fish, and its current detectability.
The department emphasized that the mere presence of viral material doesn't confirm active disease, stressing that results will be evaluated alongside fish health and environmental data. Coastal authorities, fishers, and the public are urged to report any new dead sardine sightings promptly.
A precautionary catch limit is in effect from October 3 to October 30, 2026, restricting each sardine right holder to harvesting no more than 33% of their remaining uncaught 2026 sardine total allowable catch in the designated management areas. This measure aims to control sardine removals while further scientific analysis is conducted.
The Small Pelagic Scientific Working Group is scheduled to reassess the situation on October 27, 2026, or sooner if significant new evidence arises. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the hydroacoustic survey set to begin in early November. The survey will span the coast from Hondeklip Bay to Port St Johns, offering an independent estimate of sardine biomass and distribution post-mortality event.
The DFFE and its partners are also executing a coordinated response plan, monitoring potential impacts on sardine-dependent predators and the broader marine ecosystem. The department reassured that PHV is not a threat to humans, and commercially produced sardine products remain safe. However, the public is advised against collecting or consuming dead sardines from beaches or using them as bait.