City confirms sardine die off has no connection to Milnerton Lagoon

17 August 2026

Over the last few weeks, dead and dying sardines have been observed washed ashore at various locations covering an extensive area as far afield as Saldanha Bay on the West Coast to Cape Agulhas on the cape south coast. To date, pilchards have been observed washing up on beaches from Silverstroomstrand, the Milnerton area and Camps Bay, among other locations in Cape Town.

The DFFE released the results of the diagnostic testing that was done on the affected fish (collected off various beaches along the impacted area) and confirmed that pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) genetic material was present in sampled sardines. Its role in the recent sardine mortality remains under investigation, however, the City wants to assure residents that these events are not related to the Milnerton Lagoon whatsoever.

‘We want to assure residents that this phenomenon has nothing to do with the Milnerton Lagoon. Sardines do not live in the Milnerton Lagoon, neither in the estuary, they are oceanic fish. The National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is busy investigating the cause of the sardine mortality along the West Coast and we will be sure to stay abreast of these findings,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

The City of Cape Town confirmed sightings at various locations along Cape Town’s west coast and these mortalities are considered to be attributed to the wider fish die off as explained.

‘We would like to remind residents not to allow their pets to consume marine life or unidentified objects found along the shoreline in general and to not move or dispose of the fish yourself, should you observe any,’ said Alderman Andrews.