Clean up of sardine die off under way

21 August 2026

The City would like to advise residents that Urban Waste Management's Cleansing Department is currently busy with the clean-up and removal of the large numbers of dead sardines that have washed ashore between Silwerstroomstrand and Milnerton. 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, as well as some Cape Town locations.

The cleanup has also been slightly delayed as the City’s Disposal Department was required to request an exemption to allow for the disposal of the dead fish at Vissershok Landfill due to the designation of the fish as possibly infected. This exemption request is in process and has been escalated to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, David Maynier, due to its urgency.

‘We can assure residents that we are making every effort to clear all the dead fish as soon as possible and will keep the public updated on the Cleansing team’s progress. While the fish pose no risk to anyone other than the nuisance factor related to the smell, we ask residents to please refrain from collecting the fish. All dogs should also be prevented from accessing any of the dead fish on the beach,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

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.