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The KZN Sharks Board undertook a flight yesterday Tuesday 29th June 2010. The reason for the earlier than usual flight is that the Operations staff were concerned due to the strong north easterly wind that was experienced over a 24 hr period on Monday. North easterly winds cause a rapid drop in water temperature which often increases sardine activity. Apart from many humpback whales (68 counted on the flight) migrating northwards, the KZN coast was very quiet. The interesting activity started off Port Grosvenor on the Wild Coast. Five large schools (greater than 500 animals) of common dolphins were seen between Grosvenor and Mboyti. All these dolphins were moving quickly in a northerly direction. Over a thousand Cape Gannets were seen off Waterfall Bluff. Most of these birds were sitting on the water surface however there were a number of groups actively diving.
This is the most intense activity that we have observed over the past 3 weeks and after receiving a report this morning from a dive boat operating in the Waterfall Bluff area confirming that this activity had increased overnight, the KZNSB is removing the shark safety gear on the lower south coast as a precautionary measure.
It is possible that the sardines will make there long awaited appearance on the lower south coast of KZN in the next couple of days.
Issued by Mike Anderson-Reade
Head: Operations KZN Sharks Board
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