Thousands of dead fish have mysteriously washed up along beaches in South Africa, prompting a scientific investigation. Disturbing footage shows dead pilchards, which belong to the herring family and are generally slightly larger than sardines, covering large sections of Bloubergstrand Beach in Cape Town on Monday, August 17.
Several birds were also seen nearby, with some appearing unwell. The mass deaths have also been reported at Milnerton and Sunset Beach, with dead pilchards found on the shore along parts of the wider Cape Town coastline.
Virus Detected in Samples
Scientists have detected genetic material from the virus pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) in samples taken from the dead fish. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) said the virus was also found at lower levels in some apparently healthy sardines caught off the west coast.
However, officials stated that this does not mean the virus caused the deaths. DFFE spokesperson Zolile Nqayi said: 'Sequencing has confirmed the presence of PHV genetic material but this alone does not prove that the virus caused the deaths.'
Possible Causes Under Investigation
The virus is understood to affect the gills of fish, making infected sardines less able to breathe and more vulnerable to low oxygen levels or sudden changes in sea temperature. Scientists are also investigating a number of other possible causes, including harmful algae, low oxygen levels, unusual ocean conditions and changes in water temperature.
The DFFE said PHV had never previously been recorded in South African sardines. However, the virus has been linked to major sardine deaths in Australia and New Zealand back in the 1990s.
Impact on Penguins and Public Warning
The disappearance of thousands of sardines has also sparked fears for South Africa's critically endangered penguins which rely on sardines and anchovies for food. Marine biologists said penguins at three local breeding colonies had already shown signs of weight loss.
Authorities have urged members of the public not to collect or eat fish that have washed up dead. The DFFE warned that dead marine animals can pose health risks because bacterial contamination can occur. The warning does not, however, apply to commercially produced canned sardines.
