Pilchard Herpesvirus Detected in Western Cape Sardines for the First Time, DFFE Confirms

• Mass sardine mortality was recorded across several Western Cape coastal sites, prompting a DFFE investigation earlier this month
• Laboratory tests confirmed pilchard herpesvirus in dead sardines, marking the first detection of the virus in South African waters
• A joint task team involving the department, fishing industry, and stakeholders is being established to coordinate a response

WESTERN CAPE — South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has confirmed the presence of pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) in sardines along the Western Cape coast, following an investigation triggered by widespread fish die-offs in the region.

According to News24, the department launched its investigation after large-scale sardine mortality was observed at multiple coastal sites stretching from Saldanha Bay to Gansbaai. Laboratory sequencing subsequently identified PHV in dead sardines, as well as at lower concentrations in fish that appeared to be healthy — the first time the virus has been detected in South African sardines.

Read also

Reservoir Hills man shot dead in garage hijacking, community calls for street patrols

Sardine safety and human health

Despite the findings, the DFFE stated that commercially caught sardines and canned products are safe for human consumption. The department clarified that no evidence exists to suggest PHV poses any risk to humans or other animals, and that the current situation does not warrant suspending commercial fishing or canning operations. Standard food-safety controls remain in place.

Investigators also examined a harmful algal bloom present in Saldanha Bay during the period when the die-offs occurred. Water samples collected from Saldanha Bay, Cape Canyon, and Gansbaai returned no results for paralytic toxins associated with the bloom. While trace levels of domoic acid and yessotoxin were detected, the highest concentrations appeared in healthy comparison samples, suggesting those substances were unlikely to be the primary driver of the mortality event.

DFFE forms task team

With the precise cause of death still under investigation, the DFFE announced that it would establish a joint task team comprising the department, fishing industry representatives, and other relevant stakeholders. The body is expected to develop a coordinated response plan to address PHV-associated sardine mortality as a matter of urgency.

Read also

SANDU issues 72-hour ultimatum over 17-day power outage at Middelburg military base

The Western Cape sardine fishery is a significant contributor to South Africa's canned fish industry, making the confirmed presence of the herpesvirus a matter of concern for both environmental authorities and commercial operators along the coast.

Saldanha Bay mussels and oysters declared safe

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the recent lifting of the ban on Saldanha Bay mussels and oysters, confirming their safety for human consumption. This resolution follows a serious health risk posed by elevated Paralytic Shellfish Toxin levels, which had skyrocketed due to a harmful algal bloom affecting the region.

Source: Briefly News