‘The Greatest Shoal on Earth’: Safeguarding South Africa’s Sardine Migration

Viewed from above, it resembles a massive oil slick spreading over the ocean. Dubbed the 'Greatest Shoal on Earth,' it’s one of the planet’s largest biomass migrations.

Along South Africa’s eastern coastline, billions of spawning sardines migrate north to Mozambique between May and July. Along the way, they’re hunted by predators including sharks, dolphins, whales, and even humans.

Before the pandemic, the annual 'Sardine Run' attracted tourists from all over the world. This year, however, only a few witnessed the spectacle, including South African free diving champion Beth Neale.

Equipped with a GoPro and 360-camera, Neale dived beneath the dark mass of sardines to capture footage of the diverse marine life it attracts. She hopes her video will help people understand how the ocean ecosystem relies on seemingly small creatures like sardines.

'When people witness the beauty of the sardine run and the underwater world, they begin to grasp how everything in nature is interconnected,' Neale shares with Dinogo. 'What was once seen as a mere food source is now recognized for its vital role in the entire marine food chain, sustaining countless marine species.'

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A recent study published in the South African Journal of Science indicates that the changing climate may jeopardize the sardine run. The study also reveals that sardines are migrating later in the year, disrupting the food supply for animals like sharks that depend on them.

Conserving the Oceans

In addition to climate change, shoals like the sardines are facing global threats from overfishing. According to the UN, one-third of commercial fish species are being over-harvested.

The sardine run passes through several of South Africa's protected marine zones (MPAs), where fishing is legally restricted, offering an opportunity for marine life to regenerate. Neale, a longtime diver in these waters, has noticed a clear contrast between the protected areas and those left open to fishing. 'The most remarkable thing about the ocean is how quickly the benefits of a marine protected area become apparent,' she says.

South Africa boasts 42 marine protected areas, which aim to preserve wildlife for the well-being of both the environment and local communities.

Before 2019, only 0.4% of South Africa’s ocean waters were under protection, but this has recently grown to 5.4%, with the goal of reaching 10%, according to marine biologist Kerry Sink, who has been key in advising the government on this expansion.

'It’s crucial to manage our fisheries properly,' Sink explains to Dinogo. 'If we do, we can fish sustainably for generations. With the increasing pressures from industrialization and climate change, it’s more urgent than ever to ensure the health of our oceans and fish stocks.'

Neale wholeheartedly agrees: 'You protect what you love,' she says. 'For me, that’s the ocean—my greatest passion.'