Environmental protection highlighted at annual sardine run in South Africa

The need for greater environmental protection has been highlighted at this year's ongoing sardine run in South Africa, with activists warning of the risks posed to one of the country's great natural phenomena.

Every year from May to July, millions of sardines migrate along the eastern coast of South Africa, traveling over 1,000 kilometers, making it one of the largest and most spectacular migrations in the world.

The annual event is a source of great pride and excitement for people living in coastal areas of the KwaZulu-Natal Province.

"We are excited that the fish is here in the sardine run for 2025. We are happy for this fish coming to South Africa and for KZN (KwaZulu-Natal)," said a local fisherman.

However, residents and environmental volunteers are taking action to alleviate the burden on the sea caused by human activity, including plastic waste and pollution, with volunteers hitting beaches to clear away the litter.

"It's one of the last massive migrations of animals that exist. It's really important, and hundreds and hundreds of species rely on that migration, maybe not on the sardines themselves, but on what comes with them. The human impact on the ocean threatens the water temperatures and things like that, and threatens to change the natural phenomena. Don't leave your stuff there, it all ends up in the oceans. [Cleaning the beach] is probably the biggest thing we can do to try and help this and sustain it," said Gary Snodgrass, owner of the Blue Ocean Dive Resort, a popular tourist site offering activities in the area.

Last Thursday, South Africa unveiled its inaugural Coastal Climate Change Adaptation Response Plan, a strategic initiative to enhance resilience in coastal areas facing climate threats. The initiative aims to support the country's ocean economy goals while safeguarding critical sectors like tourism and fisheries.

Environmental protection highlighted at annual sardine run in South Africa

People in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre recalled the horrible scenes of an air strike on Thursday night, saying that the civilians suffer the most in the war.

After the Lebanese and Israeli governments announced a conditional ceasefire, the Israeli military carried out rounds of airstrikes in southern Lebanon, as unresolved disagreements between Israel and Hezbollah continued to stall ceasefire efforts.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported on Friday that Israeli airstrikes hit several locations in southern Lebanon, killing at least 13 people and wounding 15 others.

Ahmad al-Hsein, who runs a restaurant in Tyre, was on the scene when the strike came. He said all the civilian facilities in the area were severely damaged.

"We were here during the air strike, carrying out our humanitarian work, which is a small thing compared with what's happening. We were providing food to the people here, and during the air strike we were here in the restaurant. A civilian facility, a bank, was targeted, and the restaurant, which is also a civilian facility, was affected. There's nothing else. The entire impact was on the area around Jabal Amel Hospital. We don't know what the target was, there’s nothing there. All the wounded are civilians, and the casualties are civilian," he said.

Mahmoud Srour, a displaced from Teir Harfa, helped clear up the debris on the street following the strike.

"The air strike took place at around 22:30. As you can see, the scale of the destruction is immense. They targeted Bank Audi; there's nothing left here, they targeted a bank. The damage is very extensive. This is a civilian area; there are shops and a restaurant, and the bank is located here. Thank God, we were in the shop when the air strike happened, and chaos ensued. Thank God we were not hurt. There were no fatalities here, but there are wounded," he said.

Civilians recall horrible air strike in southern Lebanon