It was an iconic conclusion to the much-anticipated Ocean Festival, powered by the Halfway Group, in Scottburgh on the KZN South Coast on Sunday (8 June) as the annual Sardine Run gave spectators front-row seats to The Greatest Shoal on Earth. Sardine fever was in full swing with netting taking place on Scottburgh Main Beach and the marine life putting on a great show.
The Sardine Run action coincided with World Ocean Day, which is at the heart of the Ocean Festival’s message, calling for ocean awareness, conservation, and celebration. Running from 5 to 8 June, ocean-based events included clean-ups, boat rides, yoga, talks, lifesaving clinics, surfski race and more, with visitors and spectators joining in on the action.
“It was such a fitting end to four days of dedicated ocean celebration as we witnessed the Sardine Run in all of its glory with birds diving, dolphins and sharks and huge crowds of people joining in the excitement on Scottburgh Main Beach,” says Barry Lewin, Event Organiser. “This was an incredible display of what we’re fighting to protect, with the ocean delivering on the day that is earmarked for celebrating the sustainable use of our ocean.
“I’d like to thank everyone who came out to support, the local municipality, and all our generous sponsors – Halfway Group, Leatherback Rum, and the Pumpsmith – as well as our emcee, Craig Stubbs of Stubb’Sea Charter Fishing, for making this another huge success. Also, a huge vote of thanks to our Malaysian counterparts for spreading the word globally. We’re looking forward to an even bigger Ocean Festival 2026!”
Action-Packed Ocean Festival Programme
Day one saw marine experts from Sea World & uShaka Marine World talking to youth during a School Ocean Education Workshop held at Umdoni Christian Academy in collaboration with WildED, with informative sessions continuing on day two with the Ocean Research & Conservation Presentations by speakers Andy Coetzee, Dr Michelle Carpenter and science presentations from Maryke Musson of SAAMBR at Widenham Retirement Village.
The Ocean Festival Film Screening at Premier Hotel Cutty Sark in Scottburgh gave audiences the chance to view the appropriately themed Riding the Sardine Run and Le Jardin by internationally acclaimed videographer Alan Van Gysen and Will Bendix of NowNow Media.
Saturday got off to an energetic start with the Scotties Striders 5km Ocean Run and Beach Yoga with Lauren Lewin, followed by the Aliwal Shoal Scuba Diving Reef Clean. This saw teams rallying to clean this important Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Mission Blue Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot.
With bathing banned as a result of the Sardine Run arrival, event organisers arranged the Ocean Experience Boat Rides with ScubaXcursions, taking visitors out to the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area (MPA). This was one of the day’s highlights, with participants of all ages and abilities enjoying this lifechanging experience. Among them were members of Made for More, a KZN-based NPO which aims to include, empower and equip people with disabilities through sport; as well as the Granny Grommets, a group of senior citizens who meet at Scottburgh Main Beach for weekly bodyboarding.
Young lifesavers also benefitted from the highly informative Ocean Warriors Ocean Sports Clinic, with the day concluding with fantastic Live Music with Leatherback Rum at Premier Hotel, Cutty Sark.
World Ocean Day was officially recognised with a Beach Clean-up which took place throughout the day along Scottburgh Main Beach, while Beach Yoga with Laura Konig and Nia Dance & Movement with Liz Cunningham kept visitors active.
Shane Grant, CEO of Halfway Group, said they were delighted, once again, to be a part of the Ocean Festival: “A huge thanks to everyone involved in putting on another successful event. The Ocean Festival aligns with our company ethos of community support and a commitment to conservation, and we’re proud to be part of something that has such a positive impact on the KZN South Coast, and globally. We’re looking forward to seeing continued impact with the Ocean Festival.”
The headline event was the Leatherback Rum Aliwal Shoal Surfski Challenge, which saw South Africa’s top paddlers racing to Aliwal Shoal MPA and back, with the Sardine Run action happening alongside. This year saw Umhlanga’s Michelle Burn and Matthew Bouman take the top women’s and men’s titles respectively, while Deirdre Bentley (Amanzimtoti) and Kwanele Banda (Umgababa) won the doubles event of this hotly-contested race.
“It’s wonderful to have the Leatherback Rum Aliwal Shoal Surfski Challenge form an integral part of the Ocean Festival,” continued Lewin. “Along with the arrival of the Sardine Run, it’s great that we were able to race on World Ocean Day, which is at the heart of the festival.”
Spokespersons from Ocean Festival are available to be interviewed about World Ocean Day events and celebrations. Contact Barry Lewin on Barry@oceanfestival.global for more on the Leatherback Rum Aliwal Shoal Surfski Challenge.
For more news and photos, check out @theoceanfestival on Instagram and Facebook, or visit www.oceanfestival.co.za. Check out videos from @OceanFestivalGlobal on the YouTube channel.
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Author: Agnes Matladi from Olivia Jones Communications on behalf of Ocean Festival.
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