Lifestyle

WATCH | Durban fishermen face the climate crisis

Fight with the sea is becoming a battle they can no longer afford to keep losing

Sandile Ndlovu

Sandile Ndlovu

A fisherman casts his line at the spot where the Umgeni River, its waters contaminated by sewage, meets the Indian Ocean. (SANDILE NDLOVU)

Along the shores of Durban and its surrounding communities, a quiet crisis is unfolding. What was once a dependable source of livelihood has become a daily gamble against the forces of a changing climate and a failing ecosystem.

Fishermen here are no longer only navigating the ocean; they are battling it.

Floods churn the waters into murky uncertainty, carrying sewage pollution and runoff into the sea, while relentless heatwaves drive fish deeper and farther from reach.

The coastline, once predictable, has turned volatile and at times hazardous. For those who depend on it, each cast of the line carries not only hope but also risk to their income, their health and their future.

Renesh Ramkhelowan and his son Aveshlin fish together, sharing a hobby that brings them closer and creates lasting memories. (SANDILE NDLOVU)

Before sunrise, they are awake. Armed with rods, licences and generations of knowledge, they make their way to the water’s edge. Some will leave by midday, empty-handed or fortunate, making way for others who arrive to take their place. On some days, the shoreline never rests — a 24-hour relay of survival, where one group’s struggle hands over to the next.

Time is no longer measured in hours but in tides and chance. Meals depend on luck. Income depends on conditions they cannot control. And yet, they return again and again, driven not by necessity alone but by a deep-rooted connection to the sea.

In Durban, fishing is no longer only a livelihood. It is endurance. It is resilience. And for many, it is a fight they cannot afford to lose.

Yoshail Benimadho has been fishing for seven years, a skill he learnt from his grandfather. (SANDILE NDLOVU)
As the sun sets over the M4 North bridge, it casts golden hues across the water while fishermen stand patiently below, hoping for a catch. (SANDILE NDLOVU)
In February 2026, two beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast were temporarily closed after several dead fish were washed ashore. The KwaDukuza municipality said the precautionary closures were implemented in the interest of public health, environmental safety and public well-being. Later investigations suggested the fish may have died due to a heatwave. (SANDILE NDLOVU)
Durban comes alive at night as fishermen cast their lines along the shores. (SANDILE NDLOVU)
Shane Vambeli is silhouetted against the night sky while fishing for sea lice. (SANDILE NDLOVU)
Fishermen waiting patiently after casting their lines at Blue Lagoon in Durban. (SANDILE NDLOVU)
Dead fish floating in the water off Shaka’s Beach, north of Durban, are suspected to be the result of a heatwave that raised water temperatures and disrupted the local marine ecosystem. (SANDILE NDLOVU)
A mural depicting the polluted sea, including a petrol tanker trailer submerged during the April 2022 floods, with the right-hand side showing the sea restored to its clean state. (SANDILE NDLOVU)
Mr Subramoney proudly shows off his catch of the day, testament to patience, skill and a love for fishing. (SANDILE NDLOVU)

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