A search has been launched after a man was washed out to sea while he was fishing at a Durban beach on Tuesday. 

According to KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services, the man was washed out  while participating in a sardine netting operation. 

"Currently rescuers have several boats in the water searching for the man", KZN EMS spokesperson Robert McKenzie said. 

McKenzie said that rescuers were still at the old snake park in Durban conducting the search.

The National Sea Rescue Institute said they were called out at 08:45 at Snake Park Beach.

NSRI rescue swimmers, Police Search and Rescue, Metro Police Search and Rescue, eThekwini lifeguards and eThekwini Law Enforcement all responded.

"On arrival on the scene, a search commenced for a local fisherman, believed to be aged in his mid-20s, who had gone missing after getting into difficulty in the surf during efforts to recover a sardine fishing boat onto the beach," said the NSRI's Paul Bevis.

"At low tide it appears, while recovering the sardine fishing boat, the man may have slipped off the shore bank before being caught in rip currents."

Fellow fisherman attempted to rescue him before he disappeared under water.

"Thoughts are with the family and friends of the missing man in this difficult time."