23 August 2007
Cape Town has warned beach and sea users along the city's inshore areas of the seasonal increase in white sharks in the region.
"Although white sharks are present in our waters all year round, we are approaching the time of the year when the possibility of encountering one of these animals is much greater," a member of the city's environmental resource management department, Gregg Oelofse, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Scientific evidence shows that the sharks change their feeding habits, from predominantly using the seal colony in winter to predominantly using the coastal inshore areas during summer.
"Over the past five years, the period of mid-August to end-September has recorded the highest numbers of interactions between white sharks and recreational users," Oelofse said.
"The Shark Working Group would thus urge people using the ocean to be extra vigilant over the next few months, when the highest occurrence of inshore white shark activity is expected."
He added that the seasonal change was not unique to False Bay, with similar behaviour recorded in Gansbaai and Mossel Bay as well as in California in the US.
"In fact, anecdotal evidence from fishermen and military exercises suggest that this trend was documented in False Bay since the early 1900s," he said.
Shark spotting
The Cape Town city council recently adopted a five-year funding programme for the city's shark spotting programme, which is unique in the world.
"Yesterday, shark spotters recorded a shark sighting at Fish Hoek beach just after midday - the first in the area in months," Oelofse said. "A shark was also seen this past Saturday near Sonwabe beach, halfway between Strandfontein and Muizenberg."
Residents are being encouraged to use areas where shark spotters are on duty and to ask them about recent sightings and shark activity. They should also read the shark spotting signs and acquaint themselves with the four-flag warning system and use of a siren to close off the beach.
Shark spotting programmes currently operate seven days a week, from 8am to 6pm, at Muizenberg corner, St James beach, Fish Hoek and Noordhoek (The Hoek). From October the shift will be extended to 7pm.
From September, shark spotters will also be on duty from 10am to 6pm on weekends, school holidays and public holidays at Monwabisi beach, Mnandi beach, Blue Waters Beach and Clovelly Corner.
From 1 December, they will also monitor Glencairn Beach daily from 10am to 7pm.
These operational times coincide with lifesaving operational times. Regular, up-to-date information is available on the Shark Spotters website.
Source: BuaNews
