Capetonians have been warned that False Bay’s white sharks are expected to start moving towards the Peninsula’s eastern shores.
|||Cape Town - Capetonians and visitors have been warned that False Bay’s white sharks are expected to start moving towards the Peninsula’s eastern shores - but have been urged not to panic.
Not since May have shark spotters seen a shark at any of the city’s beaches - but that was about to change, said Gregg Oelofse, the city’s head of environmental policy and strategy.
“Every year at the end of August we start expecting to see them, and then see them use the inshore area as their primary territory,” he explained.
“Kayakers and surf-skiers were specifically asked to be cautious of the area between Sunnycove and Glencairn Beach, and swimmers were urged not to use the water off Jaegers Walk in Fish Hoek unless the exclusion net is in place, as this is considered a high-risk area,” he said. “Surfers are asked to be especially vigilant in the areas between Sunrise Beach and the Macassar Beach area during the spring and summer months, as research has shown that shark presence in these waters is extremely common at this time of year.
“There is unequivocally this very distinct change between winter and summer, in which they stop predating almost exclusively on seals around Seal Island,” Oelofse said.
“We don’t know specifically why there’s that change. In summer we have these strong south-easters and we take a lot of dead seals off our beaches - many of them very young. So you have all these seal carcasses floating off the island, but no sharks.”
This absence of white sharks resulted in white shark cage-diving operators moving to far deeper waters, up to 20 nautical miles offshore from Cape Point, to see mako and blue sharks instead, he explained.
“Even though there’s this presence in the inshore areas, the chance of actually encountering one of these animals is minuscule. They have absolutely no interest in us.
“If they did, they would be picking us off all day every day - but the complete opposite is true. So the seasonal movement of white sharks “should not be threatening or scary”, Oelofse said. “If people follow basic suggestions, the chance of encountering these animals is minuscule.”
The city advises the following:
* Use areas where Shark Spotters are on duty.
* Read the signs to inform yourself of the warning system.
* Do not swim, surf or surf-ski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby.
* Do not swim, surf or surf-ski where trek-netting, fishing or spear-fishing is taking place.
* Do not swim in deep water beyond the breakers.
* Do not swim if you are bleeding.
* Do not swim near river mouths.
* Do not swim, surf or surf-ski at night.
* The rate of encounters with great white sharks rises significantly when the water is warmer (18ºC or higher), and during new moon.
* First-time visitors to beach areas should ask the local law enforcement official, lifeguards or locals about the area.
* Obey beach officials if told to leave the water.
* Kayakers and surf-skiers should paddle in groups.
* Consider using a personal shark shield when you go surfing or kayaking.
Cape Argus