It is that time of the year again, when increasing numbers of sharks are appearing along the False Bay coastline.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has urged bathers, surfers and paddlers along the coastline, predominantly between Macassar and Fish Hoek, to be cautious.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said yesterday: “This is where shark researchers are again noticing an annual trend at this time of the year, where white shark activity shifts away from Seal Island and progresses inshore, along the coastline.
“This activity appears to concentrate between Macassar and Strandfontein but white shark patrols frequently notice the stretch to Fish Hoek and further,” he said. Bathers, surfers and paddlers in False Bay were advised to be cautious and to be aware of this phenomenon, he said.
Shark research shows a trend in white sharks disappearing from around Seal Island – after seasonal hunting of Cape fur seals during August – to progress close in-shore along the False Bay coast in search of natural food. They are looking for summer fish that occur in this habitat.
“It is predicted that surfers at the popular surfing spots of Nine Miles and Cemetery, and bathers between Strandfontein and Macassar are most prone, at this time of year, to be in an area with the highest density of white sharks – although the advice of caution to water users stretches along the entire False Bay shoreline.
“Researchers are also advising caution around southern right whales, where increased white shark activity is recorded, possibly indicating white sharks hunting whale calves, after birth, or stillborn calves,” Lambinon said.
People are also advised to avoid surfing and swimming where fishermen use large pieces of bait to catch sharks, as this form of fishing is believed to lead to increased shark activity.
And bathers along the popular bathing and surfing beaches between Muizenberg and Fish Hoek should adhere to the shark spotters’ sirens and leave the water when they are activated.
Analysis of the shark spotters’ data from Muizenberg and Fish Hoek – the two beaches with the highest number of shark sightings – revealed that in more than 65% of sightings, sharks were observed swimming behind the breakers, travelling from one side of the beach to another, parallel to the shore.
“This suggests that in most cases sharks are simply swimming past these beaches on their way to another location,” said Alison Kock of the Save our Seas Foundation.
“And we recommend that water users in areas of high shark activity limit the amount of time they spend behind the breakers far away from shore,” she said.
Data has also shown that in the event of a whale stranding, shark sightings increase significantly at adjacent beaches, and may persist for up to a week after the stranding.
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