City’s beach-loving citizens cautioned to be vigilant as shark season begins

AS CAPE TOWN’S winter gives way to warmer days, the City has warned people flocking to the beaches to be aware of the increase in in-shore activity by great white sharks.

“All beach and ocean users are reminded that the presence of great white sharks in in-shore areas increases at this time of the year,” said Mayco member for Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning, Johan van der Merwe, yesterday.

Van der Merwe said that shark sightings usually started late in August continuing until April, but that the most sightings were reported during the mid-summer months.

“We are also asking surfers to be especially vigilant in the areas between Sunrise and Macassar Beach as research has shown that the presence of sharks is extremely common at this time of year.”

He said that the City, together with its partner Shark Spotters, were hard at work doing all they could do to “enhance the safety of beachgoers and ocean users over this period”.

Van der Merwe urged members of the public to also take precautions and play their part in ensuring safety rules were followed while at the beach and in the ocean, and to report any shark sightings to Shark Spotters.

Some of these safety rules, he said, included only using beaches where spotters were on duty, and knowing what the Shark Spotters’ signs and the four flag warning system meant. It was important to listen for the warning siren and obey beach officials when told to leave the water.

Shark Spotters would be present at the following beaches from October 2016April 2017: St James/Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, Caves, Kogel Bay, Noordhoek, Clovelly, Glencairn and Monwabisi.

Van der Merwe also appealed to members of the public to not swim, surf or surf-ski when birds, dolphins and seals were seen feeding in the vicinity; to not go out in deep water beyond the breakers; not to swim if they were bleeding anywhere; and to not swim or surf near river mouths or at night.

He said people who paddled at sea should stay together in groups in a diamond formation and pay close attention to shark signs on the beaches, while paddlers and surfers should consider the use of a personal shark shield.

Van der Merwe added that in Fish Hoek a “shark exclusion net will be in operation from October 2016 to April 2017”. The net, he said, would be deployed at sea for the annual Fish Hoek Spring Splash on September 4.

People can also follow Shark Spotters on Twitter and Facebook.