Narrow escape and shark alert
Authorities are urging beachgoers to be cautious along the Southern Cape coastline, especially around the Plettenberg Bay area, after several shark spottings and a close encounter with one over the past week.
Not only did lifeguards close all of Plett’s Robberg beaches on Sunday 22 April following shark sightings, but a local man was lucky to have escaped unscathed after what is believed to be a 2.5m great white shark breached beneath his paddle-ski and knocked the man into the water.
Narrow escape
NSRI Plettenberg Bay deputy station commander Robbie Gibson said they received reports of the incident at Robberg beach at about 09:40 on Sunday and on the NSRI rescuers’ arrival, they found the 33-year-old local man safely ashore.
“Following the incident the man lost his balance and landed up in the water and he swam to shore climbing onto rocks and he was not injured,” Gibson said.
NSRI crew recovered his paddle-ski from the water and the man was transported to Wreck beach, where his car was parked. He required no medical attention and no further assistance was required. His paddleski, however, did not come away intact, with a huge hole leaving evidence of the shark’s bite.
Be cautious, urges NSRI
Following the incident, the NSRI urged the public to be cautious along the Garden Route coastline between Nature’s Valley and Mossel Bay – in particular around the Plettenberg Bay area.
“Sharks are aggregating in this area at this time, as they have done in previous years, to take advantage of naturally occurring prey like seals and fish close inshore.
In particular, a large number of shark sightings have been recorded along the Plettenberg Bay coastline.”
Seasonal appearance
According to the Plett-based Orca Foundation, young great white sharks are starting to make their seasonal appearance near the Cape fur seal colony in the Robberg marine protected area.
“The timing of their arrival is strongly linked to the behaviour of naive little seal pups which are now venturing further away from the colony as they explore the shallow waters surrounding the peninsula,” the Orca Foundation team said.
Data being gathered
Juvenile great whites are known to feed predominantly on fish and other sharks, supplementing their diet with marine mammals such as seals when they reach roughly 3m in length.
The organisation’s volunteers have been performing dedicated land-based observations from cliff-top vantage points on the Robberg peninsula since January this year.
They record sightings of sharks, seal behaviour and nonlethal shark-inflicted wounds.
Data will be used to examine the impact of seasonal shark presence on seal behaviour and travel group size. They will also look at the significance of shark predation as a mortality factor in this breeding colony.
Rescuers ever-prepared
Local NSRI volunteers are well prepared to deal with any shark-related incidents as they carry emergency medical shark kits on all rescue boats, the NSRI rescue vehicle and NSRI Plettenberg Bay medics are carrying these emergency medical shark kits in their private vehicles to ensure the quickest response to any incident.
How to stay on the safe side
The NSRI, however, advises the public not to venture out into the water when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby or where fishing or spearfishing is taking place.
It is also recommended to refrain from swimming in deep water beyond the breakers or from swimming when you are bleeding. It is also not advisable to swim near river mouths or at night. Bathers should also avoid entering the water if there has been a whale stranding in the area.
“Obey beach officials and lifeguards if told to leave the water. If a shark has recently been sighted in an area, consider using another beach for the day.
“First-time visitors to beach areas should ask the local law enforcement official, lifeguards or locals about the area.”
People kayaking or surf-skiing far out to the sea are advised to paddle in groups and stay close together. “Consider using a personal shark shield when you go surfing or kayaking. Pay attention to any shark signage on beaches. Do not swim, surf or surf-ski alone.”
Help is a call away
In an emergency, call 112 or call the NSRI Plettenberg Bay sea rescue emergency number 082 990 5975.