Call for solutions after second fatal Plett shark attack in months

Research being done on use of repelling magnets, residents say nets could make beaches safer

After the second fatal shark attack within months in Plettenberg Bay at the weekend, calls have increased in the town to address the situation.

A 39-year-old woman died in the attack yesterday.

On June 28, resident Bruce Wolov died after being attacked by a shark at Sanctuary Beach in Plettenberg Bay.

National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Craig Lambinon said all beaches in the town had been closed by the Bitou municipality after yesterday’s incident, which occurred shortly before 8am.

Bitou municipal spokesperson Andile Namntu said the council had earlier this year approved research on having a shark barrier installed at Central Beach.

Namntu said the research would go a long way to assist in understanding the behaviour of the sharks.

“There seems to be more shark activity at our beaches,” Namntu said.

“This is very unusual compared with previous years.

“The municipality has also established a shark committee to work with experienced private sector personnel to assist with limiting such incidents.”

However, marine biologist Dr Sara Andreotti of Shark Safe Solutions, who approached Bitou for a permit to do the research, said the installation of the SharkSafe™Barrier was still a long way away and would come at a great expense

She said the research could also negatively affect one of the region’s biggest financial sectors, tourism. The almost R30m barrier SSB bio-mimics is a natural kelp forest interspersed with shark-repelling magnets.

“We are at a very early stage. We have been speaking to the Plettenberg Bay municipality since last year. We are still applying for the permit, still trying to find out the best way to raise funding to do the research.

“In the meantime I have reached out to the municipality in an attempt to appeal to the public to be cautious in the water. [And] to share tips about shark behaviour and ways to reduce the chances of shark accidents happening,” she said.

Namntu said while they had lifeguards on duty and worked with institutions such as the NSRI, they still needed to beef up operations.

“This is a new phenomenon that there is increased shark activity in our beaches.

“We are trying to adapt to the situation, hence our approval of the research proposal.

“The municipality will have to beef up operations around our normal guarding activities,” he said.

Residents took to social media at the weekend to voice their concerns.

Deborah de Villiers said: “We’re going to need shark nets placed near the BI — like in Fish Hoek ... for us and our visitors to be able to swim safely.”

Another resident said better signs regarding sharks and the shark flags were needed at the beaches.

“As far as I’m aware the nets create more of a problem to wildlife and do not necessarily prevent sharks from coming through.”

Another resident said: “This could have been prevented if beaches were closed at this time of year. It’s way too risky. How many more before we do something?”