Shark nets: expensive and unnecessary burden

The City of uMhlathuze, via its portfolio system, Exco and Council mechanisms, is debating the issue of shark nets at Richards Bay.

Unfortunately, the discussion has been centred around who should be responsible for paying the bill for the high cost of servicing the shark nets – which currently is budgeted (and funded by ratepayers) at around R2.5-million per year.

The municipality believes the provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs should pick up the tab for the service fee paid to the KZN Sharks Board, or at least share it.

They also argue that the King Cetshwayo District should be included in sharing the cost burden.

We believe a fundamental mistake is being made: the issue is not a financial one, but an environmental one.

Firstly, the risk of shark attacks needs to be determined. We believe it to be extremely low.

This view is based on the history of shark attacks along our coast.

In a period of 65 years there have been only 15 incidents and four deaths; three of the fatalities were spearfishing at the time.

KZN is the only province that deploys shark nets which are, quite bluntly, culling machines.

They indiscriminately kill sharks, dolphins, rays, turtles and other by-catch that is snared in the gill nets.

Killing one species (sharks) to protect another (humans) makes no environmental sense.

One may as well kill lions to protect impala or take motorists off the road to protect pedestrians.

Besides, predator sharks have an important role to play in the ocean’s ecosystem.

Moreover, the presence of shark nets is no guarantee of preventing shark attacks.

The way they are located allows for sharks to freely move up and down the coast into bathing areas.

It might also be noted that beaches at places such as St Lucia are unprotected and have not seen shark attacks.

There is far, far more danger of drowning deaths than there is of shark attacks.

This should be a logical, scientific decision, not an emotional one.

Rather spend that money on improving lifesaver resources and preventing the dismal drowning scenario at places such as the Bay Hall bathing area.

It can also be better spent on educating a public that has been fed the falsehoods of movies like ‘Jaws’.

Sharks neither hunt nor eat humans, but as with grasseating hippos, occasionally man and beasts’ paths do cross, to the detriment of humans.

The shark nets are an unnecessary financial burden and an environmental abomination.