Shark attack: Official probe

2004-11-02 08:31

Elsabe Brits

Cape Town - Marine and Coastal Management has launched an intensive investigation into an incident over the weekend when a shark-diving operator was attacked by a shark, allegedly because he was "doing what he wasn't permitted to do".

Andre Hartman, 52, was bitten on the foot in Gansbaai while his leg was apparently hanging over the side of his boat. He was busy chumming - luring sharks to the boat with bait.

There were foreign tourists onboard the boat who were scheduled to watch the sharks from a diving cage.

Shaheen Moolla, chief director of fishing management at Marine and Coastal Management, said on Monday that a preliminary report indicated that Hartman apparently free dived with the sharks while bait was being used.

'Looking for trouble'

"It is against the law for operators to dive outside a cage when bait is being used. It is looking for trouble."

A trained operator and a specialist must also be onboard. This aspect is also under investigation.

"If it is found that any rules were broken, we will not hesitate to act very firmly. The safety of tourists and the reputation of the industry may not be jeopardised," Moolla said.

On his website where he advertises his packages, Hartman makes no secret that he dives without the requisite cages. Under a heading "Great white shark cage diving" one can read the following:

"This man (Andre Hartman) has no problem with free diving with the great white shark. Yes, you read correctly. Free diving with the great white shark!"

"We always did free diving and used bait in the winter when the water is clear. We never did it in summer because the water is murky. Since the new regulations have been introduced, we haven't done it again," Hartman said on Monday.

He said he wasn't free diving over the weekend and that it was "something someone dreamed up".

Operators have so-called permission to do business and they have to adhere to a code of conduct. The process of issuing official permits is expected to be introduced next year.

- Die Burger