Sharks want fish, not humans - expert
2010-09-07 22:40
Jackie Kruger, Die Burger
George - There are at least 40 sharks in the bay at Mossel Bay at the moment, Ryan Johnson, of the independent research institute Ocean Research, said on Tuesday.
Since July, many sharks have been spotted along the Southern Cape coast because the predators are searching for food.
A shark warning was issued this past weekend at Plettenberg Bay, after a Zambezi shark was spotted at Lookout Beach early on Saturday morning.
According to Johnson, most of the sharks in the Mossel Bay area can currently be found near Seal Island, about 2km from the harbour.
Ocean Research is conducting research on the sharks to determine their behavioural patterns, among other things.
"There are not that many sharks at Hartenbos, but the sharks should migrate from Seal Island to the Klein- and Groot Brak rivers within the next few months," he said.
The reefs where Great White sharks hunt are located near coastal areas such as the Groot Brak River.
"Great White sharks are more likely to change their diets from seals to fish. The sharks are spreading out along the coast in search of food."
According to Johnson, Zambezi sharks, like the one that was spotted at Lookout Beach in Plettenberg Bay, are sensitive to water temperatures.
"It's happening increasingly often that these sharks follow big schools of pelagic fish, such as sardines and anchovies, near reefs."
"The reefs are usually up to 2km from the shore, said Johnson.
"So the sharks don't really pose a threat to swimmers."
According to Johnson there is no reason for concern over the increase in the number of sharks spotted along the coast.
"Sharks have been behaving in the same way for millions of years. They're looking for fish, not people.
"It's a good thing that the sharks are moving from areas such as Hartenbos to coastal areas such as Groot Brak River, since fewer people swim in the sea here during the Summer months," he said.
The last shark attack in the Mossel Bay area happened last year in September at Glentana. Gerhard van Zyl, 25, died when a shark bit off his right leg above the knee.