Shark nets mooted for Cape

2004-11-16 18:23

Cape Town - While politicians and members of the public suggest putting up shark nets off the Cape coast, a shark expert has called for clear heads and cautioned against making hasty decisions when deciding on any measure to safeguard bathers.

Natal Sharks Board head of research, Geremy Cliff, was responding to questions on the feasibility of erecting shark nets - similar to those along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline - off the Cape coast following Monday's deadly attack on 78-year-old Tyna Webb by a Great White shark.

"One of the reasons why we haven't had them [the nets] in the Cape before is because the shark attacks were spread over different localities and time," said Cliff on Tuesday.

He said now with a seeming concentration of attacks in one area over a short space of time - Webb's attack was the third in 14 months - more pressure was being brought to bear on authorities to erect the shark nets.

Not physical barriers

Cliff said the shark nets were fishing devices and not physical barriers, and sharks could swim over or under the nets.

"If one looks in terms of the number of shark attacks, yes it is a success. Durban is exemplary," said Cliff on the nets efficacy and safety record.

A downside was that the nets not only caught dangerous sharks, but trapped dolphins, rays, turtles and other sharks such as hammerheads.

According to Cliff, the question local authorities needed to ask themselves was whether the situation along the Cape coast was serious enough, and what options could be taken.

Enclosures

Besides putting up nets, authorities could also look at creating enclosures, which basically entailed fencing off a certain area of the beach, with bathers inside and sharks outside.

"This sort of enclosure is used extensively in Hong Kong. However, it is very variable to wave and wind action... It might be possible along sheltered spots along the False Bay coast."

Cliff said there were limitations to using this method, particularly when one considered that most shark attacks were on board riders and surfers, beyond the fence boundary.

Baited lines

Another option available, which the Natal Sharks Board was currently experimenting with, was using baited lines or drum lines.

This consisted of a large drum anchored to the seabed with a large hook suspended below which "fished" for sharks.

"Results have been very encouraging. We've had a couple of hiccups but are confident we'll overcome these," said Cliff.

He said the Natal Sharks Board wanted to eventually replace a number of nets along the Durban beaches with these drum lines.

Short-term shark protection methods included aircraft patrols and increasing the number of lookout points along beaches in the Cape.

Cliff emphasised that shark attacks were rare, and once emotions had settled down, the pros and cons of shark protection initiatives needed to be thrashed out, because once implemented it would be for the "long haul".

- SAPA