Shark Awareness

Considering the number of people who use the ocean on a daily basis, the actual number of attacks by Great White Sharks is extremely low. People are not the natural prey of the Great White Sharks. Cape Town has experienced 6 attacks in the last 5 yrs, and everyone entering the ocean must do so at their own discretion, knowing that they are entering a wild environment in which sharks naturally live.

We are entering their territory; they are not coming into ours.

Shark safety tips

If people exercise caution and are aware of their environment, the risk of attack can be lowered further. Here are some tips in reducing the risk of attack:

• Do not swim, surf or surf ski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby.
• Do not swim in deep water beyond the breakers.
• Do not swim if you are bleeding.
• Do not swim near river mouths.
• Do not swim, surf, surf ski at night.
• Do not swim near river mouths. Do not swim, surf or surf ski near where trek-netting, fishing or spear fishing is taking place.
• Do not dive for rock lobster using live bait.
• If a shark has recently been sighted in an area where no mountain watches are present, consider using another beach for the day.
• Obey beach officials if told to leave the water.
• Consider kayaking or surf skiing when far out to sea, in a group.
• Pay attention to shark signage on beaches.

Shark spotting

To improve safety, shark spotting programmes are currently active at Muizenberg and Fish Hoek beaches. (5 other beaches are busy establishing safety programmes.)

Flags- What do they mean?

• A Green Flag means visibility for the spotters is good and no sharks have been seen.
• A Black Flag means visibility is for the spotters is poor but no sharks have been seen.
• A Red Flag means that a shark has been seen, but is no longer visible to the spotters.
• A White Flag with a Black Shark, along with a loud siren, means a shark has been sighted and you should quickly, but calmly leave the water.
• No Flag visible means that spotters are not on duty.

However, people must be aware that although the shark spotting programmes are considered very effective, they can never be 100% effective, and people must still use the sea at their own risk.