Cape Town has been at the forefront of forward thinking on the issue of the presence of white sharks close to its shores. They have achieved this through the implementation of a conservation aware White Shark and Recreational Safety Policy and Strategy and the funding of the pioneering Shark Spotting Programme. The policy aims to find a balance between white-shark conservation and recreational safety, by identifying mitigation measures that ensure increased water safety in appropriate areas, while leaving our unique marine ecosystem intact.

An article, titled White sharks and humans - learning to live together, in their recent newsletter, Enviroworks, is further testament to this forward thinking. The article starts off as follows, “There have been sharks – including great white sharks – in our waters for thousands of years. To wish them away would be foolish, as these majestic animals are an icon of Cape Town, and offer much in ecological and tourism value. We simply have to accept that we share a space from time to time, and that we should do our best to do so with the least harm to either of our species”.

This is definitely a worthy read explaining why shark nets are not appropriate for Cape Town beaches and providing safety tips people can follow to decrease the already small risk of shark attack. The newsletter also includes other inspiring and thought provoking articles on climate change and its effect on coastal areas, marine and terrestrial animals common in Cape Town and goes on to recommend what individuals can do to make a positive change in their community.

Check it out here: Enviroworks

We are extremely proud to be a partner of the City and to be involved with a group of people dedicated to making a positive change in the conservation of sharks and their habitats.