GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - An increase in shark encounters and sightings along the Garden Route is part of a developing phenomenon, experts say, that has seen certain marine ecosystems shift from the Western Cape to the Southern Cape coast.
This view was put forward after yet another shark encounter at Keurboomstrand, during which a 14-year-old surfer from Port Elizabeth was bitten by what is believed to be a great white shark, on April 29.
Local marine biologist Dr Gwen Penry said that sightings and encounters of this nature is not an uncommon occurrence in the Plettenberg Bay area, but part of trend that has been developing over the past three years.
“We have seen a substantial increase in the prevalence of sharks, particularly white sharks, over the past three years. And this is not only in the Plett area, it is happening all along the Southern Cape coast,” Penry said.
She added that one of the biggest reasons for this is the shifting of marine ecosystems, especially in terms of these sharks’ food sources, which is experiencing a definite shift from the Western Cape coast to the Southern Cape coast. She added that there are a number of reasons for this, which includes climate change and fishing pressures.
Penry added that at this time of the year, white sharks are particularly prevalent in the area due to the start of the annual sardine run which happens in the autumn and winter months.
She further said that Plettenberg Bay is one of the only places in the world where one could stand on land and view great whites in the natural habitat. This is possible especially from the Robberg Peninsula, where sharks are often spotted swimming up and down the coast.
Penry said that the best ways of reducing a run-in with a shark is to stick to visiting beaches where lifeguards are on duty.
“Our NSRI and other role players do aerial patrolling and immediately relay information about shark sightings to lifeguards on the beach.”
It is because of this that the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) issued a warning last week that there had been a number of white shark sightings in recent days and urged beachgoers along the Southern Cape coastline to be cautious.
Despite this warning on Friday, April 28, a day later, at 17:00, NSRI volunteers had to respond to reports of someone having been bitten by a shark at The Waves – a popular surf spot at Keurbooms.
According to reports, the 14-year-old surfer that got bitten was one of three surfers in the water at the time of the incident.
“At the backline he turned to catch a wave when he saw a fin approaching him. He felt a bump and a bite on his right calf,” said NSRI spokesperson Peter Lambinon.
The youngster then caught a wave to the beach where he was met by his father, who had witnessed the incident. Bystanders were also on the beach and rendered assistance while raising the alarm.
When emergency personnel arrived they found the teenager on the beach with bite marks and lacerations to his right calf.
“He was treated by NSRI medics and by paramedics on the scene before being transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition,” Lambinon added.
As a normal precaution, he was kept there overnight before being discharged.
Lambinon said shark researchers would investigate the incident to determine the species and size of the shark, but that initial indications were that the injuries had been caused by the bite of a white shark of about 2m in length.
Recent incidents
In December last year, a Pretoria man was lucky to escape harm when a 4m great white shark knocked him off his surf-ski between Keurbooms and Central beach. The shark bit a large piece out of the surf-ski, but the man made it back to the beach safely.
A similar scenario played out in April last year near Robberg Beach, where another man was knocked off his surf-ski by a shark.
However, in June 2015, two youngsters were not so lucky. A 19-year-old student, Dylan Reddering, was bitten by a shark while surfing at Lookout Beach in Plettenberg Bay on June 26, and 19-year-old Caleb Swanepoel lost his leg during a shark attack while body surfing at Buffalo Bay the next day.
Lambinon said that while the NSRI and other emergency services were well prepared to deal with any incidents, including having volunteers carrying medical shark kits on rescue boats and vehicles, several safety measures should be taken when visiting the beach.
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby.
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski where, fishing or spear-fishing is taking place.
• 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 or surf-ski at night.
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski if there has been a whale stranding nearby.
• Obey beach officials and lifeguards if told to leave the water.
• If a shark has recently been sighted in an area, consider using another beach for the day.
• First-time visitors to beach areas should ask the local law enforcement official, lifeguards or locals about the area.
• For those people kayaking or surf-skiing far out to the sea, please consider paddling in groups and staying close together (in a diamond formation).
• Consider using a personal shark shield when you go surfing or kayaking.
• Pay attention to any shark signage on beaches.
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski alone.
• In a sea rescue emergency along the Plettenberg Bay coastline call the NSRI Plettenberg Bay emergency number 082-990-5975. The national emergency number is 112, dialled from a cellphone.
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