Winter sees a return of the great whites

PLETTENBERG BAY – The first great white sharks of the winter season have arrived in Plett – almost like clockwork, according to shark expert Gareth Greenwood, operational manager of Plett Shark Spotters.

Greenwood said general trends and "an abundance of anecdotal and unpublished evidence" from the past 15 years show that they arrive around mid-April, "presumably to coincide with the young, predator-naive seal pups entering the water for the first time".

They are seen regularly throughout winter along the Robberg Peninsula and adjacent beaches.

Greenwood said the increased presence of white sharks in our area over the winter months means that swimmers and surfers are more likely to encounter a shark at this time.

"It is therefore important that water users are extremely vigilant when using the beaches and that additional safety measures are put in place to reduce the risk of a shark bite incident during these periods," he said.

In the earlier winter months, great whites appear to remain close to the Robberg Peninsula and adjacent beaches, patrolling the cliffs and rock ledges for the seal pups that are now old enough to forage for themselves and venture away from the colony on Robberg.

"As winter progresses and moves towards spring, the sharks appear to diffuse more into the bay and can be seen anywhere from the Robberg Peninsula, along the beaches to Keurboomstrand and beyond."

Shark Spotters

Greenwood said Shark Spotters is an effective proactive shark safety programme developed in Cape Town that uses trained observers to detect dangerous sharks close to popular recreational beaches, warning water users to temporarily vacate the ocean.

Started in 2004, the programme has grown significantly in Cape Town and now not only has a team dedicated to beach safety, but also conducts applied research on shark ecology, increases awareness and understanding of sharks and marine conservation through a dedicated education programme, and conducts proactive and reactive coastal conservation interventions.

After the two tragic shark incidents last year in Plettenberg Bay, a number of influential local stakeholders invested in beach safety and the Bitou Municipality formed a committee called the Plett Shark Action Group (PSAG) to address the shark issue.

In October 2022, the PSAG invited Shark Spotters from Cape Town to join them in finding sustainable solutions that would protect both people and sharks in Plettenberg Bay.

The sharks could even be spotted from the shoreline.