PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A talk about the historical perspective on sharks and the killing of sharks will be presented to members of the Van Plettenberg Historical Society on Thursday 13 November. 

The speaker will be Bruce Noble, who has been observing the behaviour of great white sharks in Plettenberg Bay for over 20 years.

Between December 1957 and April 1958, at least nine shark attacks occurred along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal.

Six people lost their lives.

Tourists fled the Durban area, causing a devastating impact on the local economy. The killing of sharks continues to this day.

Depth charge

Without thorough research into the possible reason for the sudden increase in shark activity, local authorities made desperate attempts to protect swimmers and surfers from shark attacks. 

Many will remember these attempts which included enclosures built from wooden poles and netting.

A South African Navy frigate even dropped depth charges into the coastal waters, causing few shark fatalities but killing huge numbers of other species.

This resulted in many more sharks being attracted into the area to feast on the dead fish. Noble will touch on the blood-soaked and tragic events of Black December 1957, reflecting on the modern history of the South African great white shark.

He will reveal how these events and the indiscriminate killing of white sharks still affect us today - and of the impact on our own waters, our tourism and the entire ecosystem of the ocean.

The talk will take place in the Lagoon Room at Beacon Island Resort. A cash bar will be in operation. Book online via Quicket or in person at Barney's Kiosk, Market Square. For additional information, please send an email to info@pletthistory.org or phone Len Swimmer on 082 452 1799.

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