The success of the Shark Spotting Programme at the community level resulted in the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management department formally adopting shark spotters in 2006 as Cape Town’s primary shark safety measure, and committing funding for the following 5 years. In 2012, after an external review, the City committed a further 3 years of funding for the programme. Save Our Seas Foundation also came on board as primary funder and local businesses such as Reef Wetsuits, Wavescape, Bondi Blu and Kamakura all contribute to the programme annually.
The programme has attracted international and local attention because of the novel way it seeks to find a solution to potential conflicts between sharks and people. Shark spotters are positioned at strategic points along the Cape Peninsula, primarily along the False Bay coastline. A spotter is placed on the mountain with polarised sunglasses and binoculars. This spotter is in radio contact with another spotter on the beach. If a shark is seen, the beach spotter sounds a siren and raises a white flag with a black shark. When the siren sounds, the water users are requested to leave the water and only return when the appropriate ‘all clear’ signal is given. Shark spotters use colour-coded flags to communicate with the public regarding shark conditions on the day. Since the programme began in 2004 more than 1,300 shark sightings have been recorded at spotter beaches, with over 60% of these sightings resulting in temporary beach closures. These figures bear testimony to the success of the programme and its effectiveness at actively reducing the risk of shark-human interactions.
The Shark Spotting Programme improves beach safety through both shark warnings and emergency assistance in the event of a shark incident. It also provides employment opportunities and skills development for its staff that are sourced from previously disadvantaged communities. The programme also involves the conducting of applied research focused on inshore white shark presence and behavioural ecology in Cape Town to inform public safety policy, management strategies and education and awareness. An adaptive management approach is taken to human-shark conflict, which is responsive to conflict and is proactive in using research and best practices.
Key objectives of the research are to:
1) describe spatial and temporal movements of sharks in Cape waters;
2) determine the influence of environmental variables on movement and behaviour;
3) determine the influence of prey availability and distribution on movement and behaviour;
4) identify population trends; and
5) actively engage with, and test where possible, shark safety technology and developments.
Shark attack information is collated and all local incidents are responded to in order to collect factual and objective information. Fact-based information is used to lead a communication strategy that aims to provide objective and informed information to the public around shark-human conflict issues.
The Shark Spotting Programme involves close partnership with the NSRI and SA Lifesaving and has distributed several shark attack kits to Cape Town beaches, trained City officials in emergency first aid and provides regular reports on shark presence to a range of organisations.
Shark spotters are operational at the following coastal locations:
Summer (From start of school holidays in September until the following Easter):
Muizenberg corner 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
St James 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
Fish Hoek 7 days a week from 07:00 to 18:45
Noordhoek (The Hoek) 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
Clovelly Weekends, public and school holidays from 10:00 to 17:00
Glencairn Weekends, public and school holidays from 08:00 to 18:00
Caves (Kogel Bay) 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
Winter
Muizenberg corner 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
St James 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
Fish Hoek 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
Noordhoek (The Hoek) 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
Caves (Kogel Bay) 7 days a week from 08:00 to 18:00
Please familiarise yourself with the following shark warning signs before visiting the above locations:
Flag warning system [PDF 454 KB]
Be shark smart - information and safety tips [PDF 325 KB]
Shark warning - high risk area, swim at own risk [PDF 239 KB]
The following fact sheets on the white shark are available for download:
Fact Sheet 1 – White Shark facts [PDF 34 KB]
Fact Sheet 2 - Mitigation measures to reduce the risk of shark encounters [PDF 39 KB]
Fact Sheet 3 - Shark-based tourism and encounters [PDF 37 KB]
Fact Sheet 4 – Tips on shark safety [PDF 45 KB]
A specialist report on white sharks is available for download:
Finding a Balance – White Shark Conservation and Recreational Safety in the Inshore Waters of Cape Town, South Africa, Aug. 2006 [Zipped PDF 3.4 MB]
Proceedings of a specialist workshop to address white shark conservation and recreational safety in Cape Town. A number of highly regarded experts contributed fifteen scientific and background papers which were reviewed by the editors. Several key conclusions and recommendations were made based on the information presented. These recommendations have played a central role in informing the City’s Draft White Shark and Coastal Recreational Safety policy and strategy.
For further information, visit the Shark Spotters website at www.sharkspotters.org.za, or contact:
Sarah Titley (Project Manager: Shark Spotters)
Cell: +27 (0)78 174 4244
E-mail: sharkspotters@gmail.com
Alison Kock (Research Director: Shark Spotters)
Cell: +27 (0)72 661 9516![]( "Call: +27 (0)72 661 9516")
E-mail: alison@sharkspotters.org.za
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