XA!nini African Wildlife Safaris
Greetings!

 "No, no sharks today", came the answer before any words came out of my mouth. I'm standing on Boyes Drive, one of the most scenic drives along the False Bay coastline at Surfer's Corner, which is one of the strategic Shark Spotting points. Like every other Sunday tripper and tourist, I've stopped in fascination to ask the same question;"have you seen any sharks today?"

Shark Spotters is a pioneering shark safety program that has attracted international and local attention because of the novel way it seeks to find a solution to potential conflicts between False Bay's apex predators (Great White sharks) and people. Adopted by the City of Cape Town in 2004 in a response to a spate of shark bite incidents and increased shark sightings, Shark Spotting is now the primary shark safety programme used in Cape Town.

Shark Spotters operate in shifts of between five to six hours a day. Each Spotter is equipped with a good pair of binoculars, polarised sunglasses, branded clothing and is able to communicate with other Spotters via means of a hand held radio.

Shark sightings are more prevalent in the winter months, when seals give girth on Seal Island. The island then becomes a favourite hang-out for Great Whites as the pups take their first plunge into the Indian Ocean. Day trips to the island can be very exciting!



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Great White Sharks are apex predators which play a vital role in the health and biodiversity of our marine ecosystem. They are fully protected in South Africa and cannot be hunted, killed, fished or harmed. Doing so, could see you heavily fined or behind bars for up to two years. They are listed as Vulnerable on the ICUN Red list, which means like gorillas, they face a high risk of extinction.

So if you spot a black shadow gliding in the murky shallows, report it immediately to
sharkspotters@gmail.com or call 078 174 4244.

For a host of really interesting information, log onto the Shark Spotters website
www.sharkspotters.org.za.



Shark Spotters Fact File:
• Shark Spotters is a non-profit organization managed by the Kommetjie Environmental Awareness Group (KEAG).
• On the Cape Peninsula, the first fatalities were recorded at Seaforth and Simonstown, in 1900 and 1901. Since 1960 however, only 25 attacks have occurred on the Cape Peninsula.
• That is less than one attack per year. Of these 25, a high percentage has been on spear fishers. Only four of these last 25 attacks have proved to be fatal.
• Latest shark sighting: 20th August at Fish Hoek!

* All pictures copyright Lisa Marsden