Only a few hours have passed since Camps Bay bodyboarder, David Lilienfeld was fatally attacked by a Great White shark in Koeelbaai, near Cape Town.

Less than two days ago, 2oceansvibe Reported the controversy around the awarding of filming permits to documentary film makers, who were chumming the water off the Cape Coast in a bid to attract Great Whites for tagging and filming purposes.

The tagging and filming had the support of the Western Cape’s Department of Environmental Affairs.

According to Alan Boyd of the department’s ocean and coast branch, who issued the research permit, the chumming would have little effect close to shore, especially as the large amount would be used over a 20-day period all along the southern coast. He also disputed reports that solid fish was being used, saying the chum was primarily marine mammal oils and scents used to create a “scent path”.

You can visualise it as a big household bucket filled with sardines being thrown into the water every hour or so. It will obviously have a local effect, which we want, but definitely won’t have an effect close to shore.

Moments ago, Boyd cancelled the permits that he defended a few days ago.

What happened this afternoon is a tragedy and I’ve cancelled all the Shark Men permits.

Friends and family would say it is much too late, we’re sure.

[Source: EWN]