[imagesource; Hennie Otto / Shark Watch SA]

The great white sharks have begun to reappear in and around the Cape, which is great news for shark cage diving operators and other businesses that rely on their presence.

In the Gansbaai area, one of the most well-known operators is Marine Dynamics, although the company now says some recent incidents could threaten the future of the shark cage diving industry.

Particularly, what happened this past Wednesday (February 19), when tour operators were appalled to see a fishing boat catching bronze whaler sharks “in full view of where they were busy observing the sharks”.

Traveller24’s Selene Brophy spoke with Marine Dynamics owner Wilfred Chivell, who says incidents like this could be a “death knell for their shark cage diving industry”:

In an effort to prevent the complete implosion of the shark cage diving industry in Gansbaai, operators in the area have resorted to a number of measures to preserve the billion-rand, eco-tourism industry that employs an estimated 250 people, and indirectly supports more than 1 600 dependents – from proposing a propose a small exclusion zone for the fishing of bronze whaler sharks, to trying to compensate the fishermen in order to ensure the survival of the species.

“Operators have paid out close to R900 000 over the last three years. The presence of the “Bronzies” has ensured the viability of the shark cage diving industry during a time when great white shark sightings are more infrequent due to a variety of reasons,” says Chivell.

This image, taken by Marine Dynamics, shows fishermen catching the sharks on February 19 in the shark cage diving zone. The other boat to our right is the negotiator to ask them to cease fishing:

On the morning in question, four bronze sharks (also known as copper sharks) were hauled out of the water and killed. Whilst there is nothing illegal about that, operators like Chivell believe more must be done to prevent shark catching, especially in such close proximity to where tourists are taken:

Chivell says, “Whilst we fully understand that fishermen can legally catch bronze whaler sharks, the minimal amount that they stand to lose by not fishing in the same area where we take our guests, cannot compare to the loss of an entire eco-tourism industry.”

“If the capture and killing of these sharks continue in this small and specific area in which we operate, it will lead to companies closing and people losing their jobs.”

Image: Marine Dynamics

…“Our companies invest millions in infrastructure and marketing that benefits the entire tourism industry in the Western Cape. We know that travellers base their decision on where to stay on the activities available in an area. Shark cage diving is one of those key activities,” says Chivell.

Chivell and others have made contact with the minister of the newly combined Department of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Minister Barbara Creecy, who indicated that a meeting should be tabled to discuss the matter.

That was in August of last year, and has yet to occur. In the meantime, Chivell wants Creecy to declare an “emergency exclusion zone” where catching of any sharks is prohibited, so that the operators and their paying guests aren’t forced to watch on.

It would be lovely if the only things killing our sharks was our orcas, but we’re long past that stage.

At the very least, some sort of impasse needs to be reached until such time as the stakeholder meeting can take place.

[source:traveller24]