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Sunday’s shark attack in Plettenberg Bay, which tragically claimed the life of Kimon “Kiki” Bisogno, is the second fatal attack in the area in the past three months and the third since 2011.

In a statement following the most recent attack, which occurred at Central Beach, NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the Bitou Municipality council has approved research on a shark barrier.

That will form part of a more comprehensive three-part plan, titled the Plett Shark Action Plan, as laid out by municipal spokesperson Andile Namntu.

At present, there are 12 shark-bite kits placed on Plett’s major beaches and WhatsApp groups have been set up to share news of sightings.

IOL below:

Stage 1: ‘Shark Smart’ signage, collateral and public awareness

Signage: Private funding was donated to assist the Bitou Municipality with signage that creates awareness and shark-smart actions that are focused on potential sharks along the Plett coastline, both graphically and with text.

Fliers will be distributed to home rental agencies, hotels, guest houses, lodges, and B&Bs by the end of October. A national communications plan, led by Plett Tourism, is also set to launch next month.

Stage 2: Shark deterrent measures

The Bitou Municipality approved the research for shark-deterrent options on May 31. The research will take about 18 months before it can be determined if shark-deterrent structures are a viable option for the Plett coastline.

In Cape Town, using Fish Hoek beach as an example, a shark exclusion barrier is used. This differs from a traditional shark net both in effectiveness and environmental impact.

Stage 3: Shark spotting

The Bitou Municipality approved additional lifeguards on the main beaches of Plett during high season and popular public holidays. This will be implemented from October 1.

The Bitou Municipality has identified two potential physical locations for employed Shark Spotters at the Lookout Beach and Robberg Beach areas, with raised vantage points. Shark spotters will be appointed.

The deployment of drones, stationary cameras, and specialised water-monitoring software is also being considered.

A team of monitors would analyse the data produced and notify authorities to close the beaches.

CEO of Shark Spotters, Sara Waries, spoke on CapeTalk this week about other precautions authorities and beachgoers may want to take:

As friends and family mourn the passing of Bisogno, her Observatory pizzeria has turned into a place for residents to pay tribute.

[sources:iol&capetalk]