Plight of sharks highlighted
A local resident not only set a South African record for offshore free diving, but also used his talent to draw awareness to the plight of sharks.
Trevor Hutton from Stanford, a free-diving champion and country record holder, along with Lesley Rochat, director of Afrioceans, recently launched a new campaign to draw awareness and attention to the plight of sharks. They are hoping to force government into action.
Sharks are being caught and killed daily and out of over 100 species of sharks found in South African waters, only three species are protected, Hutton said.
On 31 May, Kim Sharklady Maclean was invited as a VIP guest and took part in supporting this campaign by joining to witness Trevor’s South African record offshore free dive attempt.
At 10:33, Trevor broke the surface after completing a 70 meter free dive, with only a single dolphin fin and a pair of swimming goggles. This took place 20 miles off the Natal coast, in a pelagic zone and an area where sharks have been killed, caught and slaughtered.
“It was a very special moment and an amazing experience I will never forget, and I am especially proud as Trevor is from our hometown and surrounds,” Maclean said.
She will soon be inviting Hutton and Rochat to visit and give a talk on the campaign as well as Hutton’s training and experiences abroad.
JANINE VAN DER RIET
Source: Hermanus Times