Massive sharks spotted in Plett
While it might be ominous seeing massive sharks swimming up and down Plettenberg Bay’s coastline, they are a sign of healthy ecosystems in the area.
In the past week there have been several great white shark sightings especially along the Robberg stretch of coast, and on Sunday at least four, including one of about 4m in length, could be seen between The Wreck and the Robberg seal colony.
Experts believe the increase in shark activity and the presence of other marine predators in the region could be attributed to the annual sardine run, as there was possibly more food available.
Director of research at Oceans Research in Mossel Bay, Enrico Gennari said although the sardine run typically only started near East London and occurred up towards the KwaZulu-Natal coast, it was possible that predator and prey activity associated with the run also occured further south.
While the Garden Route was a well-known area for shark activity, he added, an increase showed local favourable environmental conditions.
Research manager at Shark Spotters – an organisation that conducts research focused on inshore white shark presence and behavioural ecology – Dr Alison Kock said it was very important to remember that sharks played vital roles in South Africa’s oceans.
She explained sharks fed at the top of the food chain and they fed on a variety of prey from squid, to fish and other sharks to seals, dolphins and even scavenge on dead whales. As a result they impact these species in two main ways: they have a direct impact on prey abundance and indirectly they impact prey behaviour, for example prey will spend a lot of time trying to avoid being eaten, and the combination of these two effects means that white sharks play a regulatory role in the bay, influencing ecosystem structure and function.
She added that the presence of sharks, especially those at the top of the food chain, was a sign that there was enough food to support them, which suggested a relatively healthy ecosystem.
In the past week there have been several great white shark sightings especially along the Robberg stretch of coast, and on Sunday, May 15 at least four, including one of about 4m in length, could be seen between The Wreck and the Robberg seal colony.
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News