Great White Shark Spotted In False Bay
First great white shark spotted in False Bay in 20 months!
A great white shark was spotted in False Bay on Tuesday – for the first time in 20 months, a City of Cape Town official confirmed.
Following the lack of great white shark activity in the False Bay area, conservation groups are delighted to hear the news that a great white shark was spotted in the very area the species are reported to have disappeared from.
In recent years a lack of great white sharks has been recorded in the area with many blaming the presence of orcas or killer whales for their absence, but luckily for those who thought these majestic creatures would never wander into the area again, one has finally been spotted.
The number of great white sharks in the area started declining between 2016 and 2017. By 2019, not a single great white was spotted in the area. This was a huge cause for concern for conservationists as many feared the drastic effects this could have on False Bay’s marine ecosystem.
Gregg Oelofse, who is in charge of coastal management at the City, said the shark was sighted in the middle of the bay at Seal Island in the morning.
“We welcome the sighting, but it is too early to refer to it as a ‘development’,” said Oelofse.
“We are monitoring the situation and will only be able to determine the significance, or a possible return of the great white sharks to False Bay, once more sharks are sighted over an extended period of time.”
Chris Fallows, owner of Apex Shark Expeditions, said they had been at the island to look for sevengill sharks.
“When the crew was getting ready to dive, they had a four metre great white shark come up to the boat,” he said.
“When you have worked with them for 25 years and they suddenly disappear, to see one of your old friends come back is a fantastic experience.”
Shark Spotters’ applied research programme has been monitoring white shark activity and behavioural ecology in False Bay since 2004.
Spotters were in place at the popular beaches of Fish Hoek, Clovelly, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, Monwabisi and the Caves at Kogel Bay.
The City and Shark Spotters will continue to monitor shark activity in False Bay.
Source: News24