The City of Cape Town, as part of a holistic approach to the shark safety issue, is making R400 000 available to fund and support the Shark Spotting and Warning Programmes that are in place at Muizenberg and Fish Hoek beaches, as well as to facilitate the establishment of similar safety programmes at Sunrise Beach, Mnandi, Strandfontein, Monwabisi and Macassar. This funding forms part of the City's broader Urban Renewal Programme.

"Through supporting and extending these programmes, people from the local communities and lifesaving clubs will be trained to become shark spotters and skilled in first aid to respond to any shark attacks. While building capacity and creating jobs, these programmes will also provide a valuable service to both locals and tourists utilising our beaches" says Cllr Carol Beerwinkel, Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and the Environment.

This project is set to receive a further boost in the near future through an exciting collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Sanlam Marine Programme that is likely to greatly support the co-ordinated rollout of the project.

Based on information collected over the last 12 months on shark presence and activity in False Bay, the City, together with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), would like to caution beachgoers on shark presence, particularly along the False Bay coast. It is not recommended that people swim a long way out beyond the breakers and it is suggested that people swim and surf only during daylight hours and at beaches where lifesaving or shark spotting programmes are in place. As a general rule beachgoers should at all times be vigilant and aware and use the ocean at their own discretion.

The City, in partnership with DEAT and WWF South Africa, will be undertaking a Specialist Review to assess the current situation along Cape Town's coastline, with the aim of defining a long-term approach that will ensure both the conservation of the White Shark while lowering the risk of shark attack. Findings of this review will be made public during the first quarter of 2006.

As part of a larger scientifically conducted study on the abundance and distribution of White Sharks, DEAT scientists, with assistance from the City of Cape Town, Fish Hoek Lifesaving Club and the Muizenberg Shark Spotters, successfully fitted an acoustic tag to a White Shark on Saturday 19 November 2005, near Muizenberg. Tagging the sharks will enable scientists to track and follow their movements from a small boat. This information will go a long way in helping to understand shark behaviour which, in turn, will assist with suitable measures to improve safety on our beaches.

As part of a broader city partnership approach to shark safety, signs with information on sharks - what to be aware of and how to get help in the event of an attack - will soon be erected at city beaches. These signs have been sponsored and produced by the AfriOceans Conservation Alliance, with assistance from the Save Our Seas Foundation.

The City, along with its partners in the Shark Working Group, DEAT, Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Iziko Museums, Lifesaving SA, AfriOceans Conservation Alliance and the WWF Sanlam Marine Programme, will continue to monitor the situation and collect data on sightings and incidents.

The City would like to take this opportunity to thank those involved in both the Muizenberg and Fish Hoek programmes for the excellent public safety programmes that they have initiated. In particular, the City would like to thank the Fish Hoek Lifesaving Club for their efforts at Fish Hoek, and Mr Greg Bertish and his committee of volunteers for their efforts in establishing the shark spotting programme at Muizenberg. We also appreciate their willingness to partner with the City and the communities and lifesaving clubs at Sunrise Beach, Mnandi, Strandfontein, Monwabisi and Macassar to get similar shark spotting and warning programmes in place for the festive season.

Issued by:
Lisle Brown
Media Liaison Officer - City Of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400-3065 Cell: 084 888 1901
Directorate: Communication And Marketing
City Of Cape Town
E-mail : media@capetown.gov.za
Tel: 021 400-2201 Fax: 021 957 0023

Media Queries:
Gregg Oelofse
Policy And Research Co-Ordinator: Environmental Planning - City Of Cape Town
Tel: 021 487-2239 Cell: 083 940 8143

Michelle Preen
Communications And Marketing
Environmental Planning - City Of Cape Town
Tel: 021 487-2134 Cell: 073 272 3034