South Africa: Shark nets removed from KwaZulu-Natal's beaches due to strike action!

According to a recent media release by the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence (KZNSB), all shark safety gear at protected beaches along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal has been temporarily removed due to upcoming strike action over wage and other demand negotiations by their workers. The strike, which is initiated by the South African Liberated Public Sector Workers Union (SALIPSWU), is set to start on 27 July 2018. The duration of this strike action is unknown at this time.

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The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence (KZNSB) maintains shark nets and drum lines off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal to protect bathers and surfers from shark attacks at a total of 37 beaches. Most of the shark nets deployed by the KZNSB are 214m long and 6m deep and are secured at each end by two 35kg anchors; all have a stretched mesh of 51cm. The nets are laid in two parallel rows approximately 400m offshore and in water depths of 10-14m.