South Africa: Re-instatement of shark safety gear on beaches in KwaZulu-Natal

According to media release by the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence (KZNSB) shark safety gear has been reinstalled and bathing reopened at the following beaches in KwaZulu Natal:

North Coast: 

• Richards Bay - Alkantstrand
• Zinkwazi
• Blythedale
• Salt Rock
• Willards Beach
• Westbrook
• Umhlanga Rocks

Durban: 

• Ushaka to Suncoast Beach inclusive

South Coast: 

• Amanzimtoti
• Umzumbe
• Southport
• St Michaels
• Margate
• Ramsgate
• San Lameer
• Glenmore
• Port Edward
  

The KZNSB will continue to deploy gear at the remaining beaches tomorrow (03 August 2018). Intense sardine and associated predator activity is still being experienced on the upper south coast between Illovu and Scottburgh. The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board Maritime Centre of Excellence will continue to monitor this activity and only replace gear at beaches within this region once the activity subsides.

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.