International Shark Attack File: South Africa experienced two non-fatal shark attacks in 2018

According to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File (ISAF), South Africa experienced two non-fatal shark attacks in 2018*. Another four remaining unclassified attacks from South Africa are still under investigation. A total of 130 incidents of alleged shark-human interaction occured worldwide in 2018. Out of the 130 interactions between humans and sharks, 66 cases are confirmed unprovoked shark attacks on humans, while 34 are confirmed as provoked attacks on humans.

• Unprovoked Attacks - 66 incidents
• Provoked Attacks - 34 incidents
• Boat Attacks - 9 incidents
• Scavenge - 4 incidents
• Habituation - 1 incident
• Public Aquaria - 1 incident
• Doubtful - 10 incidents
• Not Confirmed - 5 incidents
• Total Cases - 130 incidents
  

The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) defines unprovoked attacks as "incidents where an attack on a live human occurs in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark" and provoked attacks as incidents where "a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way. These include instances when divers are bitten after harassing or trying to touch sharks, attacks on spearfishers, attacks on people attempting to feed sharks, bites occurring while unhooking or removing a shark from a fishing net, etc." [src.]

 
The International Shark Attack File (est. 1958) is housed at the Florida Museum of Natural History and is the only scientifically-generated database that documents and monitors shark attacks on a global basis.

*South Africa has an annual average of four total shark attacks and one fatality.

Cape Town: Spring and Summer Months = Shark Time!

The City of Cape Town would like to remind beachgoers to adhere to the warnings that will be issued by the shark spotters on duty at eight beaches in Cape Town to ensure that everyone has a safe, enjoyable beach experience. The Shark Spotters will be on duty from 12 December 2018 to 07 January 2019 at the following beaches:

• Muizenberg
• St James/Kalk Bay
• Caves in Kogel Bay
• Glencairn
• Clovelly
• Monwabisi 
• Fish Hoek
• The Hoek in Noordhoek
  

The shark exclusion net is already being deployed at Fish Hoek beach from 09:00 to 17:00 on a daily basis (weather permitting) as the presence of sharks along the False Bay coastline is more prevalent during warmer months.

The Shark Spotters Information Centre at Surfers Corner in Muizenberg is open to the public from 08:00 until 18:00 seven days a week. The centre provides up-to-date information on sharks and marine ecology, basic first-aid, general public assistance and help with emergencies, and storage of valuables and lost property.
 
The shark spotters operating times will be as follows:

• Muizenberg
• Summer (October to April) Mon - Sun, 08:00 - 18:00
• Winter (May to September) Mon - Sun, 08:00 - 18:00
• St James/Kalk Bay
• Summer (October to April) Mon - Sun, 08:00 - 18:00
• Winter (May to September) Mon - Sun, 08:00 - 18:00
• Fish Hoek
• Summer (October to April) Mon - Sun, 07:00 - 18:45
• Winter (May to September) Mon - Sun, 08:00 - 18:00
• Caves, Kogel Bay
• Summer (October to April) Mon - Sun, 08:00 - 18:00
• Winter (May to September) Mon - Sun, 08:00 - 17:00
• Nordhoek (The Hoek)
• Summer (October to April) Mon - Sun, 08:00 - 18:00
• Winter (May to September) N/A
• Clovelly
• Summer (October to April) Weekends, Public Holidays and School Holidays 10:00 - 17:00
• Winter (May to September) N/A
• Glencairn
• Summer (October to April) Weekends, Public Holidays and School Holidays 10:00 - 18:00
• Winter (May to September) N/A
• Monwabisi
• Summer (October to April) Weekends, Public Holidays and School Holidays 10:00 - 18:00
• Winter (May to September) N/A
  

The City of Cape Town encourages the public to familiarise themselves with the following safety tips:

• Use beaches where shark spotters are on duty
• Take the time to speak to the shark spotters on the day you visit the beach
• Use the shark spotters signs to familiarise yourself with the four-flag warning system and warning siren – the green flag indicates that spotting conditions are good; the red flag indicates that there is a high risk of in-shore shark activity; the black flag means spotting conditions are poor; and the white flag with the black shark indicates a shark has been spotted (a siren will sound and all should leave the water immediately)
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski where trek-netting, fishing or spear-fishing is taking place
• Do not swim in deep water beyond the breakers
• Do not swim if you are bleeding
• Do not swim near river mouths
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski at night
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski if there has been a whale stranding nearby
• Obey beach officials, lifeguards and shark spotters if told to leave the water
• Be aware that the rate of encounters with white sharks rises significantly when the water temperature is warmer (18ºC or higher) and during new moon, due to increased opportunities for feeding
• If a shark has recently been sighted in an area where no shark spotters are present, consider using another beach for the day
• First-time visitors to beach areas should ask the local law enforcement official, lifeguard or locals about the area
• For those people kayaking or surf-skiing far out to the sea, please consider paddling in groups and staying close together (in a diamond formation)
• Consider using a personal shark shield when you go surfing or kayaking
• Pay attention to any shark signage on beaches
  

The City of Cape Town also encourages visitors and residents of Cape Town to download the Shark Spotters mobile app to access the latest shark safety information, including what flag is flying at each beach, the latest shark sightings, net deployments, and much more. The app is available free of charge for Apple and Android devices and can be downloaded by searching for "Shark Spotters" on the app store.

Cape Town: Shark season safety precautions

The annual shark season in and around Cape Town has just started and the City of Cape Town has therefore issued list of advises all beach and ocean users should be aware of:

• use areas where Shark Spotters are on duty, and take the time to speak to the Shark Spotters on the day you visit the beach
• read the shark spotting signs to inform yourself of the four-flag warning system and warning siren
• do not swim, surf or surf-ski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby
• do not swim, surf or surf-ski where trek-netting, fishing or spear fishing is taking place
• do not swim in deep water beyond the breakers
• do not swim if you are bleeding
• do not swim near river mouths
• do not swim, surf or surf-ski at night
• do not swim, surf or surf-ski if there has been a whale stranding nearby
• be aware that the rate of encounters with great white sharks rises significantly when the water temperature is warmer (18ºC or higher), and during new moon, due to increased opportunities for feeding
• if a shark has recently been sighted in an area where no Shark Spotters are present, consider using another beach for the day
• first-time visitors to beach areas should ask the local law enforcement official, lifeguards or locals about the area
• obey beach officials if told to leave the water
• those who kayak or surf-ski far out to the sea should consider paddling in groups and staying close together (in a diamond formation)
• consider using a personal shark shield when you go surfing or kayaking
• pay attention to any shark signage on beaches

Kayakers and surf-skiiers are specifically asked to be cautious of the area between Sunnycove and Glencairn Beach, and swimmers are urged not to use the water off Jaegers Walk in Fish Hoek unless the exclusion net is deployed, as this is considered a high-risk area. The City has erected warning signs along Jaegers Walk to this effect.
Surfers are asked to be especially vigilant in the areas between Sunrise Beach and the Macassar Beach area during the spring and summer months, as research has shown that shark presence in these waters is common at this time of year. (via capetown.gov.za)

Shark sightings in and around Cape Town typically start in late August, and continue through to April, with most sightings reported in mid-summer. For more information on the latest shark sightings and research, and to report sightings of white sharks, visit the website of Shark Spotters.