GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Following a shark attack in Plettenberg Bay this weekend, a warning has been issued to beware of a high number of shark sightings and the prevalence of sharks at this time of the year.
A number of shark sightings in the Plettenberg Bay area has highlighted that at this time of the year it is normal for sharks to come close in-shore, said Craig Lambinon of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
NSRI are urging public caution along the coastline, particularly along the Southern Cape coastline (The Garden Route), between Natures Valley and Mossel Bay, and in particular around the Plettenberg Bay in shore area, due to a high number of white shark sightings.
Sharks are aggregating in this area at this time, as they have done in previous years, to take advantage of naturally occurring prey like seals and fish close in shore.
In particular a large amount of shark sightings have been recorded close in shore along the Plettenberg Bay coastline.
Most of these shark sightings are in the vicinity of Robberg and this natural phenomenon. With the high number of sightings reported daily it offers a rare opportunity for sightseers to view shark activity close in shore.
NSRI and the Emergency Services are well prepared to deal with any incidents and NSRI carry emergency medical shark kits on rescue boats and on NSRI rescue vehicles and NSRI medics carry emergency medical shark kits in private vehicles in an effort to ensure the quickest response to any incident.
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby
• Do not swim, surf or surf-ski where, 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 and lifeguards if told to leave the water
• If a shark has recently been sighted in an area, 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
• 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
• Do not swim, surf or surfski alone
In a Sea Rescue Emergency along the Plettenberg Bay coastline call the NSRI Plettenberg bay emergency number 0829905975.
The National Emergency number is 112, dialled from a cell phone.
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