Shark safety boosted

SHARK safety measures at Muizenberg and Fish Hoek have been boosted with funding from the City of Cape Town. The funding of R400 000 will go to support the Shark Spotting and Warning Programmes at the respective beaches as well as to set up similar programmes at Sunrise Beach, Mnandi, Strandfontein, Monwabisi and Macassar. As part of the programme, locals and members of lifesaving clubs will be trained as shark spotters and skilled in first aid. The city made headlines this year following a spate of shark attacks, including a few incidents where people were killed. 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, has issued a statement cautioning 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.” Cape Town, Deat and WWF South Africa will soon be conducting research into the shark situation along the Cape Town coastline. (Darren Sandras)