Shark Attacks
Durban, which used to be South Africa's most popular holiday city, installed nets in 1952 following a series of shark attacks, several of which were fatal. The city suffered no more serious attacks, but several netless resorts a short way off did. During one horrific period known as "Black December," five people died in shark attacks over a 107-day stretch, from
Christmas 1957 to Easter 1958.
Several solutions were attempted by local authorities desperate to lure back panic-stricken holidaymakers. Unsightly enclosures built of wooden poles, wire, and netting were erected, only to be smashed by the rough surf. A South African Navy frigate dropped depth-charges in shark-infested waters. Only a few sharks were killed, and many more were attracted by the dead fish.
Finally, in 1964 the then-Natal (now KwaZulu Natal) provincial authority established the NSB to take charge of bather safety along its coastline. The NSB responded by installing nets at most major resorts.
Incidentally, there are less shark attacks in this region of South Africa now, they are all concentrated along the eastern and western cape - Great Whites mainly being the "culprits". The Great White is now a protected species in SA, and since it was declared a protected species the population is definitely on the up.
The nets do not provide a physical barrier between sharks and bathers. Their function is to catch sharks, thereby keeping their numbers down in areas used by bathers.
Would love to hear people's input/comment on this. Dead sharks are removed daily from shark nets in South Africa, as well as dead turtles, dolphins, manta rays. Should they remove the nets and rely on luck? Or should they spend the money, and install electronic deterrents?
What's your opinion? Over the last 50 years, how many species of turtle/population numbers (for example), have been lost due to these nets?
