‘Keep shark cage diving out of the bay’

• Author: Fouzia Van der Fort fouzia.vanderfort@ACM.co.za
• Published date: 05 October 2022
• Publication title: Plainsman

They voiced their opposition during a public meeting called by Elton Jansen, councillor for Ward 43 and chairman of Sub-council 17, at Strandfontein community hall on Wednesday September 28

He said that the sub-council was not in support of the extension.

The proposal is to temporarily extend the FWSCD operating area inshore from its current area around Seal Island.

He told the Plainsman last month that the beach and its users, beach-goers, swimmers, fishermen, surfers and lifesavers should be protected at any cost (’’No shark cage diving at Strandfontein Beach’’, Plainsman, September 21.

Matshidiso Malatji, of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s oceans and coast branch, explained the application to extend the False Bay White Shark Cage Diving (WSCD) operating area near Strandfontein Beach.

She said they were responsible for regulating and managing the non-consumptive use of marine resources.

Ms Malatji said that up to 50kg of chum could be used a day to lure white sharks, which would be between 1.3km and 2.5km from the shore on either side of the tidal pool.

“Most chum is used in research, fishing and shark cage diving in a very limited amount. There will be compliance and enforcement,’’ she said.

They would be working with the City of Cape Town’s shark spotters to alert the public of impending danger.

Former Strandfontein resident and avid surfer Nathan Samuel, who now lives in Muizenberg, started an online petition “to protest the chumming waters of the False Bay area, specifically the stretch of ocean closest to Strandfontein Pavillion”.

Speakers at the meeting said for decades the area had been used by bathers and surfers of the less privileged communities, including Strandfontein, Mitchell’s Plain and Khayelitsha.

“We the surfers and ocean users have the power to stop this and prevent this reckless behaviour,” read the petition.

Strandfontein Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association chairman Mario Oostendorp said he did not believe that the government would consider residents’ comments as a credible objection to the tourism industry’s proposals to line a few pockets. He therefore called for scientific research and facts to back up their opposition to the extension of the WSCD area.

“There are six sharks left there. Leave them but don’t endanger thousands of people's lives who frequent Macassar, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Strandfontein and Muizenberg,” he said.

“You’re gonna allow a couple of tourists to come here and pay a couple of...