Dr Andreotti said the numbers were extremely low.
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Dr Sara Andreotti of the Stellenbosch University’s Department of Botany and Zoology, has presented research results which show that the SA great white shark is in danger of possible extinction. “The survival of South Africa’s [great] white shark population and the ecological interactions of the coastline will be seriously compromised if urgent management measures to prevent the decline are not put in place”, Andreotti said.
Research over the past six years has been charting the sharks’ fortunes around Gansbaai, a well known shark hotspot 100 miles from Cape Town.
Between 2009 and 2011 they collected almost 5 000 photographs of the dorsal fins of white sharks frequenting Gansbaai.
We have been at sea for five years.
Meanwhile, photographs of what is believed to be the largest great white shark ever seen have been captured off the coast of Guadalupe, Mexico. There were not a lot of sharks. The dorsal fin is like a fingerprint in that it is unique to each shark and provides a marker to recognise individuals. The subsequent genetic analysis then proved that there is only one population and that the same sharks are roaming the coastline.
As well as plummeting numbers, researchers also found this group of great whites has the lowest genetic diversity of any other population in the world.
Between 1956 and 1976, the number of large sharks caught in KwaZulu-Natal’s shark-netting programme declined by over 99%. It’s a grim end for the grey seal, but these photos are an encouraging sign that the great white sharks in the area are hunting and feeding well. Other contributing factors were poaching, habitat encroachment, pollution, and depletion of their food sources. A delicate and complex balance exists between the ocean and its inhabitants. It’s also good news for scientists who hope to learn more about how these fish use those formidable jaws (had to go there) to capture prey.
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“While part of the thrill for visitors in seeing these apex predators up close is related to the wildly exaggerated legends, the knowledge shared during shark diving tours includes environmental awareness tips, and a broader perspective on responsible tourism, especially within our sensitive marine environment”.
