The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 12: November 1998
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Moratorium on White Shark Research
The Chondrichthyan Working Group (CWG) within the South African
Chief Directorate: Sea Fisheries recently recommended that research
activity on white sharks in South Africa (including Dyer Island) should
be controlled. The CWG, which includes all shark biologists of note
in South Africa, has sent a recommendation through to the Chief
Director of Sea Fisheries suggesting criteria to judge research proposals.
It is anticipated that the CWG will control all future research projects.
This decision arose as a result of concern over the amount of
harrassment being caused to a protected species by unregulated and
unreviewed research activity, some of which could potentially cause
injury to individual sharks, as well as interfering with their behaviour.
It was made possible under the amended regulations of the new
Marine Living Resources Act, which now makes it illegal to handle or
attract white sharks.
In the mean time, Cape Nature Conservation has declared
the area within a 500 metre radius of Dyer Island as a nature
reserve. They have received some research applications and
asked Sea Fisheries to make comments on their value. The
CWG recommendation to Cape Nature Conservation was: "All
research on white sharks in the reserve should be temporarily
suspended until 1 November, pending the implementation of the
new Marine Living Resources Act and pending discussion and
finalization of other research proposals". In future, research proposals
in standard format will be invited from all interested parties for
examination by the CWG.
Commercial cage operators and filming teams must also apply for a
permit and will be regulated by permit conditions and a Code of Conduct.
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