The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 12: November 1998
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White Shark Exploitation in South Africa
Gans Bay, formerly a sleepy seaside dorp, is now undergoing a local
boom thanks to its conversion into what has been described as 'the
white shark dive mecca of the world'. At least six local cage dive
operators are based in the town, and estimates indicate that activities
related to cage diving contribute about five million Rand (US$885,000)
to the local economy. Concerns over the regulation of white shark
cage diving and research activity in the area are described in Shark
News no. 11 and elsewhere on this page.
While there is no doubt that disturbance to white sharks by these
user groups is a problem, the continued killing of this protected
species is a far more serious issue. Some cage-dive operators
allege that some local fishermen are clandestinely killing
legally protected white sharks at sea, removing
jaws and fins, and selling them to East Asian
longliners. Overseas visitors have also quoted
huge prices for white shark jaws and teeth.
The large jaw of a Gans Bay shark, recently
recovered after being stolen, was valued at
US$50,000. Small jaws may be sold for as
much as US$15,000 and individual teeth from
small sharks for US$600. The South African Museum recently obtained
the headless carcass of a newborn white shark (estimated at about
1.6 m long), found by a dive operator after reportedly being killed by
a commercial fisherman.
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