White sharks
White sharks are present
year-round in False Bay, highlighting the importance of the bay for
South Africa’s white shark population. However, distinct seasonal
trends in habitat utilization within the bay were identified. White
shark presence is highest at the seal colony from May – September where
sharks prey on young of the year Cape fur seals.
We have also determined that white sharks are present year-round close to shore in Cape Town with a peak from October – December. We have tagged 13 sharks within 2 km from shore ranging in size from 1.6 - 5 meters. Over 50 % of tagged animals from Seal Island were recorded within 1 km from shore. Despite this high shark presence, there was a single negative interaction between sharks and people recorded in 2007 in the area. On the other hand, this behaviour increases their vulnerability to being caught accidentally by shore-anglers or as by-catch in demersal shark long lining activities in the area. In collaboration with National Geographic Society, crittercams were once again attached to white sharks. This footage and data will be used to determine the fine-scale habitat use and feeding and social nature of white sharks.
In Cape Town white sharks are responsible for the majority of bites on water users. Although relatively rare, shark bites that result in human injury or death potentially threaten protective measures through the reluctance of the public to support shark conservation, the possible implementation of culling programmes and illegal hunting. Furthermore, shark bites can negatively impact on local business and tourism. A unique programme was adopted by Cape Town in 2004 to find a middle ground between white shark conservation and the concerns of the public. During 2005 - 2007, 483 shark sightings were recorded at popular beaches demonstrating the programme is an effective warning system. Recently Alison was appointed the Director of Research for the Shark Spotting Programme and together with the Save Our Seas Shark Centre will integrate research findings and shark sightings to get a clear understanding of white shark coastal presence and try and build a better relationship between coastal communities and sharks.
The project has received considerable international attention again in 2008 featuring on CNN Anderson Cooper 360º for their Planet in Peril Series, ABC Nightline (US), RTL Television (Germany), The Underwater Channel and local prime time news programmes eTV and SABC. It was the cover feature of the Smithsonian Magazine in June 2008 and featured in National Geographic Kids Magazine, Envirokids Magazine and numerous news articles. Alison was also the recipient of a VR100 special grant from Vemco Ltd. The research findings were presented at the Southern Africa Marine Science Symposium held in Cape Town and presentations given at the Save Our Seas Shark Centre, Iziko Museum and UCT.
Forget Jaws, Now It's Brains....
Smithsonian magazine article exploring the myths and investigating the facts surrounding one of the world's greatest predators.
Effects of provisioning ecotourism activity on the behaviour of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias
Academic study into the possible consequences of ecotourism activities which involve the feeding of white sharks.
Finding a Balance: White Shark Conservation & Recreational Safety in the Inshore Waters of Cape Town, South Africa
Details of the proceedings from a meeting which brought togehter several organisations that deal with the issue of white sharks in and around Cape Town, South Africa, and are looking to increase their cooperation and share expertise.
The Cape Town Globalist: Out of the Jaws of Extinction
Magazine article examining the dynamic links between the hysteria surrounding shark attacks and thevery real threats that white sharks are increasingly facing from humans.
Telegraph: Shark Versus Seal In Deadly Game
At the Southern tip of Africa a deadly game of cat and mouse is played out over and over again in the salty waters off the fabled Cape of Storms.
 |
Name | |
| Alison Kock | ||
| Position | ||
| Project Leader | ||
| Location | ||
| Cape Town, South Africa | ||
Key Objective
To provide a thorough understanding of the white shark to ensure that protection and management meaures are up-to-date and effective.Follow Alison on the Shark Centre Blog
ABC's Nick Watt spent the day cage diving with the SOSF Shark Centre's very own Alison Kock, along with fellow Shark Angel Julie Anderson. Follow the blog
Background
Even though South Africa has been identified as a centre of abundance and white sharks have been protected here since 1991, white shark populations are threatened globally. The White Shark Research Programme, a Save Our Seas Shark Centre, Marine and Coastal Management and University of Cape Town collaboration, seeks to provide a thorough understanding of their ecological needs to ensure that protection and management measures are up-to-date and effective. This knowledge can be used to make a significant contribution to the global conservation of this threatened species.
This project has been an unprecedented success story. Now in its 5th year of funding by SOSF, Alison Kock and her team of fellow researchers and collaborators continue to provide the only source of scientific information on white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) activity and behaviour patterns from their population in Cape Town, South Africa.
This project has been an unprecedented success story. Now in its 5th year of funding by SOSF, Alison Kock and her team of fellow researchers and collaborators continue to provide the only source of scientific information on white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) activity and behaviour patterns from their population in Cape Town, South Africa.
In the field
Alsion studying a white shark
Studying white shark behaviour year-round in one particular bay representing two vastly different habitats is a rare opportunity. The focus of the project has moved from concentrating around the Cape fur seal colony in False Bay, to the presence of sharks occurring along the inshore areas of the bay.
Coastal surveys have begun to determine how many sharks are present along the inshore areas, whether they are the same sharks that are present at the island during the winter months, and what the shark population structure is like. A total of 35 acoustic receivers have been deployed in False Bay, with a total of 78 sharks tagged thus far in this ongoing program. Sightings data collected from the City Of Cape Town’s Shark Spotting Program will also be used in conjunction with the acoustic monitoring data to get a clearer pattern of white shark presence inshore.
Coastal surveys have begun to determine how many sharks are present along the inshore areas, whether they are the same sharks that are present at the island during the winter months, and what the shark population structure is like. A total of 35 acoustic receivers have been deployed in False Bay, with a total of 78 sharks tagged thus far in this ongoing program. Sightings data collected from the City Of Cape Town’s Shark Spotting Program will also be used in conjunction with the acoustic monitoring data to get a clearer pattern of white shark presence inshore.
Aims & objectives
White sharks have protection status in South Africa, but protection is only as effective as the continued support and enforcement of this status by policy makers and law officials. Rumours of poaching activities in coastal areas and evidence of interactions with fishing gear designed to catch large sharks highlight the threats white sharks still face.
Habitat degradation, including the depletion of fish stocks, and the subsequent consequences for white sharks are poorly known, but are also identified as major threats, especially in coastal areas. That said, the current main threat to white shark conservation in the Western Cape is the ongoing media feeding frenzy and consequent fear and apprehension among residents due to the perceived ‘Jaws’-like phantom menace around the beaches of Cape Town. Scientific information is urgently needed to form the backbone for all policy and management decisions, and thus the current research project is critical to the future conservation and protection of white sharks in the Western Cape.
Keep up with the Shark Centre blog here.
Habitat degradation, including the depletion of fish stocks, and the subsequent consequences for white sharks are poorly known, but are also identified as major threats, especially in coastal areas. That said, the current main threat to white shark conservation in the Western Cape is the ongoing media feeding frenzy and consequent fear and apprehension among residents due to the perceived ‘Jaws’-like phantom menace around the beaches of Cape Town. Scientific information is urgently needed to form the backbone for all policy and management decisions, and thus the current research project is critical to the future conservation and protection of white sharks in the Western Cape.
Keep up with the Shark Centre blog here.
Project Update: 2009
- Continuation of the maintenance to the tracking network as well as the development of more photo identifications and animal-borne cameras.
- Development of ties between SOSSC, shark spotters, city of Cape Town and the shark bite response unit to better understand White shark behaviour.
- Development of an internship programme with one full-time intern from the USA for 3 months.
- Potential collaborating on the study on the effects of eco-tourism on shark conservation worldwide lead by Ms. Catherine McDonald and the investigating a possible chemical defence (on shark predators) used by pygmy sperm whales, led by Dr. Stephanie Ploen from Bayworl
Project Update 2008
 |
Direct observation, photo-identification,
acoustic tracking and animal-borne cameras are used to study the
population and spatial dynamics, feeding and social behaviour and
identification of critical habitats. 78 sharks have been acoustically tagged and their movements recorded on 35 Vemco VR2 monitors. Days at liberty ranged from 1 – 975 days with a mean of 228 days providing valuable information over consecutive seasons. |
We have also determined that white sharks are present year-round close to shore in Cape Town with a peak from October – December. We have tagged 13 sharks within 2 km from shore ranging in size from 1.6 - 5 meters. Over 50 % of tagged animals from Seal Island were recorded within 1 km from shore. Despite this high shark presence, there was a single negative interaction between sharks and people recorded in 2007 in the area. On the other hand, this behaviour increases their vulnerability to being caught accidentally by shore-anglers or as by-catch in demersal shark long lining activities in the area. In collaboration with National Geographic Society, crittercams were once again attached to white sharks. This footage and data will be used to determine the fine-scale habitat use and feeding and social nature of white sharks.
In Cape Town white sharks are responsible for the majority of bites on water users. Although relatively rare, shark bites that result in human injury or death potentially threaten protective measures through the reluctance of the public to support shark conservation, the possible implementation of culling programmes and illegal hunting. Furthermore, shark bites can negatively impact on local business and tourism. A unique programme was adopted by Cape Town in 2004 to find a middle ground between white shark conservation and the concerns of the public. During 2005 - 2007, 483 shark sightings were recorded at popular beaches demonstrating the programme is an effective warning system. Recently Alison was appointed the Director of Research for the Shark Spotting Programme and together with the Save Our Seas Shark Centre will integrate research findings and shark sightings to get a clear understanding of white shark coastal presence and try and build a better relationship between coastal communities and sharks.
The project has received considerable international attention again in 2008 featuring on CNN Anderson Cooper 360º for their Planet in Peril Series, ABC Nightline (US), RTL Television (Germany), The Underwater Channel and local prime time news programmes eTV and SABC. It was the cover feature of the Smithsonian Magazine in June 2008 and featured in National Geographic Kids Magazine, Envirokids Magazine and numerous news articles. Alison was also the recipient of a VR100 special grant from Vemco Ltd. The research findings were presented at the Southern Africa Marine Science Symposium held in Cape Town and presentations given at the Save Our Seas Shark Centre, Iziko Museum and UCT.
Want to know more about white sharks?
Check out these PDF articles and links for loads more info about the wonderful world of white sharks:Forget Jaws, Now It's Brains....
Smithsonian magazine article exploring the myths and investigating the facts surrounding one of the world's greatest predators.
Effects of provisioning ecotourism activity on the behaviour of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias
Academic study into the possible consequences of ecotourism activities which involve the feeding of white sharks.
Finding a Balance: White Shark Conservation & Recreational Safety in the Inshore Waters of Cape Town, South Africa
Details of the proceedings from a meeting which brought togehter several organisations that deal with the issue of white sharks in and around Cape Town, South Africa, and are looking to increase their cooperation and share expertise.
The Cape Town Globalist: Out of the Jaws of Extinction
Magazine article examining the dynamic links between the hysteria surrounding shark attacks and thevery real threats that white sharks are increasingly facing from humans.
Telegraph: Shark Versus Seal In Deadly Game
At the Southern tip of Africa a deadly game of cat and mouse is played out over and over again in the salty waters off the fabled Cape of Storms.