A young great white shark was spotted swimming alongside an African Shark Eco-Charters boat near Seal Island in False Bay on Wednesday morning. The crew, who operate in waters once famous for great whites, described the encounter as rare. The shark was seen swimming at the surface and coming close to the vessel. Footage shared by the operator captures the young shark moving through the water alongside the boat before approaching bait on a line.
According to African Shark Eco-Charters, it is the first great white they have encountered at Seal Island since 2018. The crew was due to return to Seal Island on Thursday to determine whether the shark was alone or if more great whites are in the area. Managing director Karen Lawrence said the team was celebrating the sighting but was waiting to see if more followed.
Seal Island was once one of False Bay's best-known great white feeding grounds, with sharks hunting Cape fur seals in the waters around the island. However, sightings began falling sharply after 2015. Scientific surveys recorded a steep decline in great whites at Seal Island in the years that followed, with none recorded during standardized surveys from mid-2018.
Despite the decline in great white sightings at Seal Island, the sharks have not been completely absent from False Bay. In December 2023, four great whites were confirmed in the bay within a week. Two were spotted at Muizenberg, another at Smitswinkel Bay, and a fourth near Roman Rock lighthouse.
The recent sightings have raised questions about whether great white activity in False Bay is increasing. Shark Spotters had previously recorded an average of 205 great white sightings per year between 2010 and 2016, before numbers fell dramatically. At the time, it was too early to know if the four sightings were isolated appearances or a sign of increased activity.
The African Shark Eco-Charters crew's encounter with the great white shark has generated excitement among shark enthusiasts and researchers. The crew's experience and footage will likely contribute to ongoing research and conservation efforts for great whites in False Bay. Further sightings and data will be crucial in understanding the current status of great whites in the area.
The incident highlights the importance of continued monitoring and research into great white shark populations in False Bay. As one of the world's most iconic shark species, understanding the dynamics of great white populations is essential for effective conservation and management.
Key points
- The great white shark spotted near Seal Island is the first recorded sighting in the area since 2018.
- Great white shark sightings in False Bay had declined sharply after 2015, with none recorded during standardized surveys from mid-2018.
- Four great white sharks were confirmed in False Bay in December 2023, raising questions about whether their activity in the area is increasing.
