Cape Town shark warning

The city of Cape Town has issued swimmers with shark warnings and has drawn attention to the seasonal increase in the presence of Great White Sharks around in-shore areas along the Western Cape.

Traditionally most shark sightings occur between late August and March, peaking in mid-summer, however this year there were early sightings in mid-August off the southern Cape Town coast at Muizenberg, St James and Clovelly.

Surfers are asked to be particularly vigilant over the coming months in the areas between Sunrise Beach and Strandfontein, and in the Macassar Beach area, all of which are in the Western Cape.

The city also cautioned kayakers and surf-skiiers about the dangers in the area between Sunnycove and Glencairn Beach while swimmers have been advised not to bathe off Jaegers Walk in Fish Hoek as this is considered "a high risk area". The beaches at Muizenberg and Fish Hoek have reported the most shark sightings so far this year.

Like every other year at this time, a significant drop in shark activity has been recorded at Seal Island in False Bay, indicating the seasonal migration nearer coastal areas. Data compiled by shark experts has revealed that in more than 65 per cent of sightings, sharks were observed travelling parallel to the beaches, swimming behind the large