Are there any options other than nets and drumlines?
Shark spotting instead of killing. There are many other options to the archaic practice of killing sharks thru the installation of shark gill nets and drumlines, many of which have been implemented successfully in other locations. Ultimately more effort needs to be invested into determining what is the right solution for KwaZulu-Natal, given its unique characteristics (types of sharks and their behaviors, topography, ocean conditions, water users, etc.) If we can put a man on the moon and go the depths of the ocean floor, we certainly can determine a method to ensure sharks and humans can peacefully coexist in the same waters. In Tokyo, shark nets have been installed that are permanent, with mesh so fine that there is literally no bycatch. And, it was KZNSB itself who originally worked on the “Shark Shield” which emits an electrical pulse that supposedly wards off sharks, and surfers have used the technology with some mixed results. Finally, in Australia, nets are simply removed for fo
