Great white shark spotted in False Bay after dramatic decline

After several years of absence, the Shark Spotters at Muizenberg in Cape Town sighted a great white shark on both 27 and 29 November 2023.

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Then, a few days later on 2 December, spear fishermen at Smitswinkel Bay reported seeing a great white shark while another white shark sighting was recorded off Roman Rock Lighthouse by a water user on the same day – putting the sightings at four within the space of a week.

Speaking to Cape Talk’s Lester Kiewit, Sarah Waries, CEO of Shark Spotters, explained that the presence of these large apex predators is important for the health of False Bay and the region’s underwater ecosystem.

“We’re hoping that this signals a return of the sharks, but we just don’t know. It might just be that the conditions are particularly good at False Bay at the moment, but it could also be that the sharks are just moving through,” Waries also added.

Shark Spotters reportedly used to spot around 250 sharks a year, but sightings have all but disappeared since 2017.

Waries warned the public to be extra vigilant when swimming off False Bay beaches.

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