According to a recent research paper on ScienceDirect, co-authored by marine biologist Dr Enrico Gennari and other experts, sightings of white sharks in typical areas off the Western Cape coast have decreased to fewer than 10 per year.
Dr Gennari’s estimates suggest that South Africa may be losing between 60 to 80 white sharks annually, highlighting the need for updated and modernized protective measures, as reported by IOL.
While South Africa took a pioneering approach to white shark conservation in 1991, the recent decline in sightings indicates that current conservation strategies may not be sufficient for the survival of the species.
The 1991 ‘White Shark Research Project’ program, led by marine biologist Chris Fallows and filmmaker Jeffery K Kerr, focused on the behavior and ecology of great white sharks around Seal Island in False Bay.
In the 2024 study, researchers advocate for a continued precautionary stance and emphasize the importance of prioritizing conservation efforts as the number of white sharks declines in commonly populated areas.
The paper states, ‘We suggest a precautionary approach to be taken in light of concurrent local declines documented at historical aggregation sites, historical and current levels of known removals […], as well as the reduction in sightings of large mature individuals currently being observed.’
Dr Gennari’s research paper was a response to a study published in October 2023, which had indicated stable population numbers since 1991.
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