World champion surfer Mick Fanning’s encounter with a shark during an international surfing contest in Jeffreys Bay last Sunday has galvanised opposition to a proposal to start a great white cage diving operation in nearby St Francis Bay.
More than 2000 signatures have been collected on petitions since the three-time Australian world champ was bumped in front of thousands of terrified Supertubes spectators, while many more around the world watched as the drama unfolded live on the Jbay Open internet feed.
Although Siyabonga Dlulisa of the Department of Environmental Affairs: Oceans and Coast yesterday said they had received no enquiries to start new shark cage diving operations anywhere on the South African coast, they were expecting applications when the permit renewals process opened early next year.
He said the current five-year permit allocation only came up for renewal in June next year but applications could be made a few months before then.
Dlulisa said they had received “quite a number of complaints” from people worried that shark cage diving activities would impact surf tourism.
Angry residents, surfers and other water-users locally and overseas are however not taking any chances after it emerged a local businessman was planning to apply for a permit and petitions have been started. They fear the chum used to attract sharks to boats would result in more staying in the area.
The businessman is believed to be hunting in Zimbabwe and several attempts to contact him this week proved fruitless.
St Francis Tourism chair Brian Codling yesterday said they had made a policy decision last month to unanimously oppose any plans to start cage diving anywhere in the area.
“The businessman said firmly to us that he intends to apply even if it takes years. He also told collective public forums he intends doing it. Our stance is we want to stop shark cage diving; we are against the idea no matter who does it.”
Codling said they had received backing from “95%” of the community – from surfers, residents associations, local ratepayers groups and the Kromme River trust .
Even though cage diving does bring some tourism, it was felt the world-famous surf and other watersport attractions would always bring in more.
Seal Point boardriders club chairman Dave Fish said surfing on winter waves in Jeffreys Bay had dropped since the Fanning incident. “We are not saying shark cage diving causes shark attacks but we do not want to take any chances,” said Fish.
In recent years more sharks have been spotted in Jeffreys Bay and a swimmer was killed.
Shark cage plan anger
More than 2000 signatures have been collected on petitions since the three-time Australian world champ was bumped in front of thousands of terrified Supertubes spectators, while many more around the world watched as the drama unfolded live on the Jbay Open internet feed.
Although Siyabonga Dlulisa of the Department of Environmental Affairs: Oceans and Coast yesterday said they had received no enquiries to start new shark cage diving operations anywhere on the South African coast, they were expecting applications when the permit renewals process opened early next year.
He said the current five-year permit allocation only came up for renewal in June next year but applications could be made a few months before then.
Dlulisa said they had received “quite a number of complaints” from people worried that shark cage diving activities would impact surf tourism.
Angry residents, surfers and other water-users locally and overseas are however not taking any chances after it emerged a local businessman was planning to apply for a permit and petitions have been started. They fear the chum used to attract sharks to boats would result in more staying in the area.
The businessman is believed to be hunting in Zimbabwe and several attempts to contact him this week proved fruitless.
St Francis Tourism chair Brian Codling yesterday said they had made a policy decision last month to unanimously oppose any plans to start cage diving anywhere in the area.
“The businessman said firmly to us that he intends to apply even if it takes years. He also told collective public forums he intends doing it. Our stance is we want to stop shark cage diving; we are against the idea no matter who does it.”
Codling said they had received backing from “95%” of the community – from surfers, residents associations, local ratepayers groups and the Kromme River trust .
Even though cage diving does bring some tourism, it was felt the world-famous surf and other watersport attractions would always bring in more.
Seal Point boardriders club chairman Dave Fish said surfing on winter waves in Jeffreys Bay had dropped since the Fanning incident. “We are not saying shark cage diving causes shark attacks but we do not want to take any chances,” said Fish.
In recent years more sharks have been spotted in Jeffreys Bay and a swimmer was killed.
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