SDX will soon be offering Great White shark diving trips to see this legendary species in its most famous home. The story of the shark is a fascinating one and the importance of South africa was and still is key to the future survival of the species...................
South Africa was the first country to officially protect the Great White shark. Over the years, through conservation, education and the ever increasing demand for shark diving, the species has gone on to become a celebrated national animal. It wasn't always this way however............
THE “JAWS” IMAGE
When “Jaws” was released in 1975 it triggered a primeval fear in many of “being eaten alive by a monster from the deep.” Although the movie was a huge success in the film industry, the impact it had on the Great White shark was catastrophic. Overnight the public perception of the shark changed from unnoticed ocean dweller to man eating monster. This prompted mass killing of Great Whites and other shark species by fishermen and trophy hunters alike, all motivated by irrational fear. Over the years marine conservationists grew concerned about the ever decreasing numbers of the species and as evidence grew to show this frightening decline, action, thankfully came just in time.......
OFFICIAL PROTECTION
South Africa was to have a huge impact on the plight of this now threatened species when in 1991, it pioneered conservation and officially protected it. The protection “prohibited the intentional killing or sale of the species” and soon after other countries followed suit. Namibia, Malta, USA, The Maldives, Australia and New Zealand all followed where South Africa had led and were next to protect the shark. Now that there was no trade in the killing of this species, a new industry was starting to take shape, the shark diving industry......
SHARK TOURISM
Soon after the Great White became protected in South Africa it became apparent that what was once a feared and targeted animal to be slaughtered was now becoming big business as a draw for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and thrill seekers from all over the world. The Great White shark had now become worth more alive than dead and the Great White shark diving industry in South Africa took off.
What started out with humble beginnings has now become a multi million business with people willing to fly half way around the world to get a first hand look at this fabled and mythical creature. Tourism now works with conservation and has provided a platform for research on the species, helping to develop a greater knowledge and aiding further protection............
RESEARCH AND CITES
The Great White shark then went on to become listed on the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red list of threatened species as vulnerable. Although the shark was protected in South Africa and other countries, internationally they were still endangered since most conservation agreements have little power to protect a species on a global scale. One exception is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (commonly known as CITES.) CITES is an international agreement between governments to ensure that the “international trade in fauna and flora does not threaten the survival of a species.” As the shark was not listed on CITES, this still allowed trade of jaws, teeth and fins to flow from country to country.
Evidence was needed to prove that national protective measures had to be put in place for the Great White shark. Scientists from Wildlife conservation society and South African marine and coastal management started tagging sharks to prove that they regularly crossed international maritime borders and needed further protection.
Research got underway with population dynamics (photographing and logging all sharks spotted) DNA sampling and acoustic and satellite tagging, the latter becoming part of a famous breakthrough in conservation and science............
“NICOLE”
One of the animals tagged during this time was a 3.5m female named “Nicole.” Tagged in Gansbaai, Nicole was recorded as having traveled as far as Ningaloo reef in Western Australia, 11000km away! She had made the journey in just 99 days and broke more records along the way including diving to depths of 980m in water temperature of only 3.4 Celsius! She was then identified back in Gansbaai some 9 months later! This amazing journey was recorded as the fastest migration movement of any marine animal to date and it was her logged information which ultimately was the evidence needed for the Great White shark CITES approval.
In 2004 a CITES meeting was held and it was voted that the Great White shark be listed on the CITES Appendix II. The proposal had been accepted and a milestone for Great White shark conservation was achieved! Nicole’s incredible journey had proved that the species does indeed leave the protected waters of the few countries that have conservation legalization to protect it and worldwide protection was now in place...........
THE FUTURE
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Although protection for the Great White shark has come a long way this species still have many threats. Whether its from the shark finning, illegal trade, poaching, or being killed in shark nets, we still have a long way to go before the survival of the species is secured. Things are now, however, better than they have ever been since protection started and the shark is now worth huge amounts to tourism worldwide through the shark diving industry. Not only do we need this species to help control the ecology of the ocean but SDX firmly believe that everybody has a right to enjoy and celebrate sharing the planet with one of the most impressive super predators.
Lets hope the future is bright for Carcharodon carcharias, the Great White shark..............
