Sharks - The Great White (Carcharodon carcharias) False Bay is one of the world's premier breeding grounds for the Great White Shark. Nevertheless the number of attacks on humans is very small and fatalities even rarer. Sadly a veteran swimmer of 17 years Tyna Webb (77) was killed by a Great White on 15th November 2004 while swimming between 60 and 100 m off Sunny Cove to the South of Fish Hoek beach. (see link) The Town has moved swiftly to respond to this disaster and a Sharkwatch group has been set up to liase between the Trek Fishermen Fish Spotters up on the mountain, the Surf Rescue and Law Enforcement. Please read the attached statement from this group You can also obtain more information from the following links:-   The Natal Sharks Board The SA White Shark Research Institute Review of the GW Shark (UK) Shark School (information for kids) The Great White Site Wikipedia - the G W Shark Nat. Geographic - Filming the GWS
		Sharkwatch
		perched high above Fish Hoek Beach the Shark Watcher keeps his eyes peeled for sharks ready to notify the authorities by radio

• .	luckily he luckily he spotted this shark in October 2005 and the siren sounded to clear the water while the shark cruised the southern corner of the bay only metres from water's edge...
  	LATEST SHARK ATTACK - JULY 2006
  	Fishhoek lifesaver falls onto shark during attack on surf ski July 29, 2006   By Henri Du Plessis A Fish Hoek lifesaver has survived a shockingly close encounter with a large shark that attacked his surf ski while he was out paddling in the bay. Lyle Maasdorp, 19, felt himself and his ski being lifted out of the water and then heard a loud sound like a car smashing against something, before he realised that a shark had taken a large bite out of the rear end of his borrowed surf ski. Maasdorp and four friends from the Fish Hoek Lifesaving Club were paddling about 20m off Jaeger's Walk, near the point of Fish Hoek Bay about 4.30pm yesterday. "I did not see or hear anything until I suddenly found that I was being lifted up from behind," he said. "At first I thought I was on a rock and the water was receding and then I thought one of the guys was playing a trick on me, but then I heard the sound and more crunching sounds." Maasdorp looked around and saw the shark with its huge jaws wrapped around the side of the ski's rear. "Then he started thrashing, obviously to tear out a piece. The ski started shipping water and with the buoyancy changing I was sinking down. the shark took this bite out of the surf-ski "I fell out of the ski, between the shark and the ski with my one hand on the shark's back."Lifesaver Anthony Pearse, 37, was about 10m behind Maasdorp when the shark attacked. "There was the shark, out of nowhere, I could not believe it," Pearse said. "I saw him fall out of the ski onto the shark and then climb onto his ski and over the other side." Pearse paddled up to Maasdorp and helped him get onto the back of his ski, before rowing for the rocks nearby, where they both got out of the water "quite quickly", Pearse said. When he realised that he had escaped the shark and survived, Maasdorp screamed. Maasdorp caught a lift back to the club, while his companions paddled back, hugging the rocks. He then sped out with a rubber duck to recover the damaged ski. But the experienced young lifesaver put on a brave face over his fright. "On Sunday I will be out there again," he said.
  SAFETY MEASURES SUBSEQUENT TO THE SHARK ATTACK 15.11.04 Subsequent to the tragic shark attack which took place on Fish Hoek Beach on Monday 15.11.2004, the following steps have been taken to improve the rapid response in the event of a shark being spotted in the near proximity to bathers: * The 3 main roleplayers, namely Fish Hoek Surf Life Saving Club, The Law Enforcement officials stationed at Fish Hoek Beach and the Trek Fishermen have formed a partnership in an effort to formalise protocols in the event of a shark sighting. *  Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving have utilised their own funds to purchase and supply Law Enforcement and the Trek Fishermen with Marine Band VHF Radio’s operating on the same channel as the Lifesaving Club. * Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving have also paid to upgrade the newly installed 1km range siren to one with a range of 3 kilometres. * Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving will ensure that the Inflatable Rubber Rescue Craft is utilised whenever possible to patrol the bathing areas.  This has been found to be a major shark deterrent. *  Bathing areas will now be demarcated on Fish Hoek Beach by means of marker buoys which have been sponsored by SMIT MARINE S.AFRICA and will be laid courtesy of the South African Navy.  Clovelly beach will have a demarcated bathing area indicated by flags placed in position by Fish Hoek Lifeguards on duty. * During the December/January Holiday peak season the waters will be scanned regularly by the various rescue service Helicopters. * Fish Hoek Surf Lifesaving is fully equipped with all medical equipment necessary for major trauma and work in close liason with Cape Medical Response who are never more than a couple of minutes away. * Steps are being taken to employ a trek fisherman spotter on a permanent basis from 07h00 to 19h00 throughout the peak season at times when the Trek Fishermen are not spotting for fish.  This will be subject to sponsorship being found. * Until the 3.12.04 Lifeguards will be on duty at weekends only from 09h00 – 18h00.  Law Enforcement are on duty daily from 07h00 – 19h00. * With effect from 4.12.04 until 2.5.2005, Lifeguards will be on duty from 09h00 – 18h00 daily and law enforcement from 07h00 – 19h00. On the sighting of a shark the Trek Fishermen spotters based on Elsies Peak will immediately radio the Fish Hoek Surf Lifeguards and the transmission  will be received simultaneously by the Law Enforcement officials.  The siren will immediately be activated, the rubber rescue craft launched if not already in the water and the lifeguards will clear all recreational water users from the sea. This should not take longer than 2 minutes.  The Shark flag will be raised and will remain until such time as the all clear is given. We wish to remind the public that our  approximately 90 Lifeguards, most of whom are still at school or University are highly skilled , motivated and dedicated and give up much of their free time to render a very valuble service to the Community.  We all remain absolutely committed to keeping the beaches as safe as is possible. The Trek Fishermen are a valuable  asset to the community and their skills in spotting sharks have almost certainly averted possible other tragedies in the past by their quick and timely warnings.  Fish Hoek Law Enforcement are equally committed to providing their community with a safe enviroment.   Finally, we urge the Public to swim within the confines of the demarcated bathing areas, listen to instructions from the Lifeguards or Law Enforcement and to clear the water immediately in the event of the  siren being sounded. Any donations will be gladly accepted in an effort to improve our service to the community. We wish you a pleasant holiday season. MARTIN J WILLIAMS CHAIRMAN  -  FISH HOEK SURF LIFESAVING CLUB 17.11.2004