Sharks Under Attack

BREAKING: WILDTRUST presents ‘Caleb: Beyond the Bite’ - a short film following award-winning actor and shark bite survivor Caleb Swanepoel, and his relationship with the ocean. WATCH NOW: facebook.com/SharksUnderAtt…

We are making some changes and and diving into fresh waters - we will no longer be posting on X/Twitter and will be moving over to BlueSky. To continue to learn more and help support Sharks and Rays, follow us on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/sharks…

Whale sharks, the largest fish on Earth, can reach an impressive 60 feet in length, and for the first time, researchers may have discovered clues about their mating behaviours. During a May 2024 expedition to Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, scientists observed mature male whale sharks following and nipping at smaller females—actions believed to be part of their mating rituals. Read more about the recent discoveries of Whale Shark mating behaviours: popsci.com/environment/wh…

Conservation often favours species we find beautiful or relatable, leaving others—like deepwater sharks—overlooked and vulnerable. Feared or misunderstood, sharks have a history of being ignored in conservation efforts. These sharks play a critical role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, which directly supports the sustainability of marine resources that we rely on. Their loss could trigger cascading consequences throughout the ecosystem. Read more on this via SaveOurSeas: saveourseas.com/update/the-con… Image Credits: David Ruiz-García | SaveOurSeas

NEWS: Researchers are trialling simple tech to curb sharks misidentifying ocean users as prey in South Africa. Research conducted in Mossel Bay indicates that attaching LEDs to the underside of surfboards or stand-up paddle boards may help with sharks misidentifying ocean users as prey. Dr. Sara Andreotti, a shark scientist from Stellenbosch University, shared with Cape Talk that the findings align with what we know about how sharks target their prey. “The Great White sharks are not dumb animals and won’t attack something that can’t be food to save their energy,” Andreotti says. “That is the concept of people not being part of their diet. When they do bite humans, it is a mistake due to bad visibility or because there is other other food in the water.” Read more via MyBroadband: mybroadband.co.za/news/science/5…

Happy New Year! 🦈 As we dive into the new year, we’re excited to keep growing and driving awareness for shark and ray conservation in South Africa's waters.

2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary, filled with exciting new projects, films, and unforgettable adventures with our team. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us and contributed to the growth of our campaign, and look forward to all that 2025 has to offer!

Wishing you a joyful festive season! May your holidays be filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories with your loved ones. Best wishes, The Sharks Under Attack Team 🦈✨

Despite international protections, manta and devil rays face growing threats from unsustainable trade, driven by demand for their meat and gill plates. A new study by The Manta Trust reveals the alarming global scale of exploitation across 75 countries, with key trade routes concentrated in Asia and Africa. Read more on this via Forbes: forbes.com/sites/melissac… Image Credits: Jasmine Corbett - Forbes

A recent study highlights a drastic decline in sharks, rays, and chimaeras (Chondrichthyan fishes) due to overfishing, with their populations dropping by over 50% since 1970. This decline not only threatens these ancient species but also harms ocean ecosystems. “Sharks and rays are important predators, and their decline disrupts food webs throughout the ocean,” explains Dr. Nathan Pacoureau at the European Institute for Marine Studies, Brest University, France. Read more on this via Forbes here://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2024/12/18/how-overfishing-is-pushing-sharks-and-rays-to-the-brink/ Image Credits: Richard Smith - Forbes

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA 🦈 The little gulper shark (Centrophorus uyato) is a small, deep-sea shark found along the continental shelf at depths of 400–800 m, inhabiting the entire South African and Namibian coastline. Due to its occurrence in deep water, catch is likely to be restricted to the deep-water trawl fishery. In 2019, this species was classified as Endangered globally due to declining populations elsewhere. Despite its wide distribution, much about the little gulper remains unknown in South Africa—its specific habitat, life cycle, and movements are yet to be studied in depth.

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA 🦈 The leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) is a medium-sized shark, typically found at depths between 450–750m. This globally distributed species can be spotted along the entire South African coast and in Namibian waters. The leafscale gulper shark was assessed globally as Vulnerable in 2019. Very little is known about the distribution, habitat, life-history and movement of this species in South Africa, making it a challenge to effectively improve protection for this species.

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA 🦈 The small fin gulper shark (Centrophorus moluccensis) is a demersal shark that is found at depths of 125–820 m on part of South Africa's east coast. Annually, catches of this species are under one ton, mainly from deep-water trawl fisheries. The small fin gulper shark was listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2019 due to declines elsewhere. Little is known about its distribution, habitat, life history, and movement in South Africa, making it harder to protect this species.

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA - The Gulper Sharks 🦈 There are many different types of Gulper Sharks, up to about 4 different species. These are often misidentified in deep sea fisheries because all the species look similar, making them very vulnerable to fisheries. Most of these species are Endangered. In our upcoming posts, we will be discussing the four different gulper shark species.

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA 🦈 The white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), is a large coastal and open-ocean species, with an essential role along South Africa’s coast. Annual local catches are under one ton, mostly due to the KZN bather protection program, with juveniles also caught by anglers. Listed as Vulnerable in 2018, they’ve been fully protected in South Africa since 1991. Image Credit: Morne Hardenberg

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA The ragged-tooth shark (Carcharias taurus) is a large, bottom-dwelling shark with a wide but fragmented range in coastal areas globally. Despite being classified as Critically Endangered worldwide by the IUCN in 2020, South African populations appear to be stable, making the country a lifeboat for the species. This species has a notably low reproductive rate, with females producing only two pups every two years. Protection for these sharks, especially prohibiting/regulating recreational shore catches in northern KZN where pregnant females spend much of their gestation period, is crucial for better protection of the species. Image Credit: Steve Benjamin

Overfishing threatens the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, pushing many fish species to the brink of collapse and endangering the livelihoods of coastal communities who depend on sustainable fishing practices. This needs to change. Despite these alarming consequences, subsidies that fund overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices continue. These subsidies not only fuel harmful practices but also undermine the efforts to conserve fish stocks and restore ocean health. So this World Fisheries Day, it's time to rethink how we invest in our oceans. Learn more at stopfundingoverfishing.com #WorldFisheriesDay #StopFundingOverfishing #SustainableFisheries

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA The dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) is a large pelagic species found in tropical and warm temperate waters around the world, including along South Africa’s east and south coasts. It’s particularly common in central and southern KwaZulu-Natal, where its nursery grounds lie in shallow coastal areas, while adults roam offshore around the continental shelf. Despite its wide range, the dusky shark is listed as Endangered due to threats such as overfishing for its high-value fins and low reproductive rate. Image Credit: Andy Murch | Sharks&Rays

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is a large species found in tropical and warm-temperate waters off South Africa’s coast. Local fisheries catch around 300-700 tonnes per year, mainly through pelagic longline fishing, with some catches also from KZN’s bather protection programme and other line fisheries. Their global declining population trend led to the species being listed as Endangered by the IUCN in 2018.

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA The common smoothhound shark (Mustelus mustelus) is a fascinating medium-sized shark that roams the shallow coastal waters of South Africa. As of 2020, it has been classified as Endangered, primarily due to fishing pressures and the high demand for its prized meat, often exported to Australia. Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the west and south coast, and those on the east coast, south of Durban are important in providing safe spaces for this threatened species.

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA The scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) is the and one of the most studied sharks globally. Found in tropical and warm-temperate coastal waters, it is notably present along the east coast of South Africa. This species has been assessed as Critically Endangered since 2018, primarily due to fishing pressures for its valuable fins and meat. In South Africa they are particularly vulnerable to pelagic longline and trawl fisheries but are also caught by recreational shore anglers and in the KZN bather protection nets.