Stop the Slaughter in Our Seas
It’s Time to Phase Out Lethal Shark Nets and Drumlines in South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas
The Problem
South Africa is globally recognised for its rich marine biodiversity, yet every year, our oceans silently bear the cost of outdated, lethal shark control methods.
Shark nets and drumlines, installed along our coastlines in the name of “bather safety,” are killing protected and endangered species, including white sharks, turtles, rays, and other non-target marine life, even inside our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
In May 2025, a juvenile white shark, a protected species, was tragically killed on a drumline in KwaZulu-Natal. This incident is just one of many highlighting how indiscriminate these devices are. Drumlines and nets do not distinguish between perceived “threats” and endangered species. Each loss of a slow-reproducing apex predator like a white shark further destabilises our fragile marine ecosystems.
While these methods may appear to protect beachgoers, scientific evidence shows they do not reduce shark incidents effectively, but they do cause lasting ecological damage to already threatened species.
The Facts
A peer-reviewed study by Kock et al. (2022) paints a stark picture:
- 1,317 white sharks were caught in KZN shark nets and drumlines between 1978 and 2018
- 69% of them were juveniles, critical to future population growth
- Most were caught inside or near MPAs, areas meant to be safe havens
- 25% of shark movements overlapped spatially with active fisheries in our EEZ
- 15% of their tracked time occurred in fished zones
- While the overlap with KZN shark nets and drumlines was only 1%, this gear accounted for the highest historical white shark catch rate
Meanwhile, electric shark repellent cables trialled successfully here in Mossel Bay by KZN Sharks Board in 2016, have yet to be adopted in South Africa, despite global interest abroad.
Read the research paper: Sex and Size Influence the Spatiotemporal Distribution of White Sharks, With Implications for Interactions With Fisheries and Spatial Management in the Southwest Indian Ocean
We Have Better Options
South Africa is home to groundbreaking non-lethal shark safety technology, like electric shark deterrent cables and eco-barriers, that can:
- Keep swimmers safe
- Protect vulnerable marine species
- Create green jobs through local innovation
- Align with our international conservation commitments
SharkSafe Barrier™ was developed and tested right here in South Africa. It was successfully demonstrated to effectively manipulate the swimming patterns of all interacting sharks, with the results published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Yet, these alternatives remain underfunded and ignored, while lethal gear continues to be deployed without full transparency.
What We’re Demanding
We call on the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and Minister Dion George to:
- Phase out lethal shark nets and drumlines, especially in Marine Protected Areas.
- Invest in non-lethal, science-backed shark safety alternatives.
- Engage independent marine scientists, local communities, and conservation organisations in future policy and gear decisions.
Add Your Voice
South Africa signed the High Seas Treaty. Now let’s lead at home.
Help us hold the government accountable. Share this campaign. Sign the petition. Write to our government.
Let’s stop the silent slaughter and embrace a future where people and marine life can thrive, together.
Write to the Minister
Copy & paste this email to Minister Dion George, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment ([email protected]) → Suggested Email Template in Google Docs
Sign the Petition
“South Africa has an opportunity to lead not only internationally, but at home. Let’s not lose that credibility by clinging to outdated, destructive practices.”
— Esther Jacobs, Project Director, Earth Legacy Foundation
