A public loss of confidence in safe swimming at Fish Hoek beach has sparked an application to the Western Cape Government for the trial installation of a potentially lifesaving shark exclusion net, according to a media release by the City of Cape Town. 

Fish Hoek is located on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula which is known for it's regular sightings of Great White Sharks.

In the past eight years there have been three shark attacks at Fish Hoek, two of which were fatal, the third resulted in severe injuries and loss of a limb. Previous efforts by highly esteemed non-profit organisation Shark Spotters have not worked due to bathers ignoring the warning system; this is reportedly having a significant negative impact on the local economy.

“We will be proposing to the Subcouncil and ultimately Council that the exclusion net be deployed under a research permit, as this will provide the only realistic means of assessing the potential success of the net as a long term safety device. If it proves successful, bathers will be safer and the local economy would benefit,” said Alderman Belinda Walker, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Environmental & Spatial Planning.

The nylon net which has been successful in both Hong Kong and the Seychelles is proposed to cover a triangular area covering about 140m of beach and 200m of Jagger's walk on the South side of the beach,towards Sunny Cove. This will provide sufficient area for bathers and the Fish Hoek life saving club to practice.

The 44mm small mesh net would provide a complete barrier against sharks but is said to be safe against the capture or entanglement of marine species, unlike those installed along the Kwazulu Natal Coast and should the application be successful, is expected to be implemented on a trial basis in around October 2012.

To read the full release visit the City of Cape Town Website, or visit our Facebok Page to have your say.