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Demersal shark research cruise

South Africa's fishery management organization, Marine and Coastal Management (MCM), is undertaking monthly research trips around the coast to learn more about the biology of commercially important demersal shark species. As part of our research programme we joined the MCM team, (Charlene Da Silva, Dr. Sven Kerwath, Chris Wilke, Rob Cooper, and Sarika Singh) on a demersal shark longline survey from July 16-19. Biological and ecological data on soupfin sharks (Galeorhinus galeus), smoothound sharks (Mustelus mustelus) and sevengill cowsharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) were collected. Combined with a thorough tag and release research programme, this information will provide valuable baseline data for the management and conservation of these species. Whenever possible, SASC will continue to partake in these cruises to assist MCM with the collection of data.

SASC & WWF Responsible Fisheries Programme

The WWF Responsible Fisheries Programme (WWF RFP) is undertaking training activities with a range of stakeholders, including fishers, compliance officials, fishery managers, monitors and observers, to ensure they have the tools required to implement an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. The training currently targets skippers from trawl and pelagic longline sectors and new modules will soon be implemented for other sectors including South Africa's purse seine fishery.

SASC is now working with WWF RFP to assist with the rolling out of training, and we hope to assist them to develop more hands-on training activities for crew members in the various fisheries. We will also partner with WWF RFP to develop training modules for recreational and demersal longline fishers.

One of our primary goals is to work closely with the fishing sectors to gain valuable insight into co-management approaches to fisheries in South Africa, thereby ensuring the long-term sustainability of our living marine resources.

For more information, visit the WWF Responsible Fisheries Programme website or Contact Us.

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Faces of Need: Sharks

In conjunction with the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT), SASC is initiating an exciting ecosystem-based long-term monitoring programme in Walker Bay, South Africa. The programme is focused on the conservation and sustainable utilization of two commercially valuable shark species, the soupfin shark (Galeorhinus galeus) and the sevengill cowshark (Notorynchus cepedianus).

The monitoring programme will collect fishery-specific and species-specific baseline data while developing an effective and holistic, ecosystem-based management approach through fisher outreach and education and public awareness activities. These data will be used to answer key questions, including:

Species-specific questions

1. Can habitat types in Walker Bay be used to classify and predict the presence and movement of G. galeus and N. cepedianus?

2. What are the spatial dynamics of these species in Walker Bay?

3. What is the population structure of these elasmobranchs in Walker Bay?

4. Does Walker Bay serve as a critical habitat for G. galeus and N. cepedianus in terms of breeding and pupping grounds?

Fishery-related questions

1. What is the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of G. galeus and N. cepedianus in and around Walker Bay?

2. Do catch returns submitted by linefishers and demersal longliners accurately reflect landings?

3. What are the socio-economic characteristics of the shark fisheries for these species in and around Walker Bay?

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Green Marine Programme

The Overstrand Region of South Africa hosts thousands of tourists each year. Brought here by the beauty of our unique terrestrial and marine environments, these are people who are increasingly interested in an exceptional "green" experience. With the Green Marine programme, SASC is providing the hospitality industry with the tools to ensure their clients receive the best service possible through an exciting training programme aimed at the staff of hotels, restaurants, guide companies, backpacker's, etc.

The Green Marine Programme is a 3-module training course that begins with a background to the fascinating processes that drive the marine environment. Module 2 introduces staff to the concepts of sustainability (using SASSI as a case study), fish habitats, and the charismatic marine megafauna of our area, while Module 3 teaches staff how to use this knowledge to improve client experience.

This is the first initiative of its kind in South Africa.

If you would like to learn more about the Green Marine Programme, Contact Us.

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SASCs new research & education facility

One year after securing our position in the Old Perlemoen Hatchery of the Old Harbour Museum, and following months of renovations, we moved into our new research and education facility on May 27th. Positioned in the centre of Hermanus, SASCs facility is only meters from the sea, and is ideally located for further implementation of our research and education programmes.

Although renovations in the laboratory and education sections of the building are scheduled to continue for some time, we now have base from which to conduct our work.

Facility hours are Monday-Friday 09h00-17h00, so if you are in the area and want to pop by to learn more about us, feel free to drop in.

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Renovations continue in the laboratory

SASC Research & Education Facility

View of Walker Bay from the Facility

Inside SASCs office

News

SouthAfricanSharkConservancy

promoting the conservation & sustainable utilization of elasmobranchs & other marine resources through research, education & the development of cooperative partnerships

Sarika with a small sevengill cowshark

Meag releases a cowshark

Tagging a smoothound shark

Charlene & Sven inject a shark with oxytetracycline (OTC) - an antibiotic used for age validation in elasmobranchs & teleosts

Shark pups rescued

On Tuesday, August 5th a local handline fisherman caught a female shark. When landed, she gave birth to 10 pups, 9 of which survived. The fisherman transported the pups to Ichthus - a fish processing factory in Gansbaai - where the pups were immediately placed in a temporary holding tank. The owner of Ichthus contacted SASC to determine if we would be interested in taking the pups and either releasing them or keeping them in captivity for further study.

We jumped at the opportunity to rescue these 9 pups and, on August 7th, we transported the pups back to Hermanus where we are temporarily housing them at HIK Abalone Farm until the tanks in our research facility are constructed and conditioned. The pups are being kept in a 4.5m x 1.4m porta pool and are now swimming around happily and feeding daily on a diet of squid and pilchard.

Due to similarities in external characteristics, particularly at such a young stage, the pups were initially identified by the processing plant as spotted gully sharks (Triakis megalopterus). They have since been identified as smoothound sharks (Mustelus mustelus) - a species of interest in the South African commercial and recreational fisheries.

Following transport to HIK Abalone Farm, the pups were weighed, measured, sexed and injected with oxytetracycline (OTC). The OTC will allow us to validate their ages after a predetermined period in captivity and will enable comparison between age and growth in wild versus captive smoothound sharks. Behavioural observations and biological data will be recorded over the next two years and the sharks will then be fitted with tags to track their movements when they are released into the wild.

Interest in the health of the pups from recreational anglers on Sealine (an online fishing forum) has led to fantastic financial support which will enable us to feed and house the sharks over the next several years.

A special thanks to the anglers for your support & to all those who have made donations to help us care for these animals!