Drumlines to replace shark nets at some KZN beaches

The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board will replace shark nets at certain beaches along the coastline with drumlines to reduce catches of harmless marine life like dolphins and turtles.

Greg Thompson, Sharks Board's head of operations, said on March 1, drumlines would replace nets at all beaches between Westbrook on the north coast and Umgababa on the south.

"The nets have been very effective in reducing the risk of shark attacks but there is an environmental cost.

"Not only do the nets catch potentially dangerous sharks, they also catch certain shark species that pose no threat to bathers, as well as various species of dolphin, whale, ray turtle and occasionally, large bony fish," said Thompson.

A drumline consists of a single large baited hook, suspended from an anchored float and forms an alternative method of fishing for potentially dangerous sharks.

"In 2007 the board replaced nearly half of the existing shark nets with drumlines at 20 protected beaches between Hibberdene and Port Edward and more recently at all five protected beaches between Zinkwazi and Ballito."

Thompson said drumlines had "proved invaluable in providing protection against shark-inflicted injury along the KZN coast, catching potentially dangerous sharks, but with very little by-catch (the catch of other animals)".

He added that the drumlines were "aimed solely at reducing the environmental impact associated with the provision of safe bathing."

He appealed to the public not to tamper with the drumlines.