Visitors and locals heading to Plettenberg Bay’s beaches are being urged to stay extra cautious after the town’s shark-spotting programme was suspended, leaving one of South Africa’s best-known coastal destinations without its usual shark-monitoring service, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Picture: Alex Steyn / Unsplash
The suspension comes at a time when shark activity along the coastline remains a concern, with recent sightings reminding beachgoers that the ocean is shared with some of the world’s largest marine predators.
In an official statement on Facebook, Plett Shark Spotters confirmed that its operations stopped on 1 July 2026 after its Memorandum of Agreement with Bitou Municipality expired at the end of June. Without a renewed agreement, the non-profit says it no longer has either the legal authority or the funding needed to continue monitoring local beaches.
‘This was not a decision we wanted to make, but one we have no choice but to take until a new agreement is concluded,’ the organisation said.
As a result, there are currently no Shark Spotters on duty at Plettenberg Bay beaches until further notice. The organisation said discussions with the municipality have been ongoing for months, but a new agreement has yet to be finalised. It added that it remains committed to restoring the service as soon as the necessary arrangements are in place.
The timing of the suspension has raised concerns because, according to Bloomberg, the Western Cape is currently in a period when white sharks are known to frequent coastal waters. Shark Spotters pointed to a recent white shark predation event witnessed off Central Beach as a reminder that shark activity remains a genuine risk.
‘We therefore urge all ocean users to remain vigilant, heed any advice from lifeguards and local authorities, and exercise caution when entering the water,’ the organisation said. The group has also previously warned swimmers, surfers and paddlers that anyone entering the ocean while the programme is suspended does so at their own risk.
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Plettenberg Bay introduced the Shark Spotters programme in 2023 following two fatal shark attacks that shocked the community the previous year. Since then, trained spotters have monitored popular beaches from elevated viewpoints, alerting lifeguards and beachgoers whenever sharks are seen approaching swimming areas.
The programme follows a model first introduced in Cape Town in 2004, in which trained observers use elevated vantage points, warning flags, and radio communication to reduce the risk of shark encounters while allowing people to continue enjoying the ocean.
Rather than removing sharks from the marine environment, the system focuses on helping people safely share the coastline with wildlife.
While beaches remain open, the absence of dedicated shark spotters means visitors are being encouraged to stay informed, follow lifeguard instructions and avoid entering the water if conditions appear unsafe.
Shark Spotters thanked the Plettenberg Bay community, volunteers, partners and supporters for their continued backing and said it will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.
Article previously shared by Cape Etc.
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