Paddle-Out Video

Here is a short documentary on the Paddle-Out that happened on the 6 May filmed by our good friend Gordon Hiles.

Paddle out for sharks report back

Press release: Report on the Paddle for Sharks event, Sunday 6^th May, Scottburgh

At first light on the 6th of May 2012, over 100 people gathered on dive boats, jet skis and surfboards at the shark nets off Scottburgh.  In the surfer’s tradition of a “paddle out” the gathered community honoured animals that have died in shark nets in KwaZulu Natal South Africa since the 1950’s, most recent of which were 5 tiger and 1 white shark.

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Paddle out for sharks - 6 May 2012

Image courtesy of Dori Moreno

Well over 100 people attended today's "paddle out" for sharks. Here is a poem that was read out at the event. The poem pretty much says it all.

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Paddle out for sharks

“Paddle Out” in Scottburgh in tribute for sharks and other animals killed by “shark nets” along the KZN coast

What is this event about?

For the first time, many of the dive operators whose clients enjoy communing with the marine life that the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area (ASMPA) serves to protect, are coming together to seek a new direction in the beach protection policies executed by the KwaZulu Natal Sharks Board and the Umdoni Municipality based in Scottburgh.

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Ocean Art exhibition - Raffaella Schlegel

We featured Raffaella Schlegal in issue 22 of African Diver Magazine. Raffaella (or Raffa) is a passionate shark photographer resident in Umkomaas in South Africa. She will be exhibiting her work in the A+I Unlimited Design Showroom in Cape Town starting on Thursday 26 April 2012. To find out more call the Showroom on +27 (0)21 461 3400

To read about Raffaella in issue 22 click here or on the image.

Fatal shark attack in Western Cape

Cape Town – A man was killed by a shark in Kogel Bay in the Western Cape on Thursday.  The NSRI and the SharkSpotters organisation confirmed the incident. However, ER24 said the attack happened at Dappat se gat in Gordon's Bay. ER24 also said the man was a surfer.  The NSRI’s Craig Lambinon told eNews that there had been a rise in shark activity on the southern coast in the Western Cape.  Police will open an inquest docket, Lambinon said.

Issue 22 available for download

Issue 22 is an eclectic collection of articles celebrating the diversity that lives in and around our oceans. If you’re into critters then you’ll love our nudibranch article and the one on macro photography. If chasing sardines is your game then you’ll want to read up on Port St Johns and gannets; the indicator species (along with common dolphin) for sardine activity. Activism by The Black Fish on illegal drift nets in the Mediterranean gets our support with an article that, hopefully, will inspire you to support them. And we end this issue with the colourful photography of Ivan van Heerden and the inspirational story of Raffaella Schlegal who changed her life to follow her dream of diving with sharks.

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I AM WATER Conservation Trust to benefit from Two Oceans Marathon Initiative

The I AM WATER marine conservation trust has been selected as one of three beneficiaries of the Two Oceans Marathon Initiative (TOMI) for 2012. I AM WATER founder and multiple South African freediving record holder Hanli Prinsloo and South African cricket coach Gary Kirsten will also be donning I AM WATER colours and running the 21km and 56km Old Mutual Two Oceans races respectively, in a bid to further raise both funds and awareness for their cause.

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Mauritius, Seychelles to manage sea shelf

Port Louis - Mauritius and the Seychelles on Tuesday signed a pact to jointly manage a continental shelf in the Indian Ocean spanning 396 000km² in what was described as a ground breaking accord.

The pact came after the two island nations obtained conjoint rights on the Mascarene Islands continental shelf in March last year. The treaty was signed during a visit by Seychelles President James Michel.

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4.3m shark killed by ropes off Fish Hoek

The female great white shark, which died after it had become caught in lines of whelk traps in False Bay, is hoisted from the water after it had been towed to Simon's Town. Photo: Brandon Kilbride

A female great white shark has died after it became entangled in ropes attached to sea snail traps off Fish Hoek. The shark was about 4.3m long and got caught up yesterday morning, said Alan Boyd, the director for biodiversity and coastal research at the Department of Environmental Affairs. “Apparently it got entangled, not into the traps, but in lines attached to the nets.”

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