Great white shark attacks DO account for most shark-related incidents near Cape Town.

However, Cape Town is by no means the epicentre of shark attacks in South Africa.

As you can see from the image below (diagram courtesy of the Ichthyology Department of the Florida Museum of Natural History) most shark attacks in South Africa take place in th warmer waters off the Eastern Cape and Kwa Zulu Natal coast.

Unfortunately it needs updating as there was in fact a death as a result of a shark attack off Mossel Bay in August 2009.

Great white shark attacks on humans are far more likely to take place in the warmer summer months for a number of reasons.

1. lots more humans take to the water in summer and
2. fish prey species return to False Bay and the sharks change their feeding habits and begin to hunt fish beyond inshore.

Ways to avoid shark attacks

These are the measures recommended by teh Sharkspotters organisation on their blog http://sharkspotters.blogspot.com

• Do not swim, surf or surfski when birds, dolphins or seals are feeding nearby
• Do not swim, surf or surfski near where trek-netting, fishing or spear fishing is taking place.
• Do not swim in deep water beyond the breakers
• Do not swim if you are bleeding
• Do not swim near river mouths
• Do not swim, surf or surfski at night
• Do not swim, surf or surfski if there has been a cetacean stranding nearby
• If a shark has recently been sighted in an area where no shark spotters are present, consider using another beach for the day
• First time visitors to beach areas should ask the local law enforcement official, life guards or locals about the area
• Obey beach officials if told to leave the water
• For those people kayaking or surfskiing far out to the sea, consider paddling in groups and staying close together (in a diamond shape)
• Consider using a personal shark shield when you go surfing or kayaking
• Pay attention to any shark signage on beaches