Save South Africa's White Sharks
The Issue
Extinction Is Forever — Save Our Sharks
A dark cloud is hanging over South Africa’s White Sharks. Once an iconic symbol of our oceans and marine biodiversity, their numbers have plummeted alarmingly. Scientists estimate that fewer than 350 remain in our seas!
It is a decline that has accelerated as new lethal threats to great white sharks have sped up the spiral towards local extinction.
If immediate action is not taken, South Africa may become the first country to loose one of its most important marine predators in modern times.
The Food Crisis Facing White Sharks
There is substantial evidence linking the disappearance of White Sharks to destructive human-related fishing practices, particularly Demersal Shark Longline Fishing (DSL). This fishing operation, that was created without an environmental Impact Assessment, removes thousands of sharks from our oceans annually, including species such as smoothhounds and soupfin sharks — critical prey for White Sharks.
As prey populations collapse, White Sharks loose their food source and their numbers plummet, rapidly nearing extinction. In addition to removing the great whites prey, these lines often directly entangle white sharks. Significant evidence exists to show that dozens of great whites have been killed annually by this fishery… yet nothing is being done.
The DSL is targeting endangered and critically endangered shark species as their primary targets while many threatened, endemic and highly vulnerable other species are also being killed. These sharks are hacked to death, finned and filleted - all for the overseas markets. Shark meat is exported and sold overseas, mainly in Australia as “flake and chips,” while shark fins are exported to Asian markets for shark fin soup.
This exploitation is unsustainable and places immense pressure on already vulnerable marine ecosystems.
South Africa needs to take a stand if we are to save the great white and other sharks. We say NO to letting a plate of fish and chips in Australia destroy our heritage and biodiversity!
Outdated and Harmful Shark Nets
In KwaZulu-Natal, shark nets and drumlines continue to kill sharks and other marine life in large numbers.
The KZN Sharks Board continues to be the world’s largest sanctioned killer of great whites. Note: These methods do not repel sharks — they trap and drown them in prolonged and unnecessary suffering. And sharknets are not foolproof.. sharks can swim under and over them with more than 50% of all sharks dying on the inside of the nets!
These systems were introduced 80 years ago, before modern alternatives existed. Today, safer and more effective non-lethal technologies are available, including: The Shark Safe Barrier, shark spotters, drone surveillance, SMART drumlines and electronic shark deterrent systems.
Despite this, outdated lethal methods remain in use because the KZNSB relies on keeping the nets in the water, thereby securing government subsidies.
We reject the continued killing of White sharks for a false sense of security. Sharks belong in the ocean. Humans enter their habitat, not the other way around.
It is a disgrace that the current R2 billion Club Med Tinley development is supporting the putting up of shark nets and drumlins along the beach to kill yet more sharks, and also dolphins, turtles, whales and rays. Club Med is an organisation that touts being eco-friendly, yet this is what they do in reality. We strongly condemn this!
Government Inaction
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has attributed the decline of White Sharks primarily to two notorious Orcas operating in the Western Cape. However, many non-government affiliated scientists argue that this explanation does not account at all for the scale and timeline of the Great White Shark population collapse.
Is the department using the Orcas as a smokescreen and convenient excuse so as not to address the human induced pressures within their control?
South Africans have a constitutional right to an environment that is protected for present and future generations. The continued failure to protect White Sharks represents a catastrophic failure of environmental responsibility and leadership in the department.
Our Demands
We call on the following authorities and organisations to take immediate action:
To the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment:
Immediately suspend Demersal Longline Shark Fishing (DLSF)
Implement stronger protections for White Sharks and their prey species
Commit to transparent scientific monitoring and conservation measures in collaboration with other scientists, not just government affiliated, in South Africa.
To the Kwa-Zulu Natal Sharks Board:
Phase out shark nets and traditional drumlines
Replace lethal systems with modern, non-lethal alternatives
To Club Med South Africa:
Reject the use of shark nets and lethal shark control methods at the new Tinley resort development
Support environmentally responsible tourism practices
Time Is Running Out! Extinction is permanent.
South Africa was the first country to provide protection to White sharks… and on its current trajectory we will be the first to loose them in modern times.
We urge all concerned citizens to demand immediate action to protect our White Sharks!
Together we can Save our White Sharks!
Please sign and share this petition.
1,890
The Issue
Extinction Is Forever — Save Our Sharks
A dark cloud is hanging over South Africa’s White Sharks. Once an iconic symbol of our oceans and marine biodiversity, their numbers have plummeted alarmingly. Scientists estimate that fewer than 350 remain in our seas!
It is a decline that has accelerated as new lethal threats to great white sharks have sped up the spiral towards local extinction.
If immediate action is not taken, South Africa may become the first country to loose one of its most important marine predators in modern times.
The Food Crisis Facing White Sharks
There is substantial evidence linking the disappearance of White Sharks to destructive human-related fishing practices, particularly Demersal Shark Longline Fishing (DSL). This fishing operation, that was created without an environmental Impact Assessment, removes thousands of sharks from our oceans annually, including species such as smoothhounds and soupfin sharks — critical prey for White Sharks.
As prey populations collapse, White Sharks loose their food source and their numbers plummet, rapidly nearing extinction. In addition to removing the great whites prey, these lines often directly entangle white sharks. Significant evidence exists to show that dozens of great whites have been killed annually by this fishery… yet nothing is being done.
The DSL is targeting endangered and critically endangered shark species as their primary targets while many threatened, endemic and highly vulnerable other species are also being killed. These sharks are hacked to death, finned and filleted - all for the overseas markets. Shark meat is exported and sold overseas, mainly in Australia as “flake and chips,” while shark fins are exported to Asian markets for shark fin soup.
This exploitation is unsustainable and places immense pressure on already vulnerable marine ecosystems.
South Africa needs to take a stand if we are to save the great white and other sharks. We say NO to letting a plate of fish and chips in Australia destroy our heritage and biodiversity!
Outdated and Harmful Shark Nets
In KwaZulu-Natal, shark nets and drumlines continue to kill sharks and other marine life in large numbers.
The KZN Sharks Board continues to be the world’s largest sanctioned killer of great whites. Note: These methods do not repel sharks — they trap and drown them in prolonged and unnecessary suffering. And sharknets are not foolproof.. sharks can swim under and over them with more than 50% of all sharks dying on the inside of the nets!
These systems were introduced 80 years ago, before modern alternatives existed. Today, safer and more effective non-lethal technologies are available, including: The Shark Safe Barrier, shark spotters, drone surveillance, SMART drumlines and electronic shark deterrent systems.
Despite this, outdated lethal methods remain in use because the KZNSB relies on keeping the nets in the water, thereby securing government subsidies.
We reject the continued killing of White sharks for a false sense of security. Sharks belong in the ocean. Humans enter their habitat, not the other way around.
It is a disgrace that the current R2 billion Club Med Tinley development is supporting the putting up of shark nets and drumlins along the beach to kill yet more sharks, and also dolphins, turtles, whales and rays. Club Med is an organisation that touts being eco-friendly, yet this is what they do in reality. We strongly condemn this!
Government Inaction
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has attributed the decline of White Sharks primarily to two notorious Orcas operating in the Western Cape. However, many non-government affiliated scientists argue that this explanation does not account at all for the scale and timeline of the Great White Shark population collapse.
Is the department using the Orcas as a smokescreen and convenient excuse so as not to address the human induced pressures within their control?
South Africans have a constitutional right to an environment that is protected for present and future generations. The continued failure to protect White Sharks represents a catastrophic failure of environmental responsibility and leadership in the department.
Our Demands
We call on the following authorities and organisations to take immediate action:
To the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment:
Immediately suspend Demersal Longline Shark Fishing (DLSF)
Implement stronger protections for White Sharks and their prey species
Commit to transparent scientific monitoring and conservation measures in collaboration with other scientists, not just government affiliated, in South Africa.
To the Kwa-Zulu Natal Sharks Board:
Phase out shark nets and traditional drumlines
Replace lethal systems with modern, non-lethal alternatives
To Club Med South Africa:
Reject the use of shark nets and lethal shark control methods at the new Tinley resort development
Support environmentally responsible tourism practices
Time Is Running Out! Extinction is permanent.
South Africa was the first country to provide protection to White sharks… and on its current trajectory we will be the first to loose them in modern times.
We urge all concerned citizens to demand immediate action to protect our White Sharks!
Together we can Save our White Sharks!
Please sign and share this petition.
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Petition created on 28 May 2026