A widely circulated press release claiming that the KZN Sharks Board will replace shark nets with an electromagnetic barrier system has been confirmed as false.

The release, which appeared on a replica of the KZN Sharks Board website last week, alleged that legacy shark nets at 37 beaches – including Ballito, Umdloti, Salt Rock and Zinkwazi – would be replaced by a new electric deterrent system before Marine Protected Areas Day on August 1. The report cited fabricated quotes from marine scientists and falsely attributed comments to local officials.

The KZN Sharks Board has since confirmed that no such project exists.

The Courier has also confirmed that several individuals named in the article, including a scientist attributed as “Dr Jacob Ramsammy,” are fictitious.

Local marine safety stakeholders, including the National Sea Rescue Institute, said they were not consulted and were unaware of any such transition plan.

Shark nets and drumlines have long been criticised for their negative impact on marine ecosystems.

“Whoever was trying to dupe the media and the public went to great lengths to do so,” said Courier editor Lesley Naudé.

“The people behind the false information went as far as sending us a fake press release and cloning the KZN Sharks Board website.”

The real Sharks Board website can be found at shark.co.za and the fake at sharksboard.co.za. Aside from a different cell phone number and the aforementioned release, the websites appear almost identical.

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