ABOUT 30 former staff of the KZN Sharks Board (KZNSB), met recently at the uMhlanga Ski Boat Club after decades. Most staff worked at the Sharks Board prior to 2008.

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Operations

Speaking to Northglen News, the former head of operations of the Sharks Board, Mike Anderson-Reade, said everyone picked up from where they’d left off. The venue was not short of laughter and conversation.

“It was great to see everyone again – some people I hadn’t seen in 30 years – so it was a much-needed reunion and catch-up. The 43 years of working at the Sharks Board were the best years of my life. I am the longest-serving staff member. I also have a deep love for the ocean, zoology and flying, so the job was perfect for me,” he said.

He recalled January 4, 1978, when he walked into the Sharks Board offices as a meshing officer. He worked up the ranks to supervisor but says in those days, you did a bit of everything.

“Our jobs were multi-disciplined which was great. I got involved in diving, photography and flying to spot sardine activity. No two days were the same,” said Anderson-Reade.

Research

Geremy Cliff, former head of research, retired in 2019. He, too, joined the Sharks Board in the 1980s after completing his Master’s Degree in Marine Biology.

“The position for researcher came up in 1983, and back then, research was a small part of the Sharks Board. I worked on shark attack investigations and had a close relationship with the operations staff. We really were a family, and as Mike says, no two days were ever the same,” said Cliff.

With a laugh, he recalls one of the assignments he was given to investigate two shark attacks in a tourist country overseas.

“This was in 2011. There had been two fatalities which had decimated tourism. Our job was to catch this shark. When Mike and I got to the airport, the media were waiting for us because word had got out that two experts were coming in to catch this shark. The airport was filled with media and cameras flashing,” said Cliff, chuckling.

They did catch a tiger shark, but judging from its stomach contents, it was not the same one that had attacked the tourists.

Cliff is currently completing a few scientific papers.

Public relations

Peter Ellis was a meshing officer and also handled public relations. He joined in 1981 after he came out of the army and resigned in 1989 to start his own business.

“Working at the Sharks Board was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and to see all my old friends, who were actually more like family, was such an amazing feeling,” he said.

“Awareness and education were also a part of my job. It was actually Mike who hired me,” he said.

He said he was happy to see that many of the former staff had retained their relationship with and love for the sea although they had retired or moved on to other careers.

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