Whale shark caught in the nets at Salt Rock beach
A 2.2 metre-long whale shark has been caught in the shark nets at Salt Rock beach on the Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
On Monday, Salt Rock beach was closed after beach goers spotted a shark in the water, North Coast Courier reported.
KZN Sharks Board head of operations Mike Anderson-Reade confirmed it was a whale shark after initial claims of it being a shark.
“Whale sharks are very common in these waters around this time of year but eat plankton and, as such, are completely harmless to humans,” said Anderson-Reade.
Earlier in the week, a 2.2 metre-long tiger shark was caught in the shark nets, also at Salt Rock.
“Tiger, bull and great white sharks are the only three species in our waters that are considered life threatening to humans,” added Anderson-Reade.
Anderson-Reade said these three shark species were designed to eat bones and are the only ones that cause serious trauma when they bite.
He added that other species such as the black tip reef shark do not really bite but only nip.
All Ballito beaches are now open and the KZN Sharks Board is confident beach goers are safe.
“Everything is under control and bathers who swim in designated areas need not be concerned for their safety,” said Anderson-Reade.
Earlier this month, a dead shark washed ashore on the beach when a lady noticed something strange.
The shark appeared to be pregnant since there was some movement in the abdominal region.
The dead shark gave birth to three baby sharks.
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