27 Oct 2014 | By Sun International
The Kwazulu-Natal Sharks Board
KwaZulu-Natal's coastline is the only one in South Africa that is protected by shark safety equipment. As the only institute of its kind in the world, the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board maintains this shark safety equipment along the coastline and also operates a number of shark research programmes.
Located less than 20 minutes away from Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom, the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZNSB) headquarters is an essential stop on any family holiday itinerary, for an up-close look at some fearfully fascinating ocean predators. Established in 1964, after a series of great shark attacks that took place along the Durban coastline, the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board provides a shark protection service at 38 locations, with operations staff located at 11 base stations found at key points along the coast.
Protect and serve
As a public protection organisation, the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board has worked tirelessly to prevent shark attacks at KwaZulu-Natal beaches, and the success of these safety measures speaks for itself – there have been no reported shark attacks along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline since 1999.
Boat crews are launched from the beaches every morning, just before sunrise, with teams setting out to check shark nets and drum lines. Each set of shark safety equipment is serviced on a regular basis throughout the months, where the nets are pulled to the surface and examined. Dead animals are removed from the nets and, where possible, taken to the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board headquarters for examination by research staff, and live animals, including potentially dangerous sharks are released back into the oceans.
The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board teams make these trips an educational experience too, so anyone looking for educational things to do in Durban is welcome to join in once they've booked their space. At that time of the day, guests can also enjoy seeing dolphins, sea birds and other sea creatures.
Face your fear of sharks
But the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board does not just exist as a public safety organisation, as the research department located at its headquarters also forms a huge part of the institute's focus. By actively investigating sea life and the oceanic habitat, researchers are able to better understand life under the waves and create improved facilities for helping people avoid shark attacks while swimming. The team at the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board even created the very first Protective Oceanic Device, the Shark POD, a personal device that can be used to deter sharks.
And for tourists and visitors to the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board headquarters, interactive and guided tours take place throughout the week. A short audio-visual show takes guests through the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board's operations and programmes on shark conservation in Durban, while imparting interesting information on the important role that sharks play within the marine ecosystem. This is followed by a deeply informative shark dissection, conducted by a member of the research team. These guided tours are especially popular with those looking for family activities in Durban and school children, so the team regularly welcomes school trips through the doors.
The huge display hall houses an array of shark, fish and ray replicas, including that of a 892 kilogram Great White Shark, bringing visitors a little closer to understanding the much-feared yet fascinating beasts of the ocean.