The man at the centre of a Western Cape shark-baiting controversy on Wednesday explained his motives and actions in a letter to a local newspaper, saying they were misunderstood by the public.
”My motive and intention was to attract the large white shark out to the open sea away from the beach area to minimise the danger it posed.
”This was achieved using the tried-and-tested methodology that is used by shark handlers and researchers worldwide,” said Theo Ferreira in the Cape Argus.
Ferreira’s False Bay shark cage dive operation has been grounded while authorities investigate the circumstances in which he ”chummed” the water in False Bay to lure a shark away from popular bathing waters on December 26.
Chumming involves tossing chopped fish and entrails into the water.
Defending himself in Wednesday’s letter, Ferreira said his shark-watching trip on the Day of Reconciliation (December 26) was scheduled for Seal Island and the venue only changed at the last minute because of reports that a large great white shark had caused panic on nearby beaches earlier that day.
He said the success of the ”chumming” was confirmed by members of the local lifesaving association, who said that no sharks were seen in the area since December 27.
Ferreira, a self-styled shark expert, said he had put chum into the sea about 3km offshore to lead the shark away from the coast.
”Sadly, my actions and motives have been misunderstood and attacked, which is almost certainly a result of a lack of information and understanding of what we were actually doing,” he said.
Ferreira said he is a founder member of the Umhlanga beach lifesaving club in KwaZulu-Natal, a former surfer and grandfather of six, and would in no way place the safety of others in jeopardy.
He said a full report outlining his actions and motives on the day in question has been forwarded to Marine and Coastal Management, adding he was confident the organisation supported his actions as having been ”professional, responsible and legal”.
Members of the public who witnessed his chumming alerted the authorities because they felt it endangered the lives of the very swimmers and surfers his actions were meant to protect. — Sapa