© Alison Towner, Dyer Island Conservation Trust/Marine Dynamics
After hearing the news of a 5m female white shark at Marine Dynamics shark cage diving vessel in the Kleinbaai area, I grabbed the tagging kit and we set out to sea to take over the anchor position on the Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s research boat. While preparing the acoustic tag I looked up at our American and Irish interns on the fly deck, two of who have been around for a month and asked them if they have ever seen a white shark. They all answered nervously “No, this is going to be the first time”.
After a few minutes, an immense shape appeared from the depths as she made her way up to the surface in the murky green water – the colour a result of the recently breached estuary. She was magnificent. Her girth was more like that of a whale than a fish- she literally measured over half the length of the boat we were on. As she glided by in a calm and collected demeanor, I could not help but marvel at where she has come from and what she had endured in her long life. I glanced back up at the interns, all with their jaws notably dropped.
Along her head were large strips of copepods- small parasitic crustaceans that look almost like tribal battle stripes and one runs parallel to her eye. Over the years, I have noticed the larger sharks often have more of these, perhaps representing more time at depth or in cooler water as these temperate water little critters tend to drop off in warmer currents. Her right pectoral fin is bent upwards- reminding me of an animal we have logged in the past.
After her second slow circle of the boat, I guide her in slowly with the bait line, and as she glides within range of the tagging pole- almost in slow motion the acoustic tag is placed perfectly at the base of her dorsal fin by Francois Swart using a pole spear and small needle head. She turns her powerful body and dives down, right next to the bow of the vessel. We place the hydrophone into