In December 1957 several key factors occurred simultaneously to attract sharks to the Durban area, including: (1) whalingships operating in the area; (2) rivers had flooded and washed livestock into the Indian Ocean and made the river deltas murky; and (3) recent resort development had increased the number of tourists swimming off the beaches.[2]Adding to the confusion was the lack of adequate shark research and the knowledge to prevent shark attacks in 1957.[2]
Attack victims
Attempted solutions
Tourists fled the Durban area during Black December causing a devastating impact on the local economy.[13] The local authorities desperately made attempts to protect swimmers and surfers from sharks.[1] These attempts included enclosures built from wooden poles and netting; however, both were ineffective and were destroyed by the surf.[1] A South African Navyfrigate dropped depth charges causing few shark fatalities and attracted many more sharks into the area that feasted on the dead fish.[1]
KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board
As a result of Black December the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, previously the Natal Sharks Board and Natal Anti-Shark Measures Board, was formed in 1962.[14][15][16] The organization's mandate is to maintain shark nets and drum lines at 38 places, along 320 km of coastline of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, to protect bathers and surfers from possible shark attacks.[14]
^ a b c d"South Africa Rethinks Use of Shark Nets". Archived from the original on June 5, 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^ a b"Killer Sharks: The Attacks of Black December". 2 August 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2017 – via IMDb.
^ a b c d e f g h isurfer. "The complete South African Shark Attack Related Incident Record". Archived from the original on May 3, 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in Uvongo in 1958". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in Port Edward in 1958". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in Scottburgh in 1958". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in MaKakatana River in 1958". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in Margate in 1957". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in Splash Rock Port Edward in 1957". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in Margate in 1957". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in Uvongo in 1957". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^fish. "shark attack in Karridene in 1957". Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^Gulf News: Keeping great whites at bay
^ a b"History of protection against shark attack in KZN". KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
^"An overview of the KZN Sharks Board". KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
^Africa Geographic: Shark nets - the real killers of the sea? Archived May 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine