Plummeting white shark sightings prompt urgent call from scientists for their protection

South Africa, in 1991, became the first country in the world to declare it would take a precautionary approach to protect the white shark.

According to marine biologist Dr Enrico Gennari, a precautionary approach applies when there is not enough scientific evidence of the status of a population, but the risks of environmental harm are clear. For this reason, it is better to err on the side of caution and take steps to prevent or reduce any potential harm to them. 

While this made a difference in the conservation of the species, it may not have been enough as sightings are declining. A research paper published in March 2024 indicates that off the Western Cape coast, sightings have declined from an average presence of "several hundreds" of white sharks to "fewer than 10 sightings per year".