Cape Town - The local Shark Spotters project has been recognised for their work in enhancing the safety of visitors to beaches, the City of Cape Town said on Monday.
“We are very pleased that they [Shark Spotters] have been acknowledged for their valuable and innovative efforts in responsible beach tourism, including the implementation of the shark exclusion net, which benefits our beach-goers,” said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning Johan van der Merwe.
Shark Spotters - funded by and partnered with the City of Cape Town - was awarded the Gold Innovation Award in the Best for Beach Tourism Category at the African Responsible Tourism Awards 2016 held in Cape Town last week.
Van der Merwe said the category was awarded to “a tourism business, organisation or initiative providing or contributing to responsible holidays in beach settings”.
According to judges, Shark Spotters was named the winner as it combined enhancing safety and education on beaches, while working to protect sharks - particularly the globally threatened species, the Great White - and providing community members with employment and skills development opportunities.
Shark Spotters project manager Sarah Waries said the team was delighted to have won the award. “Working together with the City of Cape Town, we have created a holistic, socially and environmentally responsible initiative that protects beach tourism, the local economy and the environment from the negative repercussions of shark bite incidents.”
The public could find out more about Shark Spotters and their work by visiting their information centre at Muizenberg Surfer's Corner which is open from 08h00 to 18h00, seven days a week.
African News Agency (ANA)