Sushihunter
Active Member
http://www.capetimes.co.za/great-white-thumps-on-to-boat-1.1101810
Great white thumps on to boat
July 19 2011 at 11:57am
Staff Writer
A three-metre great white shark breached into a vessel carrying marine researchers yesterday.
While none were injured, they said it gave them “the fright of our lives”.
Six researchers from Oceans Research, a Mossel Bay-based marine research organisation, were on the boat Cheetah collecting data on sharks near Seal Island, in Mossel Bay, led by field specialist Dorien Schroder.
It was 8.30am.
“Activity around the boat ceased for about five minutes and all was pretty quiet at the stern,” Schroder said.
“Next thing, I hear a splash and see a great white breach out of the water from one side of the boat hovering, literally, over a crew member chumming on the port side.”
The 500kg shark landed on the boat’s fuel and bait storage containers – with half of its body onto the boat, she said.
The team hoped the shark would make its way back into the water, but watched horrified as the it panicked and became stuck, thrashed around and damaged equipment on board.
The shark began cutting the fuel lines as it twisted and turned on the deck.
Schroder helped the researchers to safety while other team members rushed towards a safe area on the boat.
Shark scientist Ryan Johnson and Oceans co-director Enrico Gennari were radioed and raced out to sea to assist, while Schroder began pouring water over the shark’s gills.
When Johnson, Gennari and a crew of field specialists arrived, their attempts to return the shark to the water included tying one end of a rope around its tail and the other end to the side of another vessel, which tried to pull the shark off the Cheetah.
After the attempts failed the Cheetah was towed to Mossel Bay harbour where a crane was used to lift the beast off the boat.
Oceans Research marketing director Cassie Heil said that water was hosed into the shark’s mouth to ventilate its gills while ropes were secured to its tail.
“The shark immediately began thrashing as soon as it hit the water.
“It was then seen swimming towards the harbour mouth,” she said.
Half an hour later the shark had beached itself on a harbour beach, she said.
Johnson and his team then attached ropes to its tail and behind the pectoral fins and a boat slowly towed it out to sea.
“About a kilometre from the harbour, the shark began to regain its orientation and strength and as the ropes were cut, it swam away powerfully,” Heil said.
“This is the first time such a thing has happened to us. The Cheetah is damaged, but will be repaired and will be back in the water in a few days.”
Said Johnson: “When working with animals this large you have to take every precaution possible to ensure the safety of the scientists and the sharks.
“However, it is impossible to predict everything. What is important is how you respond to such a situation.
“No one was injured and the shark survived. This is a credit to our team, the port authorities and members of the community who assisted.”
Great white thumps on to boat
July 19 2011 at 11:57am
Staff Writer
A three-metre great white shark breached into a vessel carrying marine researchers yesterday.
While none were injured, they said it gave them “the fright of our lives”.
Six researchers from Oceans Research, a Mossel Bay-based marine research organisation, were on the boat Cheetah collecting data on sharks near Seal Island, in Mossel Bay, led by field specialist Dorien Schroder.
It was 8.30am.
“Activity around the boat ceased for about five minutes and all was pretty quiet at the stern,” Schroder said.
“Next thing, I hear a splash and see a great white breach out of the water from one side of the boat hovering, literally, over a crew member chumming on the port side.”
The 500kg shark landed on the boat’s fuel and bait storage containers – with half of its body onto the boat, she said.
The team hoped the shark would make its way back into the water, but watched horrified as the it panicked and became stuck, thrashed around and damaged equipment on board.
The shark began cutting the fuel lines as it twisted and turned on the deck.
Schroder helped the researchers to safety while other team members rushed towards a safe area on the boat.
Shark scientist Ryan Johnson and Oceans co-director Enrico Gennari were radioed and raced out to sea to assist, while Schroder began pouring water over the shark’s gills.
When Johnson, Gennari and a crew of field specialists arrived, their attempts to return the shark to the water included tying one end of a rope around its tail and the other end to the side of another vessel, which tried to pull the shark off the Cheetah.
After the attempts failed the Cheetah was towed to Mossel Bay harbour where a crane was used to lift the beast off the boat.
Oceans Research marketing director Cassie Heil said that water was hosed into the shark’s mouth to ventilate its gills while ropes were secured to its tail.
“The shark immediately began thrashing as soon as it hit the water.
“It was then seen swimming towards the harbour mouth,” she said.
Half an hour later the shark had beached itself on a harbour beach, she said.
Johnson and his team then attached ropes to its tail and behind the pectoral fins and a boat slowly towed it out to sea.
“About a kilometre from the harbour, the shark began to regain its orientation and strength and as the ropes were cut, it swam away powerfully,” Heil said.
“This is the first time such a thing has happened to us. The Cheetah is damaged, but will be repaired and will be back in the water in a few days.”
Said Johnson: “When working with animals this large you have to take every precaution possible to ensure the safety of the scientists and the sharks.
“However, it is impossible to predict everything. What is important is how you respond to such a situation.
“No one was injured and the shark survived. This is a credit to our team, the port authorities and members of the community who assisted.”
