The South African Shark Conservancy (SASC) needs your help to prevent the systematic removal of Zambezi (bull) sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, from one of their most unique habitats in Africa.

The human-shark conflict has once again reared its ugly head and the Breede River Zambezi sharks are under threat.  A few river residents (and visiting anglers) believe the sharks are responsible for declining fish populations in the river and are taking matters into their own hands to systematically capture and kill the sharks.  Another reason cited for killing the animals and removing them from the river, is human safety concerns.  However, the sharks are documented as occurring in the river since at least the 1950s and, to date, there have been no negative human-shark interactions.

Since 2010, SASC has petitioned the national Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (previously MCM) three times to implement precautionary protection measures for the species in this river until more research is conducted.  To date, we have not received a response from DAFF.  The tipping point has now been reached though, and anglers have begun killing this near-threatened species in the Breede River.  In an attempt to mitigate the systematic removal of the species from the Breede River, SASC has launched a global petition to urge the South African government to place a moratorium of the fishing for, and killing of, Zambezi sharks in the Breede River.

We would greatly appreciate any assistance you can offer.  Please sign the petition and share it with all your friends, family and colleagues concerned about the state of our living marine resources.

The petition can be found online at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/80/stop-the-killing-of-bull-sharks-in-the-breede-river-south-africa/.