South Africa’s Club Med Resort Sparks Debate Over Shark Safety Measures
The upcoming opening of a Club Med resort in Tinley Manor, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is igniting a controversy over proposed shark safety measures, specifically the installation of shark nets and drum lines. The debate centers on the potential harm to marine life, the legality of the nets and the availability of alternative, non-lethal mitigation strategies.
Concerns Over Shark Nets and Marine Life
Municipal authorities proposed installing shark nets to protect beachgoers in anticipation of increased visitor numbers following the resort’s opening in July 2026. Yet, scientists and environmentalists argue that these nets, along with drum lines (baited hooks), are indiscriminate, killing non-target species, including those protected under South African law. A juvenile humpback dolphin was recently killed in a KwaZulu-Natal shark net in February 2026, highlighting the risks to vulnerable marine mammals. Club Med South Africa is scheduled to open in 2026.
Data from the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board (KZNSB) indicates that, between 2018 and 2022, an average of 411 animals were killed annually by the existing nets and drum lines, with 356 being non-target species, including critically endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks.
Legal and Environmental Impact Assessment Questions
The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is currently considering whether the installation of the new net at Tinley Manor requires an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Legal scholars are also questioning the adequacy of public participation in the process and whether existing nets were installed in compliance with South Africa’s environmental laws. Club Med fact sheets confirm the resort’s location in Tinley Manor Beach.
The proposed installation site is located approximately 500 meters from the uThukela Marine Protected Area, a critical habitat for humpback dolphins, threatened sharks, and rays, including the endemic diamond ray.
Club Med’s Sustainability Commitment Under Scrutiny
Club Med, owned by Fosun International Limited, is a member of the Green Globe sustainable tourism certification scheme and has committed to minimizing its environmental impact and supporting biodiversity conservation. However, scientists from the SouSA Consortium argue that the proposed shark nets contradict this commitment. Club Med’s South Africa Beach & Safari resort aims to blend adventure with serenity.
Alternative Mitigation Strategies
Other regions, such as Australia and Réunion, are increasingly adopting non-lethal shark mitigation strategies, including shark spotters, drones, exclusion barriers, and smart drum lines that allow for the safe release of captured sharks. However, the KZNSB maintains that these alternatives are not viable in the South African context, citing challenges with detecting bull sharks and the suitability of exclusion barriers in the area’s conditions.
Conservationists, like Grant Smith from the Shark Life Conservation Group, argue that insufficient effort has been made to trial or implement these alternative approaches, suggesting that temporary beach closures could effectively manage bull shark risks.
The Bigger Picture: Declining Shark Populations
Globally, shark populations have significantly declined since the 1970s, with over a third of shark species currently threatened with extinction. In South Africa, fisheries pose the biggest threat to sharks, with around 1,000 metric tons caught annually as bycatch. However, the KZNSB’s shark control program is also identified as a major pressure on critically endangered and endangered species like the great hammerhead and sandbar shark.
Looking Ahead
The debate surrounding the Tinley Manor shark nets highlights the complex challenges of balancing human safety with marine conservation. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is reviewing comments and will decide whether an environmental impact assessment is required, potentially impacting Club Med’s opening plans. The situation underscores the need for a comprehensive and sustainable approach to shark mitigation that prioritizes the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems.