In the first half of 2025, we focused on addressing a critical conservation gap: the lack of data on South Africa’s small, endemic shark species.

Despite a slow start to the year due to vessel repairs and rough seas, the team completed 9 research trips, capturing and assessing over 100 small sharks across six species, including the leopard catshark, pyjama catshark, and the endangered puffadder shyshark. A total of 13 individuals were tagged, with tagging efforts focused on species large enough to safely carry tags, such as the common smooth-hound and pyjama catshark.

The research, based in Gansbaai, used a combination of boat-based fishing, shore fishing, and freediving to monitor local populations. Findings show that puffadder and dark shysharks are the most frequently encountered, while others like the brown shyshark appear far less often, potentially indicating lower population densities.

The data collected on shark size, abundance, and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) is vital to shaping future conservation strategies, informing management plans, and supporting updated IUCN assessments. Just as importantly, the program continues to offer hands-on research training to young scientists and volunteers, helping build local capacity in marine conservation.

With the research vessel Shark Bait now fully operational and calmer weather ahead, the team looks forward to expanding its tagging work and deepening our understanding of South Africa’s often-overlooked shark species in the second half of the year.