Nets could be placed off a new KwaZulu‑Natal resort beach.

Guests, wildlife and a raging debate

The new $170 million Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari, set north of Durban on KwaZulu‑Natal’s Indian Ocean coast, has reopened an old argument: how do you keep swimmers safe without killing wildlife? Look, the resort’s proximity to a public beach expected to host as many as 1,000 guests a day when it opens later this year is what has sharpened the dispute.

The controversy centres on plans considered by local authorities to deploy shark nets off the shore. Marine scientists have formally complained about the possibility, warning nets would entangle and kill not only sharks but dolphins, rays, turtles and seabirds. The scientists say nets are an outdated approach that creates casualties rather than acting as a reliable barrier between people and large animals.

Point is, the choice isn’t just technical. It’s political and economic. The KwaDukuza municipality will have the final say on whether to install nets at the Tinley Manor site, and local leaders must weigh the safety concerns of thousands of visitors alongside conservation worries and potential reputational damage for South African tourism.

What the scientists and resort say

Ryan Daly, a scientist with the Durban‑based Oceanographic Research Institute, helped draft an assessment of the potential impact of nets at the site.

He questioned why authorities wouldn't look to alternatives used elsewhere.

“Why don’t they consider modern practices used in places like Australia, where lifeguards use drones to check on dangerous rip currents to look out for sharks?” Ryan Daly, scientist at the Oceanographic Research Institute, asked. That approach, he argued, would cut the risk to animals while still helping beachgoers.

Right now, club Med, the French resort company behind the development, said it supports a “transparent, science‑led process” and wants a solution that gives safe swimming to both local and international travellers. In a statement the company said its commitment was to prioritise both public safety and marine conservation, and that protecting people and protecting the environment are inseparable responsibilities.

Numbers that matter

Shark attacks are rare, but the statistics cited by scientists help explain why safety measures are being considered. The International Shark Attack File, affiliated with the Florida Museum, recorded six fatal attacks in South Africa and 23 non‑fatal bites between 2012 and 2021. Those figures are part of the argument that some form of protection is needed — but they don’t settle which method is best.

Mastheads

Enrico Gennari, director at the Oceans Research Institute in Mossel Bay, told reporters that no single protection method is foolproof. He said nets, human spotters and drone surveillance each have strengths and limits, and the choice involves trade‑offs between effectiveness and ecological harm.

Alternatives on the table — and why they matter

Scientists pushing back on nets have offered alternatives, including improved shark‑spotter programmes and drone surveillance that can scan offshore waters quickly. Drones have become common in parts of Australia and are often used to spot large sharks near bathing areas; Daly pointed to those practices as examples authorities could adapt.

But according to the scientists involved, some of those proposals were dismissed by local decisionmakers without detailed evaluation. That, they say, pushed them to lodge formal objections ahead of any municipal decision.

Drones aren’t perfect. They can struggle in poor weather or at night. And as Enrico Gennari cautioned, even the best surveillance won’t stop every encounter. Still, proponents argue that non‑lethal approaches reduce collateral mortality among marine species while giving lifeguards and rescue teams better situational awareness.

Economic and political stakes

The resort’s $170 million price tag and the expectation of heavy daily visitor numbers mean the outcome matters beyond the beach. Local tourism operators, municipal officials and provincial government agencies are watching — quietly, in public and behind closed doors. A decision to put up nets could anger conservation groups and harm South Africa’s image as a country that protects its marine heritage.

On the flip side, a perceived lack of protections might deter families and international tourists concerned about safety, particularly if the development is marketed as a beach destination. That would have economic consequences for the area around Tinley Manor, which could see higher short‑term occupancy but face reputational risk down the track.

Politically, the issue tests local governance. KwaDukuza’s choice will be scrutinised for how much weight it gives to scientific advice versus public safety sentiment and commercial pressure. Municipal leaders must also consider national and provincial conservation commitments when they make a call.

Broader conservation context

Great white sharks and other large species are an established part of South Africa’s marine ecosystem, and they’re central to the country’s marine research and tourism sectors, including cage‑diving operations in other regions. Scientists warn that removing animals from the ecosystem — intentionally or not — can have cascading effects on fish stocks and coastal habitats.

That concern is why many marine biologists oppose static netting, which can act like fisheries gear and trap non‑target species. Even when nets capture a small number of large predators, the ecological consequences can be disproportionate because of the roles those animals play.

What happens next

KwaDukuza municipality will probably decide after consulting technical reports and submissions from environmental groups and the resort. The timing of that decision hasn’t been fixed publicly, and local officials say they’re following a process that includes independent experts.

In the meantime, scientists, conservationists and industry representatives are likely to keep pressing their cases. Some will highlight Australian experience with drones and spotters as a workable path. Others will insist that nets remain the only reliable defence for crowded beaches.

Whatever KwaDukuza decides, the choice will be watched by coastal communities and tourism operators around South Africa — and by international travellers weighing where to spend their holidays. The resort’s opening is scheduled for later this year, putting extra pressure on authorities to make a timely call.

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“Why don’t they consider modern practices used in places like Australia…?” Ryan Daly, scientist at the Oceanographic Research Institute, asked.

This article was created with AI assistance.