The narrative surrounding the decline of great white shark populations off the coast of South Africa has focused heavily on two orcas, dubbed Port and Starboard, known for preying on these apex predators. However, new research reveals a far more significant threat: human activity is responsible for far more shark deaths than these killer whales.
The Orca Scare vs. Human Impact
For years, Port and Starboard have garnered attention for their unusual hunting behavior, including eviscerating sharks with surgical precision. While their predation is undeniably impactful, data indicates it pales in comparison to the annual mortality rate caused by humans.
Between 2017 and 2025, there were 11 documented instances of orca predation on white sharks. In contrast, humans are estimated to kill approximately 44 great white sharks per year in South African waters alone, through both the KwaZulu-Natal shark control program and bycatch in longline fisheries. This figure represents 5–10% of the estimated population, making it unsustainable.
A Population in Decline
The white shark population is not stable as some studies suggest; it’s shrinking. Sightings in False Bay, near Cape Town, have plummeted from 1.64 sharks per hour between 2000 and 2015 to effectively zero by 2018. The most recent census (2011) estimated 908 individuals, but genetic analyses in 2016 suggest there are only 333 mature sharks in the region. No updated census has been conducted since.
The urgency of conservation efforts is limited by the perception that the population is stable. However, researchers argue this is a dangerous misconception. If declines in key aggregation sites reflect the broader population trend, the white shark could face extinction far sooner than current models predict.
The Role of South Africa
South Africa holds the unique distinction of being the first nation to protect great white sharks via legislation in 1991. Yet, it may soon become the first to lose the species entirely. The government-regulated demersal shark longline (DSL) fishery and KZNSB shark control program are directly contributing to unsustainable mortality rates.
Orca predation, while natural, falls outside of government control. Human-caused deaths, however, do not. The researchers stress that reducing human impact is the only viable path toward recovery.
“While South Africa was the first nation to protect white sharks, we fear that it may soon also hold the title as the first nation to lose this species.”
The focus on orcas as the primary threat distracts from the more pressing issue of human intervention. Urgent action is needed to curb unsustainable fishing practices and protect this endangered apex predator.
