If you live in Cape Town, and regardless of whether you actually spend time in the cold water (surfing, snorkelling, paddling, diving) or simply drive pass the lookout points on your way over Chapman’s Peak, you have probably seen a Shark Spotter, or at least heard of this service.

The only programme of its kind in the world, Shark Spotters uses a flag system to communicate to the public where and when sharks have been spotted in Cape Town waters, and whether it’s safe for humans to enter with a board or fins. Shark Spotters also undertakes essential research about sharks in Cape waters, research that we as the Two Oceans Aquarium are proud to support.

But, how often do you go to the beach and wonder when the last shark was spotted, which Shark Spotters flag is currently flying, if the shark exclusion net is in the water, if whales have recently been seen or what the surf is like? Sometimes you can make the trek all the way to the beach only to be let down by poor conditions.

The Shark Spotters team wants to help prepare you better by providing all of this information, and more, in the palm of your hands with a great new mobile application – absolutely free.

By supporting Shark Spotters’ crowdfunding initiative – even small donations will make a big difference – you can help bring this essential service onto the smartphones of the city.

Click here to make your donation now.

Shark Spotters are calling on all those will benefit from software like this to make a donation towards the final development stages of the app. The app has been developed with water users in mind, and will serve as a one-stop shop for safety, education and shark conservation for all beaches monitored by Shark Spotters.

Shark Spotters needs R60 000 towards the development costs as well as to pay for annual hosting on app stores. They want to launch their final product by the time summer starts, at the end of September, so this crowdfinding campaign will only run for 30 days – starting on 11 July and ending on 9 August.

Click here to donate now.

Shark Spotters is a registered Non Profit (060-390-NPO) and Public Benefit (90037421) Organisation. Donations to Shark Spotters result in tax benefits for donors in terms of and subject to the limitations prescribed in Section 18A of the Income Tax Act. Email sarah@sharkspotters.org.za for more details.