The Department of Environmental Affairs says it has re-issued permits to a US shark researcher and other scientists following the recent killing of a body boarder near Gordons Bay.
The Department revoked the permits following the death David Lilienfeld last month to enable it to investigate any link between his death and research activities in the vicinity.
Department spokesperson, Zolile Nqayi, says there's no evidence to suggest a link and after meeting with the permit holders, Environmental Affairs decided to re-issue permits but with refined conditions related to chumming.
"All we've done is refine some of the conditions. For example now we specifically state the amount of chum that can be used. Whereas in the past we actually mentioned to them that they can only use 25kgs' but this was never (part of the) terms of permit itself, which now we've done and they only allowed to use 25 kilograms of chum," he said.
"No evidence was found to support a link and these results were made public a few days after the event. Over the following 10 days further information, including that of the movements of the tagged animals strengthened this position," he added.
"In the interim the Department had met with the permit holders to hear their position with respect to continuing their research. A strong case was put forward regarding the benefits of this work, not only for understanding and conserving sharks better, but also for in future being able to provide for public safety e.g. close to real time advice on risk areas for potential shark attacks."
"Therefore the Department decided to lift the suspension and issue new permits but with refined conditions. Such permits have now been issued enabling the work to continue from Gansbaai eastwards from today, and in the White Shark Cage Diving area in False Bay from 14 May," said Nqayi.
"The overall activity is also limited to the deployment of a maximum of 6 satellite tags in each area (a maximum of 12 in total). The new research permits will only be valid until these tags have been deployed or until the 31st May 2012, whichever occurs first," he said.
