All Hands-on Deck to Assist Smooth-Hound Shark Trapped In Tidal Pool

Photo Credit: Shark Spotters

The dedicated Shark Spotters Coastal Conservation team didn’t hesitate to respond to alerts about a smooth-hound shark that had found itself trapped in the Strandfontein tidal pool.

Cape Town, South Africa (31 January 2025) – A smooth-hound shark’s adventure in the Strandfontein tidal pool ended happily thanks to the Shark Spotters Coastal Conservation team. On a Tuesday afternoon, the team received reports of the shark trapped in the pool.

The small shark’s removal proved complicated due to strong south-easterly winds and murky waters on the day, forcing the team to wait for calmer conditions the following morning (Wednesday) to safely remove and relocate it.

Before the release, researchers made sure to tag the smooth-hound as part of their ORI TAG Cooperative Fish Tagging Project – one of South Africa’s longest-running environmental initiatives.

One of the biggest obstacles to improving the conservation and management of sharks and other marine life is the lack of knowledge on many aspects of biology, ecology, behaviour, and population status.

This tagging project, established in 1984, gathers crucial data for marine conservation and is carried out by trained professionals and citizen scientists.

“Every tag tells a story helping us understand fish movements, growth, and survival,” Shark Spotters said.

With several men on standby to help carry, measure and move the smooth-hound shark, the adventurous fella was soon back to the open waters to go about his journey!