Roughly 100 great white sharks migrate to the Foveaux Straight between December and June to feed on the local fur seal breeding colony, and over the past few years cage diving businesses have been developing without regulation. Methods used to lure sharks near the cages by some businesses has created concern over how this will change white shark behavior. Some divers and wildlife experts worry that the use of bait to attract sharks to the cages will teach these sharks to expect food around boats, increasing the risk to divers and swimmers. In addition, using bait to encourage sharks to attack the cage may cause permanent injury to the sharks.
Discussions with tourism operators and divers led to the new permit requirement, which will be fulfilled under the Wildlife Act. The Department of Conservation will also consult with the Stewart Island community on the details of the permit conditions to ensure the well being of the sharks.
Read the Department of Conservation's Press Release
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