Study Reveals Ecosystem Collapse in False Bay Following Great White Shark Decline

Two decades of research confirm the cascading effects of great white shark disappearance on marine biodiversity and ocean health.

Great white sharks have not been sighted in False Bay, South Africa, since August 2018, following a dramatic population decline beginning in 2015.
The loss of these apex predators has caused significant disruptions to the marine food web, including increases in Cape fur seals and sevengill sharks and declines in their prey species.
The study, conducted by the University of Miami and published in 'Frontiers in Marine Science,' provides robust empirical evidence of the long-term ecological consequences of apex predator loss.
Researchers identified shark nets and predation by orcas as key drivers behind the disappearance of great white sharks in the region.
The findings underscore the critical role of sustained ecological monitoring and the urgent need for conservation measures to mitigate biodiversity loss and protect ocean health.