By Alexandra Wexler | Photography by Gulshan Khan for WSJ
BALLITO, South Africa -- Club Med's expansion into South Africa has run into a problem -- and this one's got teeth.
The waters off the Indian Ocean coast where throngs of swimmers will soon congregate are home to the world's three most-dangerous shark species.
The local government has proposed an old tactic to keep high-paying guests at the luxury resort from becoming chum: Putting a shark net adjacent to the beach.
Scientists aren't fans of the plan. They say the barriers kill local endangered species like the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin and the leatherback turtle, and they're not that good at keeping out sharks. Many are caught on the beach-facing side, meaning they'd already roamed around on the inside of the net.
"If you put the shark nets in, all these protected species are going to die -- that's a guarantee," said Ryan Daly, a senior scientist at South Africa's Oceanographic Research Institute. "Are people going to die from a shark attack? I don't know."
There's no sign the standoff over South Africa's first new shark net in two decades will delay the resort's planned opening in July, but the clock is ticking. The installation of the net is waiting on a full environmental-impact assessment.
As the debate drags out, the publicity is tarnishing Club Med's eco-credentials and could make it increasingly hard to sell the resort, which will also offer safaris, as a dream destination to potential guests.
Still, the goal is to avoid comparisons to another popular resort town: the fictional Amity Island, where the mayor decided to open the beaches against the advice of Police Chief Brody in the classic shark film "Jaws."
"Internally, there are always extensive discussions to ensure we strike the right balance between ensuring the highest standards of guest safety and minimizing impact on marine ecosystems," Club Med said.
Intense fear surrounding shark attacks along South Africa's Indian Ocean coast harks back decades. The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, whose mandate is to protect swimmers from attacks, say nets have helped significantly reduce fatal encounters since the 1950s, when a spate of attacks devastated local tourism.
But for some, the cost of reassuring swimmers is just too much.
"It's silly to go to these lengths and damage the environment for no quantified risk," said Grant Smith, the managing director of the Sharklife Conservation Group in Sodwana Bay, South Africa.
On a recent morning, two surfers bobbed up and down on their boards directly in front of the new Club Med. For decades, the beach has been used by locals for surfing and as the launch site for the Umhlali Ski Boat Club, but it's rarely busy and the water often too rough to swim safely.
"There's people who swim and surf at the beach currently," said Daly , who lives nearby. "Where is the evidence that it's a risk for bathers to use the ocean?"
Daly monitors a receiver that tracks tagged sharks in the blue waters just off the beach. He's recorded 75 sharks from 16 species passing by more than 7,500 times over the past eight years, including bull sharks, considered the most-aggressive species.
John van Rooyen regularly surfs and spear fishes at the Tinley Manor beach, about 2 miles from where he lives. The Umhlali Ski Boat Club secretary wants the resort to be a success; it could bring additional jobs to the area and lift local business. But humans are going to have to get used to what's in the water.
"There are sharks. It's their environment," said van Rooyen, 50. "It doesn't necessarily mean they're going to attack you. Shark nets do more harm than anything else."
Scientists say there are ways Club Med could encourage guests to adjust their behavior in order to avoid a shark attack. Among the recommendations: Tell bathers to avoid reflective jewelry that might catch the attention of a shark and to get out of the ocean when big schools of fish that a shark could be chasing enter the area. Also, no swimming at dusk and nighttime.
Another low-tech solution used successfully in nearby Cape Town is to position spotters, akin to lifeguards, to look out for sharks. Some beaches use drones to assist. One scientist suggested handing out electromagnetic bracelets (designed to deter attacks) with towels at the Club Med beach.
"The idea that the more sharks we kill, the less shark encounters we're going to see, is a very, very archaic approach," said Sara Andreotti, a marine biologist and lecturer at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
She helped design the SharkSafe Barrier system, which she pitched to the developer of the Club Med resort and has been installed at two beaches in the Bahamas. Made from recycled plastics and ceramic magnets, it's designed to mimic a dense kelp forest, which is a natural barrier for sharks.
Many locals who are used to coexisting with the sharks think it's all a big hullabaloo, too.
"The shark nets, to be honest, in my opinion it's pointless," said Rob Renald, 41, who works in oil and gas, and lives about a mile from the Club Med beach. "I don't think they provide any mitigation against a shark attack. I don't believe they serve any constructive purpose."
Ways to Deter Shark Attacks
Write to Alexandra Wexler at alexandra.wexler@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 30, 2026 23:00 ET (03:00 GMT)
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