In October 2025, Mongabay published an investigation into South Africa’s shark fisheries and concerns about weak enforcement. The story examined the country’s demersal shark longline fishery, which targets endangered smoothhound sharks and critically endangered soupfin sharks.
Drawing on vessel-tracking data from Global Fishing Watch, Mongabay reported evidence that the Zanette — the only vessel that was currently licensed to catch sharks in South African waters under the demersal shark longline fishery — had breached permit conditions, including fishing in protected areas. The reporting raised questions about the sustainability of the fishery and the effectiveness of government oversight.
Impact
Ten days after publication, South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) issued a public statement saying they were launching an investigation into the matter and were taking further administrative action against the vessel which was in breach of permit conditions.
The department said inspectors had confirmed the vessel failed to comply with a requirement that sharks, skates and St. Joseph sharks be landed with heads and fins naturally attached, a rule intended to allow proper species monitoring. The shark longliner had already been issued an administrative fine, but the DFFE said it was considering further administrative measures, including possible suspension or revocation of permits.
Mongabay staff writer Victoria Schneider later followed up with the DFFE in March 2026, which confirmed the matter was still ongoing. Her story also drew attention from other journalists within South Africa, with coverage by the Sunday Times and SAfm, and was amplified on social media by the ocean advocacy platform Seaspiracy.
This case shows how investigative environmental reporting grounded in verifiable satellite and vessel-tracking data can help bring regulatory attention to underreported conservation issues. For threatened marine species, independent journalism can provide timely information that supports public accountability and more transparent ocean governance.
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Banner image: The shark longliner Zanette at sea, blue bins containing shark heads and fins on the port side. Image courtesy of Enrico Gennari.