Cape Town has over the last few years experienced an increase in the number of White Sharks occurring in the in-shore zone. Although no scientific data exists to support this or indicate otherwise, anecdotal evidence from water users suggests that in-shore occurrence has increased.

In response to these events and the increased fear by water users, particularly in False Bay, two community driven programmes were started out of a need to improve the safety of recreational water users.

Officially started at Muizenberg beach in October 2004 by Greg Bertish, along with Rasta Davids, Monwabisi Sikiya, Dave and Fiona Chudleigh - And funded by surfers, friends and Puma and Reef Wetsuits. The huge success of the community programmes has resulted in funding being provided by WWF through the Table Mountain Fund and the formalisation of shark spotting as an effective safety project. The shark spotting programme is a non profit organisation (NPO) largely funded by the City of Cape Town as well as WWF through the Table Mountain Fund. The NPO is managed by a committee that represents a range of organisations.

Not only does shark spotting provide increased safety at the beaches but also has multiple benefits of creating employment for disadvantaged groups, environmental education and awareness of the public, collection of data for research, and capacity and skills development of the shark spotters.