Sharks play an important role in the economy of many countries. Usually this is from shark fishing, but in South Africa, where Great Whites are a protected species, cage diving is a popular adrenalin sport. Offshore from the Western Cape town of Gansbaai, Great White sharks are quite common because of nearby Cape Fur Seal colonies. Each year, thousands of tourists come from all over the world to dive with the Great Whites, boosting the local economy. Photographers also flock to South Africa to capture a perfect picture of the famous flying Great Whites. Online and in the local newspapers there have been dozens of articals conserning Great Whites and attacks.

CAGE DIVING
Tourists come especially into the Western Cape to cage dive, particularly a town called Gansbaai. This is good for the economy as it provides jobs as well as money. After a boat takes you out to sea, they throw in the chum. A cage lowered down into the water. You enter through an opening at the top of the cage. Your shark diving experience has now begun.

CHUMMING
Chum is a mixture of chopped up fish used to attract sharks to a cage diving boat. Chumming the activity of using chum to attract sharks.

The Chumming Controversy
Many people believe that chumming attracts sharks and makes them aggressive. Although not scientifically proven, many researchers say that this is not true – most attacks are because we are entering the shark’s habitat. Read more about chumming @ http://great-white-shark.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html and go to the article "Following a shark attack, people question how to prevent another one" Wednesday 23 August 2006.

THE SHARKS AND THE ECONOMY
Many shops in coastal towns stock shark merchandise promoting themselves. This merchandise comes in many shapes and sizes, such as hats, T-shirts, mugs and much more. Underneath the picture of a shark's gaping jaws lies the company’s name in a bold heading.