Gugu Myeni

People in the Southern Cape coastline have been warned to take caution of sharks in Buffel Bay, following the a whale carcass which was found near the shore in Knysna, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Friday.

Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield and Wilderness are also among those affected.

NSRI in a statement on Thursday said a 14m  whale carcass washed on shore in Simons Town, but it was unclear what the cause of death was.

NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambion said they received  reports of an increase in shark activity on the coastline.

"It is normal behaviour for sharks to forage on whale carcasses. Sharks are attracted to the overspill of waste into the sea during the efforts made to remove the carcass," Lambinon said.

"While progress is well underway by the municipality to remove the carcass by cutting it up and removing it by road, until the site is cleared this cautionary notice remains in place," he said.