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The Natal Sharks Board is collaborating with Sharkprojekt, a German-based NGO which says sharks have large amounts of methyl mercury in their flesh.

Geremy Cliff, a scientist with the Natal Sharks Board, said at Sharkprojekt's request they had sent a couple of samples from larger sharks caught in the nets to them for analysis last month.

"They are mainly interested in large sharks, as they need to eat to grow. Obviously, the bigger they are, the more they will have consumed, with more chance for them to ingest mercury," said Cliff. "But age is also a factor. Some sharks, like the spiny dogfish, may be as old as 50 years, but less than 1m long."

Wolf Snyckers, an honorary member of Sharkprojekt and co-ordinator of the project in South Africa, said they had not yet had the results back.

"It is a lengthy process and they are still busy with the analysis. There is no doubt that they will find mercury, but we need to establish the percentage," ...