Shark Tagging Project
Current projects
Estimating Fishing-related Mortality and Designing Sustainable Management Protocols for Shark Fisheries in Northern Australia
Sharks play a vital role in keeping our seas healthy, but how they are coping with legal and illegal harvests in northern Australia is not known.
Northern Territory scientists have recently started a three-year study into the sustainability of shark fishing in Australia's northern waters. Although the domestic fishery is small and well-managed, there are far greater potential threats from the increasing illegal, unregulated and unreported fishery (IUU fishery) invading Australian waters each year.
With the help of local commercial fishermen, scientist Iain Field, from Charles Darwin University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), has been tagging a large number of sharks in the fishery along the Northern Territory coastline.
The main aims of the study are to determine the effects of fishing on survival of sharks in the wild. Individual sharks are being marked with two highly visible plastic tags. When they are caught again by commercial or recreational fishermen, growth, survival and movement data will provide invaluable information.
The project is funded by the Australian Research Council. The team also includes Corey Bradshaw (CDU), Mark Meekan (AIMS), and Rik Buckworth (Northern Territory Fisheries and adjunct with CDU) and is supported by major contributions from the Offshore Net and Line Fishery Licensee Committee of the Northern Territory Seafood Council and local shark and mackerel fishermen.
Have you seen a tagged shark?
With the help of local commercial fishermen, Iain Field and colleagues aim to determine the effects of fishing on natural stocks. Individual sharks have been marked with two highly visible plastic tags.
Reporting rewards
Rewards will be offered for tagged shark information. This information will provide invaluable data on survival, growth and movement information on tagged sharks. When these sharks are caught, if possible, please release them alive. If the shark is alive or dead, the same reward is offered for information about the shark. What to report
- Tag colour and number
- Date and location of capture
- What species of shark was caught (see list of potential shark species under downloads)
- Measurement of shark length (total and fork length - a rough estimate is enough. See diagram under downloads)
- If the shark was released alive
- Include a photo if possible
Contact NT Fisheries on (08) 8999 5511 or email: fisheries.dpifm@nt.gov.au to relay your report and to discuss the options for claiming your reward. Download the shark finders booklet for more details or for more information about the project, contact Iain Field.
Selected news coverage
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ABC News Northern Territory
11 October 2006: Shark Tagging
As fish stocks continue to decline in Asia, illegal fishermen are encroaching further into Australia's northern waters. (video, .wmv, 3MB right click to save, left click to play)
ABC radio North Queensland
10 October 2006: Are you concerned about the welfare of Sharks?
Lynda McCaffery talks with Dr. Iain Field about the future of sharks in northern Australian waters. (audio, .mp3, 10MB right click to save, left click to play)
The Age
21 September 2006: Fishermen asked to help with shark study
Sharks may be feared for their sharp teeth and lethal bite but scientists are trying to determine whether too many of them are being fished in Australia's northern waters. (full text)
ABC News feature
30-November 2005: Shark fishing under scrutiny
Northern Territory scientists are about to start a three-year study into the sustainability of shark fishing in Australia's northern waters.(full text)
National Radio Bush Telegraph
8-December 2005: Shark tagging in the North
Compere talks with Dr Corey Bradshaw from Charles Darwin University, about their shark tagging operation to ascertain the extent of impacts of illegal fishing on shark populations. (more)
Downloads
- Tagged shark reward flyer (.pdf, 398KB)
- Shark finder booklet (.pdf, 1.2MB)
- Shark measurement diagram (.jpeg, 31KB)
- List of potential shark species (.pdf, 21KB)
- Shark tagging newsletter March 07 (.pdf, 1MB)
- Shark tagging media release - 1000 sharks tagged (.pdf 21KB)
