http://www.spearsafe.webs.com/

Spear Safe is a national initiative to improve safety for Australian spearfishers. The initiative involves some of Australia’s top divers and attempts to bring together a cohesive view on safety issues involved with spearfishing. Spear Safe has the potential to save lives and greatly reduce the number of injuries and fatalities occurring all over Australia associated with spearfishing.

Special thank you to Mako Eyeware for their generaous support of the GASC

visit Mako Eyeware website

Great Australian Shark Count- largest in the world

- Introduction and Benefits

The AUF has been funded by the Commonwealth Community for an 18 month project "Monitoring of threatened species and education of underwater fishing activities". Community Monitoring will give recreational divers and fishers some facts about what they do and also provide information for management. It will complement other Commonwealth initiatives for monitoring Grey Nurse Sharks.

Updated results

The Great Australia Shark Count Project has set a new world record. It has over 7500 sighting (as of September 2008) and is  the largest community shark count in the world, with more sharks than the multi-award winning Ecocean whale shark project, which has 6100 sightings of whale sharks over 10 years (http://www.whaleshark.org/index.jsp?langCode=en). It is also significantly larger that the global Shark Trust, which has about 300 sightings since 1997 (http://www.sharktrust.org/sd/) .

Early results

The Great Australia Shark Count Project has set a new world record. It has over 7500 sighting and is now the largest community shark count in the world, with more sharks than the multi-award winning Ecocean whale shark project, which has 1100 sightings over 10 years. It is also significantly larger that the global Shark Trust, which has about 200 sightings since 1997.

"Great to see the Australian Underwater Federation skindivers documenting their sightings of sharks. We all know that many sharks are in serious trouble, here and world wide,” - Ron Taylor AM, film-maker, author.

Have a look at our first summary report Community monitoring of reef sharks from the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef (download)

  • Possible benefits for you to be involved
  • FREE Fantastic Fish Calendars for 2008
  • Opportunity to win FREE "Great Australian Shark Count" wetsuit and t-shirt
  • Opportunity to win dive trip (Undersea Explorer)
  • Be part of the AUF team of committed volunteers
  • Learn more about sharks and the marine environment
  • Make a difference to future management

READ MORE..........

Supporters - we need your help

We want all divers to record the sharks they see at any time so we can make a difference
We have some great supporters and we want more to get involved
We are also organising dedicated shark counting weekends

  • 7-8 June 2008
  • 6-7 September 2008
  • 15-16 November 2008

Have your say

Complete this survey of sharks and diving (download)
You may also wish to provide a donation or other incentive
Please contact our Executive officer, Michael Rupnik on 0400367424 or shark@auf.com.au to discuss

Media links

Australian newspaper

Courier Mail

ABC News

Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney Morning Herald- weekend

 

Current Data

Shark Sightings

Species
# Counted
Port Jackson Shark
2236
Wobbegong Shark
2017
Whitetip Reef Shark
1655
Grey Nurse Shark
1361
Grey Reef Shark
1161
Whalers (several species)
1074
Other
956
Blacktip Reef Shark
604
Tiger Shark
128
Seven Gill Shark
40
Great White Shark
35

Top 10 Sighters

Rank Name
# Counted
1 eddie skerry
1198
2 Oly Wady
1093
3 Qld Titles 2008
577
4 Tim McDonald
551
5 Jake Boyd
451
6 BWHI Coral Sea 2007
443
7 Adam Smith
408
8 Justin Field
400
9 michael rupnik
348
10 Mark Schmidt
228

State Ranking

State
# Counted
New South Wales
6773
Queensland
4647
Western Australia
580
Victoria
413
South Australia
45
Northern Territory
34
Tasmania
8

NEW - QLD Records

QLD AUF Records

Social Membership!

New Social Membership is now availabe. Support your passion and become a member today!!

Membership - go now!

RECFish

Power Point Presentation given by Adam Smith at the 2006 RECFish Workshop
CLICK HERE

Random Pics

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Spearfishing Downunder Issue #28 - On Sale from 2nd July 2010

FEATURES

  • Coffs Harbour - Kurt Clifton holidays on the North Coast of NSW and finds some pleasant surprises.
  • Australia Day - Ashley Walsh Celebrates Australia Day in style. Big Snapper, Mackerel, Wahoo and Dhufish.
  • Solid Gold Charlie - Paul McKeown visits Thailand to find that gold is sometimes where you least expect it.
  • The Phantom - Pit your wit against the Phantom and the Invisible Man in the SDM Crossword.
  • JEW - Nathan Low tell his tale of a two year mission to land the majestic Mulloway
  • First Dive Back - Cameron Nilsson-Linne pay a respectful tribute to Imran Sattar
  • Sandon River - a personal reflection in time at the life changes between now and 20 years ago
  • All the regulars, Spearing Sydney, Spear?Tips, Marine Electronics
  • Plus Much MUCH More

For more info: Australian Subscribers | INTERNATIONAL Subscribers

10 % OFF for AUF Members

Join the AUF today are use your membership card to get 10% from Extreme Spearfishing www.extremespearfishing.com.au

Join the AUF today are use your membership card to get 10% from Legendary Skindiving Equipment www.legendary.com.au

AUF Documentation

Click here for online documents Minutes, Constitution etc

RECFish Workshop

Presentation by Adam Smith to the 2006 RECFish Workshop (Powerpoint 7Mb) - CLICK HERE

 

Records (click to view)

 

Latest Record

 

Random Record

 
Divers Name:
G. PICKERING  
Divers Name:
A. DJURASEVICH
 
Weight:
8.000 kg  
Weight:
5.950 kg
 
Common Names:
Papuan Trevally  
Common Names:
Barcheek Coral Trout
 
Scientific Name:
Caranx papuensis  
Scientific Names:
Plectropomus maculatus
 
Date Captured:
30-05-2010  
Date Captured:
20-09-2009
   

 

 

Upcoming Events (click to view)

 

Australian titles

 
Date:
14-12-2010
 
Contact:
Adam Smith
 
Phone:
0418726584
 
Email:
adamksmith@bigpond.com
 
Mobile:
0418726584
 
Event Documents
  The Australian Underwater Federation and the Qld AUF, Townsville Skindiving Club and Mackay Downunder Skindiving Club would like to invite all interested fishers to compete in the 59th Australian Spearfishing Championships to be held in Queensland. ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE https://www.clubsonline.com.au/eventsregform/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_event_detail&EventID=5997&OrgID=4147 The competition will be based on the Cape Gloucester Eco resort (south of Bowen and north of Whitsundays). Dates: 9-14 December 2010 North Qld traditionally hold Nationals between November and December so that we have the best weather, best fishing, minimum impact from cyclones and minimum impact from high tides and strong currents) The proposed location is based on all competitors and officials being accommoded at Cape Gloucester Eco Resort, south of Bowen (between Townsville and Mackay) Numbers will be limited to 30 competitors initially and we may increase to 40 competitors based on interest and availability of boats The resort can accommodate 44 people of which some will be officials, safety boat drivers etc It is proposed each state (QLD, NSW, Vic, SA, WA)through the state Chairman will have the opportunity to nominate a 4 man team by end of August (total of 20 competitors) Then we will have nominations open to other divers Draft program, dive sites and logistics will be advised within the next two weeks. It is likely we will have 2 days individual, 1 day Interpacific Pairs, 1 day filmfishing\finswimming (and have these in priority order to allow for weather). A backup site for filmfishing will be in the Whitsundays. We may try and use digital cameras for filmfishing for the first time. I will also advise the other state Chairs and put information on the AUF website Here is a bit more on the area from the web http://www.marinews.com/fishing_details.php?recordid=525 Comments welcome Given the relatively short notice (as last nationals in Feb this year, SA declined to host, and Interpacific in New Zealand in 17-19 March 2011) we will ask states to also assist with sponsorship and prizes Regards Adam

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