For immediate publication 20 February 2008
Australia leads world in community shark research
The Great Australia Shark Count Project has set a new world record. It has over 2100 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,” said Ron Taylor AM, filmmaker, author. Adam Smith, National Chair of the AUF believes that the success of the Great Australian Shark Count is due to two reasons. “Firstly, we have lots of sharks in Australia and people love getting in the water and diving and fishing. Some tourists pay big money to observe Grey Nurse Sharks in NSW, Grey Reef Sharks in QLD and Great White Sharks in SA waters. Dr Smith believes the second reasons for the success of The Great Australia Shark Count Project is that Australians have a thirst for knowledge and want to make a difference ” Opportunistic sightings include 3 Great White Sharks, 38 Tiger Sharks and almost 200 potentially dangerous Whaler Sharks. The most common sightings were Grey Reef Shark (414) from QLD waters, and Wobbegong Shark (365) from NSW waters. QLD has the highest number of shark sightings, closely followed by NSW. A dedicated shark counting expedition to the Coral Sea reefs (15O Nm offshore from Cooktown) and Great Barrier Reef resulted in 443 sharks encountered by one diver over an 8-day trip. This research has provided very important information and is the first baseline monitoring of sharks from some very remote areas, and will be vital to future understanding and management of this wilderness. The Great Australian Shark Count project has been strongly supported by a range of Government, Scientific, Community and Industry Groups including Coastal Watch, Reef Watch, Reef Check, International Year of the Reef and The Ecology Lab. This project gives tremendous public exposure to creatures, which have previously suffered often-negative education campaigns in the past, such as during the media hype of any shark attack. With the support of so many diverse groups monitoring sharks across Australia this AUF initiative will not only provide valuable information on shark populations, but perhaps more importantly, encourages a more positive social awareness essential to a sustainable future for sharks" said Andrew Fox, Executive Director- Fox Shark Research Foundation. A dedicated community shark-counting weekend will be held on the 28th to 30th of March (and several other weekends in 2008) and we are hoping for hundreds of keen skin and SCUBA divers to be involved. All major participants will also be supported with some fantastic incentives such as calendars, posters, stickers, t-shirts and wetsuits and the chance to win a 4 days dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef thanks to Undersea Explorer. To report a shark sighting please go to http://www.auf.com.au If you require more information or wish to be involved in counting sharks please contact Michael Rupnik, Executive Officer on shark@auf.com.au or on 0400 367 424
For immediate publication 4 December 2007
Skindivers report over 300 sharks
“Sharks can inspire awe, fear, respect, curiosity, concern and myths. Most people love talking about sharks and we want people, particularly divers and fishers to be involved in monitoring and to communicate what species they have seen and where so that we can all have a greater understanding of sharks in Australian waters ” said Dr Adam Smith, National Chair of the Australian Underwater Federation and a Board member of Recfish Australia.
The Great Australia Shark Count Project is modeled on the successful “Great American Fish Count”.
A web site was launched in November 2007 and we have already received over 300 shark sightings from NSW, Qld, Victoria and WA. We hope that fishers and divers in SA, NT and Tas will be involved in the future. We are aiming for 500 sightings by Xmas. The sightings so far include at least 10 species and we have reports of large sharks such as 1 Great White Shark from NSW, 15 Tiger Sharks from Qld, 5 Seven Gill Sharks from Victoria. The most common species sighted so far has been the Wobbegong and Port Jackson Sharks. Many divers have reported over 10 sharks.
There are a number of diverse groups and individuals studying one or several species of sharks at specific locations such as the Undersea Explorer Shark Research Project in the Coral Sea which states that “There is very little known about the basic biology and ecology of tropical sharks. Over recent years there has been an increased concern over the status of shark stocks around the world. The reproductive strategies and life history of sharks make them extremely vulnerable to overfishing”. "The Great Australian Shark Count is an excellent Australia-wide initiative for recreational fishers and the community to learn about rare and common sharks, and be collectively involved in leadership, science, management and the environment". Said Bill Sawknok, Manager, Recfish Research.
Dr Adam Smith, National Chair of the AUF and co-ordinator of the project said “Now is a unique opportunity to work in partnership with key national and state bodies and lay a platform for future community monitoring and management of sharks and key fisheries”. The AUF is very interested to work in partnership with community groups, government, business and individuals to be involved in this exciting project.
All major participants will also be supported with some fantastic incentives such as calendars, t-shirts and wetsuits.
To report a shark sighting please go to http://www.auf-spearfishing.com.au
If you require more information please contact Michael Rupnik, Executive Officer on shark@auf.com.au or on 0400 367 424
For immediate publication 11 October 2007
Great Australian Shark Count
What would you do if you saw a shark in the water? Does the Great White, Tiger, Whaler, White Tip, Wobbegong and Port Jackson conjure feelings of uncertainty, fear or awe? “Most people would panic and get out of the water as quickly as possible” said Dr Adam Smith, National Chair of the Australian Underwater Federation, the peak group representing underwater enthusiasts.
Skindivers are however a unique group. They love scanning the ocean for fish and also viewing the magnificent marine life that is available. They describe the awe and adrenalin rush of seeing a shark in its environment.
Nationally and internationally there are increasing concerns for the conservation of sharks due to high levels of fishing pressure and particular life history characteristics. Two prominent and controversial examples in Australia are the threatened grey nurse shark in NSW and Qld and more recently on the Great Barrier Reef, a study that concluded that some reef shark species are under threat. In each of these examples it is widely acknowledged that further monitoring data on abundance and distribution are urgently needed.
The AUF has been granted financial support of just over $70,000 for ongoing education and monitoring. “We are delighted that the Commonwealth Minister for Fisheries The Hon Eric Abetz, has recognised the value of community monitoring, and the capability and interest of recreational fishers and skindivers to be involved” said Dr Smith.
The Great Australia Shark Count Project will involve community monitoring by divers, fishers, scientists and conservationists; and provide the community, managers and decision makers with a valuable data source. It will also complement other Commonwealth initiatives for monitoring Grey Nurse Sharks. Recreational fishers are prepared to be involved by participating in field monitoring and sharing their knowledge so that we can all have a greater understanding of our marine environment and how to better manage this valuable resource. The program is modeled on the successful “Great American Fish Count”.
"Scientists are very interested in the distribution and abundance of sharks, and community monitoring can provide useful information and education" said Dr Colin Simpfendorfer, Principal Research Fellow at James Cook University.
Dr Adam Smith, National Chair of the AUF and co-ordinator of the project said “Now is a unique opportunity to work in partnership with key national and state bodies and lay a platform for future community monitoring and management of sharks and key fisheries”. All major participants will also be supported with some fantastic incentives such as calendars, t-shirts and wetsuits.
The Australian Underwater Federation (AUF) is the national governing body for underwater sports such as underwater hockey, SCUBA, snorkel coaching and training, fin swimming, and spearfishing (a small but selective type of recreational fishing). The AUF is an associate member of Recfish Australia and is committed to working strategically together with all recreational fishers. The mission of the AUF is-
Bring sport, conservation and awareness to the underwater world
Media enquires to Dr Adam Smith on 0418726584
www.auf-spearfishing.com.au problems
Great news- In September 2007 the AUF were successful with a commonwealth recreational fishing community grant for just over$70,000 titled "Monitoring of threatened species and education of underwater fishing activites"
WHAT will this project do? (What will the funds be used for?)
This project will provide effective and efficient management and monitoring of underwater activities in Australia. It will educate the Australian public that underwater activities are a recreational fishing activity that is “Safe, Sustainable, Selective and provides fresh Seafood”. It will involve community monitoring by divers and fishers and provide scientists and managers with a valuable data source. It will complement other Commonwealth initiatives for monitoring Grey Nurse Sharks.
Part A will first involve education of fishers and underwater enthusiasts to raise the awareness and improve the public perception about underwater activities and monitoring in Australia using several different strategies. These strategies will include:
· Development and distribution of a Powerpoint presentation on sustainable underwater activities and monitoring.
· Development of a factual leaflet on sustainable underwater activities and monitoring (3000 copies).
· Development of a DVD on sustainable underwater activities and monitoring with distribution to key stakeholder groups (100 copies).
· The undertaking of a road show to 4 states (Qld, NSW, Vic, WA) and do a media launch of policy, poster, DVD and community monitoring program (see Part B).
· Building on tournament accreditation program (one tournament accredited – aim for 3 more with at least one in each state)
Part B will comprise of the development and implementation of the “Great Australian Shark Count”. This will be a community monitoring program (not research) that will:
· Be implemented by the hundreds and potentially thousands of fishers, SCUBA, freedivers in Australia who spend countless hours each year viewing Australia’s underwater coastlines, islands and reefs.
· Enhance existing monitoring program for sharks and protected species (such as grey nurse sharks).
· Be named the “Great Australian shark count” and will be modelled on the existing and successful “Great American fish count” used in the US.
· Be developed in consultation with fisheries managers and shark scientists to ensure data utility and standardisation.
Will include development of an on-line database and data recording system (which can also record spearfishing catch and effort).
