June 2005
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Scientists census sharks
Coastal and inshore waters of the Great Barrier Reef are home to at least 60 species of sharks and related rays, yet little is known about their population dynamics. Sharks are an important part of Queensland’s east coast inshore finfish fishery, and new research by the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries and CRC Reef will inform fisheries managers, and the fishing industry, in their quest to assess the status of shark populations. Sharks are slow growing, mature late and are long-lived, meaning that their populations can be rapidly depleted and, once reduced, are slow to recover. Understanding the biology of these top predators is crucial in assessing how fishing affects shark populations, and in helping fisheries managers draw up effective management plans. Researchers are recording which species of shark are being caught by fishers. They are also looking at the size and sex of sharks caught, and whether there is a seasonal pattern to the catch. “We are collecting information that will be used to assist in the management of the inshore net fishery,” said CRC Reef researcher Mr Stuart Hyland, from the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, who is leading the survey. “About 20 of the 60 shark species found in inshore waters are harvested in the fishery.” Most sharks landed on Queensland’s east coast are caught in mesh nets set in inshore and coastal waters. Since 2003, Stuart and his team have been surveying sharks caught at Princess Charlotte Bay, and at Trinity Inlet in Cairns. They have spent many long nights identifying and examining sharks captured during research netting surveys. These surveys are carried out from small dinghies in a variety of estuarine and inshore habitats, and are complemented with samples obtained from commercial processors. “This research is crucial to ensure that we are catching sharks sustainably,” said Mr Duncan Souter, CEO of the Queensland Seafood Industry Association. “It is important for researchers and the commercial fishing industry to collaborate to ensure the best outcomes for the fisheries resource.” Commercial shark fishers supply shark fillets to the Australian market, and shark fins to the export market in Asia. Under Queensland fisheries legislation, shark fishers are permitted to remove fins, but must retain the body of the shark while at sea. This prevents large-scale shark fishing exclusively for shark fin. The research will help to implement recommendations from the National Action Plan for Sharks released in May 2004, which has been ratified by both Queensland and Commonwealth Governments, and is supported by the fishing industry. For more information, contact Mr Stuart Hyland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, stuart.hyland@dpi.qld.gov.au |
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PO Box 772 Townsville
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