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 fully understood.
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 (IUU) fishery invading Australian waters
each year.
With the help of local commercial fishermen, scientist Dr Iain
Field, from Charles Darwin University and Australian Institute of
Marine Science, has been tagging a large number of sharks in the
fishery along the Northern Territory coastline.
"We now have a number of tagged sharks out there and it’s really
exciting knowing that when they are caught again, and hopefully
released alive with their tags in place, we’ll have a much better idea
of how the sharks are responding to the fisheries. This can only be
good for everyone".
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.
NT Fisheries scientist Dr Rik Buckworth said all parties to the
research had contributed greatly to its progress. NT Fisheries is
pleased to be collaborating with Charles Darwin University and the
Australian Institute of Marine Science and making a substantial
contribution to this research in this area. But major contributors are
the Offshore Net and Line Fishery Licensee Committee of the Northern
Territory Seafood Council and local shark and mackerel fishermen. The
project is funded by the Australian Research Council.
"We now have more than 230 sharks that have been caught, tagged and
released, west of Darwin, mainly in the Dundee and Bynoe Harbour area.
The area will be expanded along the coastline in the future.
"We ask that fishermen if they catch any of these sharks to please
report them to us.
Fishermen are requested to report the tag colour and number, which
species of shark was caught and the date and location of the catch,
and if possible, photograph the fish and release it alive. And a
reward is offered for the information."
Fishermen can contact NT Fisheries on the
hotline 08 8999 5511or
by sending an email to
fisheries.dpifm@nt.gov.au
