Recovery of an Endangered Population

2002 saw the Australian Government release a recovery plan to aid in the protection and recovery of White Shark populations found off the Coasts of Australia.

The report suggests that habitat is a critical factor in the successful survival of the species with threats in the form of potential bycatch, illegal sports fishing, or shark nets and drumlines as can be seen from the Western cull.

Details of the amended (2013) Great White recovery plan can be found below:

http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/ce979f1b-dcaf-4f16-9e13-010d1f62a4a3/files/white-shark.pdf

Tracking using Modern Techniques

In 2013 the first Great White Shark, nicknamed Lydia, was captured and tagged off the coast of Florida. Since being fitted with the tracking device over a year ago she has since swam over 27,000 miles and is the first specimen to be tracked making a trans-Atlantic crossing with less than 1,000 mile to the UK coastline.

 Scientists are noted every time the sharks dorsal fin breaks the surface of the water, however recent months have revealed little data from the shark, suggesting that long periods have been spent deep in the Ocean with the capability of reaching depths of up to 4,000 feet.

Technology such as trackers have proved to be invaluable tools in recording new patterns and behaviours in Great Whites. This particular tagging has given researchers a glimpse into the migratory patterns of an otherwise aloof predator. Recent data suggests the shark spends frequent time around the Caribbean Sea and later moves up towards the colder waters of Canada. Despite receiving location details, scientists are still unable to determine the specific purpose for the locations in which Lydia is found.

Unfortunately the satellite which is attached to the dorsal fin contains a limited amount of battery which will inevitably lead to the device running out. This ground breaking project however has lead to more in depth analysis of swimming patterns and locations and with future technology and funding, more technology may soon become available to allow even more in-depth studies to be conducted.

Fighting for Change.. just not in the Weather…

Climate change has been a major debate over the past few decades with recent studies showing how the future will be affected for both humans and animals alike. Unlike slightly milder temperatures for humans, aquatic species may suffer more greatly with temperature rises. Great Whites have already begun to feel these affects with warmer Sea temperatures leading to sharks and other large predators spending more frequent time closer to costal areas. Warmer waters and the possible movement of prey have brought problems for both humans and shark with a rise in fatal attacks and a larger threat from trophy hunting and finning.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/may/04/wildlife.climatechange

Whilst many negative situations may arise from climate change, scientists have recently discovered species such as the Grey Nurse sharks new ability to move further up costal waters in search of new prey. Despite this sudden changes in temperature and sea levels can have a detrimental effect upon all creatures in the Ocean which would in-turn be felt by predators such as the Great White which are high in the food chain.

Studies conducted along the Great Barrier Reef in Australia found climate change to have a serious effect on the native species of Rays and Shark found along its coastline. Changes in temperature, salinity levels and Ocean circulation were all found to pose the most risk

The article, An integrated risk assessment for climate change: analysing the vulnerability of sharks and rays on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, can be found below

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.02128.x/abstract;jsessionid=5421161E68861FC5C0BE0D86D6962B84.f03t02?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false

Population & Modelling

Listed by ICUN as Vulnerable (3.1), the Great White Shark has been targeted for centuries by fisherman for its body parts and trophy status. Due to large overfishing the ICUN states its uncertainty in the exact population size, however studies conducted in 2010 suggested an approximate population estimate of <3,500, which, compared to earlier estimations, is considerably lower than once thought.

Despite estimations of approximately 3,500 being recorded in 2010, more current studies in 2014 showed a population size of over 2000 individuals off the Californian coast, USA, alone, bringing into question the conservation status of the Great White and the apparent difficulties in its tracking.

Initial studies of population estimates off the coast of California first conducted in 2011 can be found here:

http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/7/4/581.full

Population modelling such as Population Viability Analysis or PVA have shown to aid in the difficult task of assessing numbers. A study into the status review of the Northeastern Pacific population of Great Whites recorded female population growth rates. Whilst a useful aid, the use of PVA is limited in a number of areas and with no current certain figures on Worldwide populations, smaller local studies must then be performed.

Australian shark cull ends despite deadly attack on Brit

Authorities oversaw the killing of nearly 70 sharks after a spate of attacks on the west coast of the country

 

Members of the Australian Police inspect Clarkes Beach at Byron Bay after the recent fatal shark attack, 9 September 2014

By Jonathan Pearlman in Sydney5:49PM BST 12 Sep 2014

An Australian state has ended its controversial shark cull just days after a British expatriate was killed in an attack while swimming on the east coast of the country.
Authorities in Western Australia killed around 68 sharks during a three-month cull earlier this year, following a spate of deaths on the west coast.
But the state government’s proposal to continue the cull – which triggered fierce public protests – was aborted after environmental authorities said it could endanger the white shark population.
It will continue to be legal for authorities to kill “rogue sharks” that approach beaches.
The decision less than a week after Paul Wilcox, a 50-year-old British expatriate, was killed by a shark while swimming at the popular tourist destination of Byron Bay.

Mr Wilcox was bitten on the right leg and died from blood loss while his wife Victoria Wilcox watched from the beach.
Australia’s east coast uses shark nets and drum lines but has not conducted a cull despite growing numbers of attacks in recent years.
Experts say the additional attacks across the nation may have been caused by increasing numbers of beachgoers and possibly changes in the movements of some shark populations.
Most scientists have argued against culls, saying they do not save lives but threaten endangered species. Instead, most have argued for improved education for swimmers, divers and surfers and better warning systems for specific threats.
“There are much better ways to increase ocean safety than destroying animals that are essential to ocean health and threatened globally,” Professor Jessica Meeuwig, from the University of Western Australia, told The Conversation website.
Western Australia’s government said it would not continue the cull and will remove drum lines from beaches but signaled that safety could be affected in some beaches.

Save Our Seas – Great Whites in Modern Culture

Many charities, organisations and even celebrities are all now on the save the sharks bandwagon, which is fantastic. Finally people are starting to get the real facts in regards to these magnificent and highly misunderstood creatures. I have personally been asked many times why it is that of all the creatures to fall in love with on the planet, I chose a man eater. Well my response to such a question would be that any animal be that carnivore or herbivore has the potential to attack. As I mentioned in an earlier post regarding shark finning, creatures such as lions are viewed as what they are, which is a wild animal, beautiful but also deadly, when a shark is mentioned the deadly part is always mentioned first. I myself also struggle to convince even some members of my own family regarding the sharks true nature, Im not sure what it is or how many programmes they watch but some people just can’t get past the cold blooded killer stereotype.

Despite vast negativity towards sharks I believe there are now groups and individuals more passionate and determined than ever to protect this vulnerable and vital species weather this be large organisations or members of the public creating their own projects.

---

Gordon Ramsey

Shark Bait

While many celebrities are active members of shark conservation groups, some have gone the extra mile in reporting the horrific underworld of over fishing. Celebrity chefs such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall created campaigns such as the “Fish Fight” which highlighted serious laws in EU catch regulations, meaning at least 50% of all catch caught would be thrown back, dead, into the Sea, leaving massive waste. In 2010 EU laws where changed to disallow this discard and the campaign brought massive change in regards to how the UK consumes fish, from buying sustainable to experimenting with the species of fish consumed.

2011 saw  British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey look into the barbaric trade and consumption of shark fins, consumed as part of a Chinese soup. For those unaware of the statistics only 5% of the shark is used, with its entire carcass thrown back overboard, often alive. Criticised for trying shark fin soup for himself, Gordon reported that it was tasteless and that its high demand from high-end restaurants to local street vendors was alarmingly worrying.   

Shark fishing is not confined to the waters around China however and buisness is also found in Costa Rica, South America. Reports have also shown that South American waters are now rapidly overfished due to the destructive fishing techniques of shark finning.

It is without doubt the worst case of animal cruelty that I have ever seen. – Gordon Ramsey

Due to no international ban on finning sharks out at sea, legislations have been put in place whereby Costa Rican fisherman must bring the whole shark body back before beginning the finning process. This, however, has resulted in one of the biggest shark finning industries outside China with local business men such as Inversiones Cruz setting up huge private facilities, inaccessible to the public, allowing them to land over 30 tonnes of fins alone (2003).

Ramsey concludes in bringing together key members of the Chinese community in the hope of changing shark fin consumption. Overall the community of restaurant owners and critics shown the documentary stated that they would take shark fins off their menu. Although only a small number present at the meeting, real change starts within the community itself and as of 2014 real change can now be seen within the Chinese community with fewer restaurants serving the dish and more consumers aware of the issues and problems surrounding shark finning and conservation.

Great Whites Have Rights – The Western Australian Shark Cull

The Western Australian Shark Cull was a government policy implement during 2014 in order to protect local swimmers and surfers.Between the years of 2010 and 2013, 7 reported deaths have occurred along the coasts of Western Australia as a result of shark attacks. Due to these tragic deaths in January 2014 the Australian government implemented the use of 72 drum lines in order to bait and hook 3 species of shark

Great White Shark
Bull Shark
Tiger Shark

Any of these species caught measuring over 3m were to be culled. Many members of the public, both shark advocates or otherwise began protesting attracting global attention. Many likened the cull to scenes off the movie Jaws. The mass culling of Great Whites lead to opposition from many researches and animal rights activities calling for its end due to its inhumanity and slaughter of a protected species under federal law. According the fisheries Minister Ken Baston, 172 sharks were caught on the drum lines over the summer of 2014, in which more than 50 of these being culled. Not one, however, has been a Great White but the Minister still believes the cull to  have been a massive success.

The program has successfully restored confidence among Western Australian beach goers- Minister Ken Baston-

I’m pleased and happy to report the news that we have, in fact, caught and killed a large predator that supposedly injured some bathers. But as you can see, it’s a beautiful day, the beaches are open and the people are having a wonderful time – Mayor Vaughn, Jaws –

All sharks are in great danger of extinction with over 70 million killed a year. Local governments must therefore reconsider who is really the danger and at risk, with statistics showing the chances of getting hit by lightning much more probable than the possibility of a shark attack. Not only will these nets prove devastating to shark populations but also to other species caught as bycatch, many of which would entangle and drown before a chance to be saved. I always feel that if this cull where aimed at an animal such as a lion, a much wider outcry would be heard. Both lions and Great Whites are both large predatory animals, easily capable of killing a human, however if a human where to be attacked by a lion it would be the humans fault for walking in the bush but is this not the same for the shark and human? Are we not in their environment?

The end of 2014 saw the government overturn the procedure of drum lines however are still insistent on implementing the procedure in high risk areas

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/24/wa-abandons-shark-culling-program-but-reserves-right-to-kill-again