INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR THE GREAT WHITE SHARK CAGE DIVING REVIEW

During 2009-2010 DENR and PIRSA have undertaken a joint review of the Great White Shark Cage Diving (GWSCD) activity at the Neptune Islands Conservation Park, near Port Lincoln. The objective of the Review has been to establish a whole-of-Government management strategy and policy for GWSCD within South Australia that is efficiently managed, facilitates the development of sustainable environmental tourism businesses (GWSCD tours), is environmentally sustainable (for species and natural environment) and has public confidence (in terms of shark attack threats). DENR and PIRSA are seeking comments from stakeholders and interested parties on the document prior to its finalisation. To assist you in better understanding the Review process and the Review findings/recommendations, 2 information sessions are being held, one in Adelaide and the other in Port Lincoln. Current GWSCD operators, persons interested in conducting future GWSCD tours and other users of the Neptune Islands Conservation Park, including commercial and recreational fishing interests, and any other interested parties are encouraged to attend an information session. Please register your interest in attending a meeting as soon as possible and no later than Friday 4th February 2011.

Adelaide Meeting - Thursday 10 February 2011 9.15am - 12.15pm Conference Room, Level 1, 100 Pirie Street Adelaide. Morning tea provided

Port Lincoln Meeting - Thursday 17 February 2011 12.30pm - 3.30pm EP NRM office, 23 Napoleon Street, Port Lincoln. Afternoon tea provided

Written comments can be submitted at any time via email to martina.egeler@sa.gov.au or posted to:

Great White Shark Cage Diving Review

Attention: Martina Egeler

GPO Box 1047

ADELAIDE SA 5001

The closing date for written submissions is COB Friday 18 March 2011.

If you have any questions regarding this process please feel free to contact me.

Regards

Martina Egeler
__________________________________________________

Policy and Planning Officer, Commercial Development
Information Delivery
Client Services
T: 08 8124 4799
F: 08 8124 4789
E: martina.egeler@sa.gov.au

Sharks may be colour blind

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

Australian researchers say sharks may be colour blind. This challenges the long-held belief that they were mainly attracted to the colour yellow.Visit http://abcmail.net.au/t/1256185/1500402/23789/0/ for further details.

SHARK TRACKING SYSTEM

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

Dr Charlie Huveneers has developed a shark tracking system. More than 6 white pointer sharks have been micro-chipped and 40 receivers are in place on the South Australian coast. There are many more receivers interstate and overseas. 10 more are to be placed in SA shortly.

Alexius' shark cage dive

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

Congratulations to Alexius Sutandio who finally got to do a shark cage dive and see a 4m white pointer. Although he only got to see the one (small?) male shark, Alexius was thrilled to finally get some close-up shots of one. It all happened at North Neptune Island. Alexius couldn’t wait to post photos and video footage on his Facebook page. This meant that I could (sort of) experience it all for myself.

SA SUMMER SHARK PATROLS

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

There are helicopter shark patrols on SA metropolitan beaches on weekends and public holidays. Plane patrols are also operating between North Haven & Rapid Bay between 11am & 8pm each weekday until April.

Dream jobs

(Photo courtesy of Andy Stephney of White Shark Projects)

Jennifer Taylor wrote the first report about Strappy the white pointer shark in the December issue of Dive Log. Jennifer came to Australia from Scotland two years ago. She now works as a shark personality profiler (my dream job) at Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions. There was a large photo of Jennifer video filming a white pointer shark from close quarters (from within a cage) in The Advertiser in January. Jennifer was getting right in to her shark profiling job at North Neptune. She shares her passion with Dr Rachel Robbins from England. Rachel is the chief scientist at the Rodney Fox Shark Foundation.

UNSUSTAINABLE SHARK FISHERY TARGETS FINS FOR EXPORTS

(Photo source: http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news)

According to the web page found at http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news/1633-unsustainable-shark-fishery-targets-fins-for-exports , "Approval has been given to a shark fishery in NSW for operating in an ecologically sustainable manner, despite scientific advice that there is a lack of knowledge of the shark populations involved as well as a lack of even basic reliable data on historical catch. Despite this, the Minister has approved a quota far in excess of the historical average."

GREY NURSE SHARK CONSERVATION EFFORTS THREATENED BY SHARK NETS

Shark caught in protective net (Source: http://www.ecovoice.com.au/econews )

According to the web page found at http://www.ecovoice.com.au/eco-news/1620-grey-nurse-shark-conservation-efforts-threatened-by-shark-nets , "The Humane Society International has repeated its call for the shark nets on NSW's coast to be removed following the death of a critically endangered grey nurse shark in the nets off Bondi Beach."

White Shark Projects, Gansbaai, South Africa

Great White Shark (courtesy of Andy Stephney, White Shark Projects)

Andy Stephney is currently working for White Shark Projects, at Gansbaai, South Africa. He says that “8 companies here operate great white shark tours to Dyer Island (approx 30 mins. boat ride to dive site). Here we can see, on average, 4 to 5 individual great whites approach the boat. Our best months are the winter months – May, June, July & August). Sharks at this time are an average 2 to 3 metres, sometimes lucky to see 4 metre (ones). The sharks that we see are still young sharks, and I believe, due to the sizes of sharks and light bite marks from other sharks near gills or fins, that the great whites mate and give birth here. Once the sharks of a few years mature, then they migrate from our area, with only a handful returning over the coming years (see Nicole The Great White Shark SA web site at http://www.whitesharktrust.org/migration/main.html). I also believe the great whites are caught by fisherman (trawler nets, etc..). Instead of bringing in bodies of sharks for research, they cut off fins and remove teeth for the black markets, namely Asia (for shark fin soup) and dump the carcass. Here are some face book pages (and websites) for update photos: –

White Shark Projects Cage Dive Fans - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=23911738980

Marine Dynamics - http://www.sharkwatchsa.com/index.php

Dyer Island Cruises - http://www.dyer-island-cruises.co.za/

Sharkdiving Unlimited Gansbaai - http://www.sharkdivingunlimited.com/

Apex Shark Expeditions - http://www.apexpredators.com/

The lists are updated (with great photos) on a daily basis.”