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.”

Fox saves shark

Photo of Andrew. Mark & Matthias attempting to cut plastic strapping from 'Strappy' 28/9/10 (Source:

https://www.rodneyfox.com.au/ )

Many thanks and congratulations to Andrew Fox (Rodney Fox Jnr) who has rescued many sharks that have been caught up in fishing lines. In September, he was also able to cut some heavy plastic strapping from a 2½m-long male white pointer nick-named ‘Strappy’. The shark was very appreciative of his new-found freedom from the strapping. If you’d like to sponsor Strappy and receive a picture and bio of him, with all proceeds going to the work of the Fox Shark Research Foundation, visit https://www.rodneyfox.com.au/shop/index.php/page/shop/browse/products/1/category_id/c74c19c53d27381ad10d8769765d8162 . Visit https://www.rodneyfox.com.au/index.php/selectedContent/624827680 for further details.