Grey nurse sharks (Carcharias taurus) are found around the world, from USA, South Africa, and Australia. Genetic DNA studies have revealed that the shark populations are genetically discrete around the world. The population of grey nurse sharks found along the west coast of Australia and the population found along the east coast of Australia are not the same. They have been separated for potentially hundreds of thousands of years and DNA testing shows that they are on different evolutionary paths and are not the same.

Spot a Shark was established in 2006, focussing on understanding the East Coast of Australia population. Using photo identification techniques, assisted by A.I. software, it has been possible to encourage citizen science efforts to perform research on this species of shark using nothing more than photographs.

Luckily along the East Coast of Australia there are a number of dive shops and keen divers that take photographs of the grey nurse sharks and submit to Spot a Shark, iNaturalist and other citizen science projects. This has enabled substantial research to help understand the potential aggregation sites, migration patterns, overall health of the sharks, and provide a basis to estimate the population of sharks. In addition to citizen science projects, there have also been a number of scientific studies using shark-tagging methods and organised surveys since 1999.

Along the West Coast of Australia there is less opportunity for research. For a start, there are fewer dive shops that can provide access to potential aggregation sites. There have also been fewer scientific studies that have been organised. As a result, there is less information about the grey nurse shark population that reside in western Australia.

In 2024, Spot a Shark has started to collaborate with dive centres in Perth to help coordinate citizen science efforts to assist in performing research on the West Coast of Australia population.

• How many sharks are there along the West Coast of Australia?
• Where are the sharks aggregating along the West Coast of Australia?
• What are the migration patterns?
• Is the population size declining or increasing in numbers, and should protection efforts be increased?

The truth is that in the last 30 years, global shark populations have decreased by more than 70%. It is estimated that a shark is killed intentionally or accidentally as by-catch every 3 seconds globally. Despite sharks having an evolutionary history older than 450 million years, which to put in perspective is older than the rings of Saturn, and older than trees on planet Earth, they are at risk of extinction. Within a generation sharks could be gone. They play a vital role in maintaining the health of oceans, creating a balance of the ecosystem that humans rely upon for fishing. Unless conservation efforts are increased, grey nurse sharks along the East Coast and West Coast of Australia may not survive, especially given the challenges they already face from climate change, pollution, over-fishing and declining fish stocks around the world.

How can you help? We encourage people to try scuba diving or free diving and enjoy the underwater world. Once qualified and comfortable with diving, we encourage responsible diving with buddies at sites known for seeing grey nurse sharks. Using a gopro or other underwater camera, and whilst following the www.spotashark.com/code-of-conduct, divers can take photographs or videos of grey nurse sharks and share with Spot a Shark to support in citizen science.

Together, we can raise awareness of the plight of these grey nurse sharks. Together, we can conduct vital research that will help provide the necessary data for decision makers. Together, we can promote shark conservation and ensure the protection of both the sharks and the oceans for future generations.

If you are keen to support too, please contact us at Spotashark@gmail.com and let us know if you want to support in one or more of the following ways:

–          Diving with grey nurse sharks and sharing photographs with us for research

–          Organising surveys at potential aggregation sites (perhaps you have a boat?)

–          Raising awareness

–          Driving change by contacting politicians

–          Providing financial support for any of the above activities (e.g. printing posters, brochures and running websites is currently 100% self-funded by volunteers)

–          Support in the back-end analysis of photographs and be one of our shark researchers

We look forward to collaborating with divers along the West Coast of Australia and hope that you can help us – let us work together to protect this wonderful shark species for future generations.

Our first event to kick off Spot a Shark in WA starts on 23/24 November 2024 at the Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (www.fuff.com.au).