About Spot A Shark

Monitoring grey nurse sharks to 
achieve greater protection for them

Spot a Shark is a citizen science project focused on protecting critically endangered grey nurse sharks on Australia’s East Coast
(since 2006).

How you can help to save the sharks:

  1. Help to reduce shark by-catch by avoiding, or buying certified sustainably caught tuna. Remember, pole-and-line fisheries result in the least amount of by-catch.
  2. Know what you’re eating! Could your chip-shop fish actually be shark? Look out for sustainable seafood initiatives and certified fish.
  3. Check the label. Have a look through your cosmetics to see whether they contain squalene. Next time you shop, avoid this product if you can.
  • Use your voice and your vote. Educate others and help us to get sustainable shark fisheries onto the political agenda.
  • Reduce, reuse and recycle. Take action in your day-to-day life to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and protect our oceans.

Read more on the Save Our Seas website

What We Do:

  • Collect photos of grey nurse sharks encounters from the diving community.
  • We use AI to identify individual sharks from their unique spots.
  • This non-invasive technique helps track shark health, location, and population trends.
  • Spot a Shark has been conducting regular surveys of the grey nurse shark population along the east coast of Australia since the year 2000 and have collected over 12,000 images.
  • We raise awareness about these sharks, and deliver training courses to the public.
  • We have supported shark rescues of injured sharks with the help of Sea Life Sanctuary.
  • Campaign to help increase protection for these critically endangered sharks so that future generations can also enjoy diving with them in years to come.

Your Contribution Matters:

Spot a Shark’s success stories

Establishing a code of conduct for divers

The Spot a Shark team conducted rigorous studies to understand how scuba divers influence grey nurse shark behaviour. Our research showed that divers adhering to the National Code of Conduct and following dive briefings have no long-term negative impact on these magnificent creatures.

While our studies indicated that large dive groups (6+ divers) in close proximity to shark aggregations can temporarily disrupt shark behavior (Barker et al 2011 a-b), these effects are short-lived. Our findings were published in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to the development of government guidelines for sustainable grey nurse shark diving in popular dive sites.

Advocating for the removal of shark nets

Shark nets are killing grey nurse sharks.

  • For decades, NSW and QLD have used shark nets as part of bather protection programs, but these nets are failing to deliver on their promise. Instead, they’re causing a marine crisis.
  • Ineffective: Shark nets aim to catch great white, tiger, or bull sharks but are less than 10% successful in this mission, and more than 90% of the time catch and kill non-target species.
  • Deadly: Thousands of innocent animals, including endangered grey nurse sharks, turtles, seals, dolphins, whales and other endangered species, die in these nets each year.
  • Counterproductive: Nets actually attract larger sharks by providing an easy food source. Photos of bites out of animals caught in the nets proves this.
  • False sense of security: Contrary to popular belief, these nets do not span the entire beach, they do not reach the floor and do not reach the surface. The concept is as ridiculous as placing a volleyball net between you and the ocean. Sharks swim over, under and around the nets. They were first installed to rid the ocean of sharks back in 1937 when little was understood about sharks and their key role they play in oceans.

Modern alternatives to shark nets exist, and we’re making progress. A recent government motion is a step in the right direction. But we need your help to finish the job.

Contact your local MP and demand an end to shark nets.
Together, we can protect our oceans and save countless lives.

Photo ID

This species of shark has unique spot patterns along their flanks which can be used to identify individuals from one another. The Spot a Shark team reviews images collected by our team, shared with us by email and other social media channels, or uploaded directly to our parent sharkbook’s database to identify individuals. The Spot a Shark team collaborates with scientists to deepen our understanding of grey nurse sharks. By analysing unique spot patterns on individual sharks, we track their movements, health and behaviour.

This research is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies. Our data also highlights the threats posed by recreational fishing, particularly the harmful effects of ingested hooks. By working closely with scientists like Simon Pierce, Nik Otway, Adam Stowe and Carley Fitzpatrick, and sharing our findings, we aim to influence policy decisions that protect these remarkable creatures.

Illustration of how we can use your photographs to track the health of sharks over time

Photo-ID can also be used to document impacts from recreational fishing. Images can help us understand the health of the sharks. Despite the shark being protected, their homes are largely unprotected. We have multiple images of sharks with fish hooks or wire traces hanging from their mouth or gills as a result. Some individuals face multiple injuries in quick succession. Hooks can be ingested by the sharks and can cause pain, starvation and a slow agonising death. The Spot a Shark team use these images to advocate for better protection of not just the sharks, but their homes too.

We have also documented images of sharks within days or weeks of having no visible signs of hooks and then subsequently resighted at the same location with a hook (see Conservation page for more). Some individuals have been through this multiple times. Hooks can be ingested by the sharks and can cause pain starvation and a slow agonising death.

Illustration of how we can use your photographs to track the health of sharks over time

This was a progressive series of images of a shark individual across 5 months that show how the hook was still visible in the shark mouth for 4 months.

Shark Rescues

The Spot a Shark team has been involved in rescuing a number of sharks by coordinating responses from government approved vets. One such shark had a hook attached to its eye and mouth as shown here. The team were able to assist to help safely remove this hook and let this shark live her best life.

Community

The Spot a Shark initiative has been instrumental in uniting divers across the East Coast of Australia. Our platform has created a thriving community where individuals can share their experiences, knowledge, and passion for these magnificent creatures. By working together, we’re raising awareness about the plight of sharks and driving positive change. Join us in protecting these vital marine predators for future generations. Follow us at www.facebook.com/spotashark