NESP MaC Project 3.13 - Eastern Grey Nurse Shark population abundance and trend

Research Project

Researchers: Bradford, Russell (Principal investigator, Point of contact) ,  Bradford, Russell (Principal investigator, Point of contact) ,  Harasti, David (Principal investigator, Point of contact) ,  Harasti, David (Principal investigator, Point of contact) ,  Westlake, Emma (Principal investigator, Point of contact)
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Brief description This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2023 project "Eastern Grey Nurse Shark population abundance and trend". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Australia’s eastern grey nurse shark population is listed as Critically Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Recovery Plan for the Grey Nurse Shark identifies research and actions needed to improve the shark’s population status and ensure its long-term conservation. This project refines the abundance and trend estimate for the eastern Australian population of grey nurse shark and examined the shark’s expansion range into Victorian waters (evidence suggests the shark may now range as far west as Wilsons Promontory). The project builds upon previous research which has estimated the eastern grey nurse shark adult population at ~2,000 individuals. Epigenetic techniques are used estimate age of juveniles (based on patterns of DNA methylation), and stereo video analysis is used to obtain precise length measurements for use against growth curves. Understanding the species' population structure is important to inform the assessment of current conservation arrangements such as spatial closures. Findings will provide a more precise estimate of the abundance of Australia’s eastern grey nurse shark population, and reduce uncertainty surrounding trends in abundance by building a stronger evidence base for decision-making around the species’ recovery and conservation. Outputs • Tissue samples and extracted products from juvenile grey nurse sharks [dataset] • Final project report [written]

Lineage Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Notes Credit
National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub

Notes Credit
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Australian Government

Notes Credit
In addition to NESP (DCCEEW) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.

Notes Purpose
To refine the abundance and trend estimates for population of grey nurse shark in eastern Australia.

Data time period: 2023-01-01 to 2025-02-28

-44.18757,86 -28.64331,86

-36.415441448564,90