NESP MaC Project 5.7 - Updating knowledge of Australian white sharks (CSIRO, NSW DPI, SARDI, DPIRD, Flinders Uni)

Research Project

Researchers: Charles Huveneers (principalInvestigator, Point of contact) ,  Charlie Huveneers (principalInvestigator, Point of contact) ,  IMAS Data Manager (Distributes) ,  Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (Associated with) ,  Michael Drew (principalInvestigator, Point of contact)
View all 13 related researchers

Full description This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project "Updating knowledge of Australian white sharks". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- The white shark is listed as Vulnerable and Migratory under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. Previous NESP-funded research provided updated estimates of breeding population size and trend, but uncertainty remained around juvenile nursery and pupping areas, movement patterns, and connectivity between eastern and south-western Australian populations. More recent evidence has also raised the possibility of a single Australian population. This project aimed to reduce uncertainty in the status, trends and population structure of white sharks in Australian waters, with a focus on identifying biologically important habitats and improving population assessment through expanded close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) analyses. The project combined three major components: (1) pilot tagging studies of large adult females and juvenile sharks to improve understanding of movements, pupping areas and habitat use; (2) genetic analyses to assess stock structure and connectivity using samples collected across Australia, and where possible from South Africa and New Zealand; and (3) updated population assessment using expanded tissue sample collections and close-kin mark-recapture methods. Population estimates incorporated approximately 1,000 tissue samples from New South Wales together with additional samples from South Australia and Western Australia. Juvenile abundance information from the New South Wales shark management program was also integrated into the assessment framework. CKMR approaches used genetic identification of parent-offspring and half-sibling relationships to estimate adult abundance, survival and population trends. Project outputs included updated estimates of population size and trend, improved understanding of population connectivity and movement patterns, and refined information on potential nursery and critical habitat areas. These findings support white shark recovery planning, future monitoring design, and conservation assessment in Commonwealth and state waters. Outputs • New genetic samples and sequencing data for white sharks [dataset] • Tracking data from PAT tags [dataset] • Final technical report (including recommendations for systematic future research to assist in identifying additional critical habitat for the south-western white shark population) [written]

Lineage Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Notes Credit
This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy & Water (DCCEEW) through the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub. 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 provide an update and reduce uncertainty regarding the status and population structure of white sharks in Australian waters.

Data time period: 2025-03-01 to 2026-11-01

180,-43.0209 180,-42.69431 180,-42.366 180,-42.03597 180,-41.70421 180,-41.37073 180,-41.03554 180,-40.69862 180,-40.36 180,-40.01966 180,-39.67762 180,-39.33388 180,-38.98844 180,-38.6413 180,-38.29248 180,-37.94197 180,-37.58978 180,-37.23592 180,-36.88038 180,-36.52319 180,-36.16434 180,-35.80383 180,-35.44169 180,-35.0779 180,-34.71249 180,-34.34546 177.46734,-32.34429 173.55524,-31.43842 168.36281,-30.89065 153.5081,-28.16152 153.63826,-28.63593 153.36352,-29.42232 153.30577,-29.38109 153.27707,-29.38164 153.00001,-29.64054 153.28875,-29.3825 153.37221,-29.43852 153.01263,-30.57986 153.06396,-31.05666 152.75383,-31.84469 152.5104,-32.12314 152.53937,-32.4435 152.20488,-32.70084 151.97747,-32.6613 151.98138,-32.77081 152.18845,-32.71182 152.1156,-32.79316 151.78513,-32.92 151.80887,-32.82784 151.6828,-32.82101 151.76369,-32.92427 151.79151,-32.92117 151.8039,-32.91566 151.41701,-33.52363 151.33529,-33.42874 151.25853,-33.56998 151.24167,-33.44548 151.19909,-33.53487 151.13283,-33.46763 151.13283,-33.57087 151.24702,-33.57853 151.16161,-33.6562 151.33515,-33.58226 151.30132,-33.82322 151.13283,-33.84063 151.28099,-33.83298 151.266,-33.96845 151.16125,-33.95396 151.22543,-34.03473 150.9268,-34.31848 150.76006,-34.90019 150.66667,-34.85195 150.83277,-35.07491 150.68068,-35.02214 150.75609,-35.16782 150.53957,-35.2165 150.29717,-35.69566 150.17337,-35.69113 150.14814,-36.26551 149.87234,-37.08324 150.05162,-37.26278 149.94402,-37.27766 149.9765,-37.50529 149.59621,-37.72574 147.65603,-37.84812 147.72614,-37.91808 147.45169,-38.0771 147.97227,-37.89009 146.92611,-38.59443 146.21213,-38.69211 146.29265,-38.90382 146.47667,-38.79582 146.48366,-39.06075 146.37399,-39.13676 146.16933,-38.81801 145.92073,-38.91053 145.73247,-38.64485 145.82564,-38.64295 145.73532,-38.63427 145.60594,-38.6776 145.37212,-38.53651 145.54882,-38.37147 145.489,-38.23329 145.26433,-38.2234 145.23433,-38.40963 144.93713,-38.4972 144.65193,-38.30402 144.92325,-38.34919 145.11712,-38.14502 144.8978,-37.82943 144.53857,-38.09608 144.36159,-38.10476 144.6914,-38.11973 144.67332,-38.26578 144.03729,-38.47551 143.55469,-38.85602 142.37223,-38.34939 142.2449,-38.39646 142.22729,-38.39178 142.15157,-38.39142 141.74262,-38.25323 141.6016,-38.31312 141.62625,-38.4064 141.37427,-38.38678 141.12749,-38.11589 140.39624,-37.91933 139.84089,-37.32182 139.66998,-36.95761 139.84996,-36.82374 139.80016,-36.49855 139.28163,-35.80895 138.73948,-35.51611 138.52255,-35.64286 138.09696,-35.62655 138.4413,-35.35001 138.46642,-34.78885 138.56667,-34.79286 138.10212,-34.13902 137.8874,-34.50716 137.7587,-35.11467 136.82231,-35.24576 137.01378,-34.89304 137.44908,-34.90981 137.44993,-34.13545 137.97704,-33.55887 137.81071,-33.2633 137.95607,-33.16307 138.04833,-33.17547 138.04584,-33.08529 137.75608,-32.4915 137.78585,-32.99999 137.63595,-32.95392 137.45128,-33.13731 137.21454,-33.66032 136.93391,-33.67128 136.87056,-33.76535 136.95187,-33.75507 136.59288,-33.89938 136.11212,-34.35959 136.09233,-34.54271 135.93198,-34.52893 135.78577,-34.80927 136.00659,-34.73625 135.94657,-35.00511 135.78961,-34.86031 135.61905,-34.94463 135.25124,-34.55046 135.11042,-34.58852 135.20635,-34.42899 135.36467,-34.64052 135.51686,-34.61157 135.40571,-34.50703 135.38886,-34.59432 135.18802,-33.88493 134.83094,-33.626 134.70418,-33.17668 134.36961,-33.17666 134.27285,-33.02624 134.32829,-33.20133 134.06163,-32.90867 134.06494,-32.71507 134.20252,-32.79675 134.28984,-32.69417 134.18412,-32.48271 133.8503,-32.54216 133.95168,-32.39023 133.61212,-32.08567 133.39951,-32.14119 133.48778,-32.20577 133.12565,-32.20817 132.7492,-31.94931 132.15343,-31.99999 131.14291,-31.46404 130.80628,-31.60594 129.05034,-31.6749 127.22138,-32.27569 126.16534,-32.23627 124.81708,-32.87188 124.23948,-33.01725 123.97736,-33.55734 123.53497,-33.93989 123.37148,-33.89548 123.16347,-34.01672 123.01994,-33.85611 122.11428,-34.01776 121.99873,-33.82851 121.79373,-33.90963 121.36237,-33.81542 120.43638,-33.97132 120.04128,-33.9231 119.58971,-34.14212 119.57635,-34.3873 119.41625,-34.37299 119.25346,-34.53411 118.91229,-34.46298 118.45027,-34.75261 118.40394,-34.91701 118.17716,-34.93931 118.19509,-35.02329 117.94902,-34.94356 117.84841,-35.04792 117.95017,-35.12833 117.33338,-35.02083 117.46449,-34.96571 117.15153,-35.06159 116.72547,-34.9751 116.62883,-35.06026 116.00148,-34.84246 115.40122,-34.33391 115.13338,-34.37561 114.97563,-33.86401 115.00282,-33.53189 115.36695,-33.63945 115.71152,-33.28812 115.60597,-32.68148 115.8364,-31.96966 115.72414,-32.054 115.68588,-31.65315 115.05743,-30.51011 114.87121,-29.11523 114.57822,-28.78387 114.59604,-28.76978 114.53354,-28.49452 114.17455,-28.11159 114.14422,-27.62619 113.95894,-27.21953 113.156,-26.15026 113.27055,-26.24094 113.2995,-26.01507 113.35612,-26.25663 113.36348,-26.01623 113.47578,-26.47496 113.53697,-26.27926 113.6645,-26.67367 113.87549,-26.52168 113.88114,-26.33547 113.68776,-26.21638 113.57966,-26.09624 113.41403,-25.72451 113.51041,-25.50389 113.76149,-25.87759 113.70464,-26.19918 113.87571,-25.94411 114.07598,-26.46538 114.23748,-26.31158 114.26641,-25.88684 114.00344,-25.61782 113.66775,-25.02943 113.71451,-24.85079 113.62218,-24.85893 113.39959,-24.40863 113.47023,-23.89908 113.77999,-23.47121 113.82562,-22.9538 113.65433,-22.57771 113.73333,-22.41532 112.313,-22.2511 110.25025,-23.69179 109.75235,-25.69502 109.89461,-29.16646 110.17912,-32.04333 110.25025,-36.33647 112.88203,-39.25843 117.4343,-40.67572 123.48028,-42.01068 131.44675,-42.27438 141.19145,-46.78393 148.23324,-49.21076 154.99699,-50.32418 160.18295,-50.49476 167.08248,-50.35882 172.41717,-49.16427 178.53428,-45.30291 180,-43.0209

144.87617257201,-36.372927517336

137.46075,-36.07492 137.7411,-35.8531 138.13426,-35.84358 137.9438,-35.7162 137.75462,-35.84308 137.78041,-35.72395 137.57792,-35.72566 137.62968,-35.56452 136.58817,-35.74863 136.53397,-35.9025 136.70488,-36.06439 137.2096,-35.97421 137.46075,-36.07492

137.33411624556,-35.819718531479

143.92623,-40.15745 144.13821,-39.93301 144.10996,-39.66949 143.96231,-39.58696 143.84493,-39.71573 143.92623,-40.15745

143.99157389443,-39.872204531377

148.08874,-40.26901 148.33351,-40.21004 148.29113,-39.96494 147.94475,-39.72116 147.7475,-39.87386 147.88676,-39.92041 148.08874,-40.26901

148.04050176131,-39.995084927218

175.44311,-41.58896 175.87476,-41.37099 176.89001,-40.13984 177.12151,-39.64421 176.90312,-39.46489 177.05444,-39.22076 177.79554,-39.08827 177.88453,-39.31511 178.02298,-39.11544 177.90638,-39.04331 177.96272,-38.73018 178.31675,-38.54237 178.36907,-38.00392 178.59947,-37.68346 177.97777,-37.51489 177.47207,-37.93449 176.93552,-37.94168 175.94915,-37.44769 175.97937,-37.04427 175.819,-36.78603 175.96818,-36.61483 175.78524,-36.55312 175.66003,-36.71862 175.33079,-36.4031 175.47635,-36.98654 175.47709,-37.16646 175.36485,-37.18111 175.18615,-36.70905 174.77627,-36.73235 174.92174,-36.61396 174.77068,-36.5587 174.88987,-36.36232 174.58765,-36.12946 174.56771,-35.60659 174.35833,-35.15301 173.99007,-35.08874 173.94234,-34.94886 173.45229,-34.96624 173.40342,-34.75614 173.20905,-34.84192 173.02317,-34.3772 172.61335,-34.46426 173.11167,-34.97496 173.03701,-35.20158 174.02942,-36.40164 174.21395,-36.37319 174.13904,-36.45937 174.74842,-37.57653 174.78575,-38.04374 174.65576,-38.10899 174.54911,-38.83034 173.72852,-39.28302 173.89658,-39.53322 175.12636,-40.10702 175.11765,-40.69323 174.84708,-40.87888 174.98865,-40.91739 174.89653,-41.09343 174.76598,-41.06389 174.58966,-41.28881 175.44311,-41.58896

175.6064079933,-37.983078322757

147.79957,-43.24237 147.86334,-43.10785 148.01152,-43.22169 147.99898,-42.91494 147.89171,-42.84252 147.81153,-42.96407 147.92511,-43.01657 147.77383,-43.05493 147.67889,-42.93453 147.61845,-43.00832 147.79957,-43.24237

147.81498601675,-43.042442981388

147.32725,-43.49704 147.4333,-43.23158 147.34641,-43.0747 147.27601,-43.16654 147.38328,-43.2069 147.17988,-43.45829 147.09713,-43.41236 147.13751,-43.49336 147.18284,-43.48886 147.22726,-43.41256 147.32725,-43.49704

147.2652119007,-43.285869592341

146.87098,-43.63862 147.00171,-43.47963 146.90589,-43.41922 147.05982,-43.35754 146.96419,-43.32835 147.1002,-43.29006 146.95007,-43.16336 147.04697,-43.03312 146.98443,-43.18943 147.22673,-43.27877 147.32853,-42.99999 147.25181,-42.75674 147.48415,-42.91013 147.41881,-43.05048 147.61339,-42.84597 147.44704,-42.75675 147.5401,-42.76518 147.66911,-42.90189 147.84476,-42.87417 148.01883,-42.31602 147.94,-42.34652 148.07753,-42.10781 148.2333,-42.09895 148.1151,-42.07298 148.16491,-41.99659 148.30181,-42.13172 148.25765,-42.25199 148.35584,-42.19379 148.26361,-41.81395 148.3591,-41.27645 148.23573,-41.32261 148.34966,-40.99328 147.93965,-40.73902 147.83533,-40.88657 147.66955,-40.82096 147.44175,-41.00247 147.28044,-40.94137 146.70714,-41.06328 146.59709,-41.21665 146.53227,-41.1181 146.34916,-41.21552 144.68426,-40.67551 144.60714,-41.00872 144.74559,-41.42062 145.21473,-41.98452 145.22328,-42.21902 145.33385,-42.15176 145.55746,-42.357 145.47469,-42.52628 145.16555,-42.19712 145.49492,-42.99154 145.70444,-43.06311 145.84122,-43.31526 145.93353,-43.15596 146.00373,-43.33542 146.24531,-43.31278 146.16928,-43.41748 145.92147,-43.38128 146.03012,-43.57014 146.25005,-43.48982 146.87098,-43.63862

146.48312201079,-42.157060271394

169.21222,-46.68147 169.84228,-46.46662 170.30849,-45.98159 170.77096,-45.88077 170.61967,-45.68926 171.17107,-44.94693 171.34282,-44.31371 172.30825,-43.88888 173.12376,-43.84311 173.11063,-43.67116 172.75702,-43.54659 172.7501,-43.27602 173.33809,-42.89564 173.54689,-42.49811 174.29418,-41.75448 174.07255,-41.41746 174.4644,-41.09481 174.03107,-40.86901 173.9958,-40.6435 173.39162,-41.2127 173.09144,-41.23659 173.09,-40.88114 172.69059,-40.6216 173.0597,-40.54919 172.61988,-40.49653 172.11301,-40.84193 172.04221,-41.3862 171.71138,-41.69849 171.45165,-41.71136 171.26124,-42.2967 170.84061,-42.81939 168.81001,-43.94741 168.35277,-43.99307 166.90257,-45.16368 166.41154,-45.72589 166.42381,-46.00656 166.65541,-46.22472 167.52144,-46.18487 167.81662,-46.47105 168.10954,-46.41736 168.40249,-46.67021 168.53107,-46.56742 169.21222,-46.68147

170.43797269864,-43.58900282118

167.50297,-47.30713 168.2219,-47.13823 168.30945,-46.87624 167.69453,-46.67938 167.56441,-46.74999 167.71733,-46.86703 167.64538,-47.00893 167.29334,-47.22356 167.50297,-47.30713

167.80139722871,-46.993252935333