NESP MaC Project 4.15 - Grey Nurse Shark aggregations

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 2024 project "Grey Nurse Shark aggregations". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- The grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus) has been protected in Australian Commonwealth waters since 1996. Although historically distributed across southern Australia, in October 2001 the grey nurse shark was listed as two separate populations with different protection listings under the EPBC Act of 1999: Critically Endangered in eastern Australia, and Vulnerable in Western Australia. Grey nurse sharks (GNS) tend to aggregate at specific sites along migration routes. There are currently 19 identified key aggregation sites along the eastern seaboard. Recent observations indicate that this definition requires revision to account for factors such as seasonal movements and to be applicable to the Western Australian population. This project aims to collate existing information on key aggregation sites and ‘new’ sites where GNS have been found to gather (both in eastern and western Australia). This information will be used to refine the definition of key aggregation site and develop criteria to allow assessment of new sites. This project will also investigate potential sites in Victoria where the least amount of information is available. Outputs • Spatial information on key Grey Nurse Shark aggregation sites [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 collect information on, and refine the definition of grey nurse shark key aggregation sites for the assessment of new sites.

Data time period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-04-01

-39.66314,86 -26.01872,86

-32.840932847488,90

-27.69504,86 -27.38786,86

-27.541452435687,90