Critically endangered grey nurse shark mapped for the first time in landmark study

February 5, 2019, Macquarie University

A study mapping the eastern Australian grey nurse shark population has found it has declined rapidly over the last few decades, with only 400 breeding sharks left, too few to maintain a healthy population.

The findings reveal that additional protection measures are needed to halt further population declines of the critically endangered shark.

The number of breeding individuals remaining is not enough to maintain genetic health and reduces the ability of the population to survive future environmental changes.

Diving with grey nurse sharks is a popular attraction at locations along the east coast of Australia, but the declining population puts the industry's future in doubt.

The grey nurse shark suffered major declines from overfishing in the 60s and 70s because they were considered dangerous and are easy to kill, being relatively slow-moving and aggregating in regular areas. This resulted in controversial closures of fishing areas.

Despite designated protection areas, the study found that grey nurse sharks tend to disperse out of these areas and get caught as by-catch or sometimes killed by entanglement in the shark meshing program, as they travel between the safe zones.

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Shark threat fears raised in NSW

There are concerns the critically endangered grey nurse shark remains under threat because of a lack of action from the New South Wales Government.


When it took power the O'Farrell Government reversed fishing bans at Fish Rock and Green Island on the state's north coast.

The lifting of the bans outraged conservationists, who say it placed the critically endangered grey nurse at further risk.

The east coast population of grey nurse sharks is listed as a critically endangered species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

When the bans were revoked Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson announced a review of protections for grey nurse sharks in the area.

"As promised prior to the election, we want to ensure the public as well as the scientific community have a proper chance to be consulted before any final decision is made," Ms Hodgkinson said.

Submissions to the three-month review closed in August.

Opposition spokesman Luke Foley is angry no measures to protect the grey nurse shark have been put in place.

"The O'Farrell Government has declared open season on the Labrador of the ocean, the harmless, majestic, beautiful grey nurse shark," said Mr Foley.

"They lifted the restrictions on harming the grey nurse shark for a three-month review, eight months later that review hasn't reported.

"We are going into the peak holiday season with the grey nurse shark unprotected."

Mr Foley says he has received numerous reports of sharks in the area with fish hooks in their mouths.

A spokesman for the Department of Primary Industries has defended the delay, saying a report on the submissions it received will be released shortly.

"The summary report will initially be provided to a key stakeholder organisations, in order that they are able to have time to examine the information," said the spokesman.

"The NSW Department of Primary Industries will then undertake independently facilitated consultation to engage and involve key stakeholders in order to develop future management options for grey nurse sharks in NSW."

On its website the DPI says "despite their fierce appearance, grey nurse sharks are not a threat to divers or swimmers unless provoked".

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-21/shark-threat-fears/3742454/?site=newcastle