West Australian Undersea Club
"freedive spearfishing"
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Great Australian Shark Count
- The Great Australia Shark Count Project will involve community
monitoring by divers, fishers, scientists and conservationists; and
provide the community, managers and decision makers with a valuable
data source. It will also complement other Commonwealth initiatives
for monitoring Grey Nurse Sharks.
Recreational fishers are prepared to be involved by participating in field monitoring and sharing
their knowledge so that we can all have a greater understanding of our marine environment and
how to better manage this valuable resource. The program is modeled on the successful “Great
American Fish Count”.
"Scientists are very interested in the distribution and abundance of sharks, and community
monitoring can provide useful information and education" said Dr Colin Simpfendorfer, Principal
Research Fellow at James Cook University.
Dr Adam Smith, National Chair of the AUF and co-ordinator of the project said “Now is a unique
opportunity to work in partnership with key national and state bodies and lay a platform for future
community monitoring and management of sharks and key fisheries”. All major participants will also
be supported with some fantastic incentives such as calendars, t-shirts and wetsuits.
