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New Results Show Sharks Could Be Hooked to Extinction - Nov 09

A new population count for the critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark shows government inaction still has the species lying on the brink of extinction.

The latest study commissioned by the Australian Government used photographs and underwater visual census techniques to determine the size of the east coast population of this shark.

These methodogies and more comprehensive study showed results estimating just over 1000 sharks. Whilst this is an increase on the numbers in initial population count studies, this thorough research at 53 sites along the NSW coast, shows the numbers are still well below the 5000 critical level needed to sustain the population. This points to an immediate need to protect the areas that these sharks use.

If we remove the accidental hooking in these areas, it’s our best chance of saving this species. NPA urges the NSW Government to look closely at this new evidence and immediately create 1500m marine sanctuaries at all key habitat sites for the Grey Nurse Shark,

Jervis Bay & Solitary Islands Marine Parks Reviews - Aug 08

Jervis Bay Marine Park and Solitary Islands Marine Parks are currently up for review. This means their protective zoning is being revisited offering opportunities to increase the protection of Grey Nurse Shark areas within these parks.

As a critically endangered species, all Grey Nurse Shark sites should be offered full protection in 1500m sanctuaries zones during this review. NPA~Marine will continue to lobby the NSW Goverment throughout this process for these necessary changes to the current inadequate zoning.

Grey Nurse Shark rescue - August 08

In a recent amazing feat, staff of the Byron Bay Dive Centre, Seaworld, and DPI Fisheries, successfully removed a large fishing gaff from the throat of a grey nurse shark off Julian Rocks in Byron Bay.

This is yet another example of this critically endangered species remaining at risk from fishing injuries. Although in a marine park, the Julian Rocks critical habitat site for the Grey Nurse Shark does not have the recommended level of protection

Increased sanctuary protection of NSW waters can help provide better protection for our Grey Nurse Sharks by reducing accidental fishing injuries which can, and do, result in uneccesary deaths to these sharks. With less than 500 left along the east coast of Australia, action to protect their key sites needs to be immediate..

AMSA call for more NSW sanctuaries - May 2008

The Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) NSW issued a position statement in full support of marine protected areas and fully protected marine sanctuaries. AMSA is Australia's largest association of marine scientists and this statement reinforces the need for a proper marine sanctuaries network for NSW, with sanctuary protection for Grey Nurse Shark sites as a priority.

New Report shows NSW sanctuary protection is not enough for Grey Nurse Sharks and other marine species - Dec 2007

Valerie Taylor, renowned marine conservationist and NPA~Marine Patron, launched the first of two landmark reports that presents the results of research and analysis into the threats to, and conservation of, NSW’s oceans.

This first report – The Torn Blue Fringe: Building Resilience - sets out 19 recommendations to sustainably manage our marine environment.

Recommendation 15 was that areas of at least 1500m around Grey Nurse Shark key habitat sites be established as fully protected marine sanctuaries

Tokenistic fisheries closures - November 2007
Almost half of Grey Nurse Shark's annual deaths are from the NSW Ocean Trap and Line Fishery. When this fishery was approved, the NSW Government committed to creating 'fishery closures of appropriate area for grey nurse sharks' by Nov 16 2007.

NPA~Marine launched an e-lobby campaign with other conservation groups for the necessary sanctuaries at key habitat sites. Yet the only closures were on commercial fishing at 3 sites, at Magic Point (effective now) and Green Island/Fish Rock (effective May 2008). Recreational fishing still continues at these sites and no added protection was given at the other Grey Nurse sites.

Grey Nurse court battle lost - October 2007
The Nature Conservation Council recently lost a court case to get NSW's Grey Nurse Shark key habitats protected as 1,500m marine sanctuaries. Whilst the Administrative Appeals Tribunal recognised that the Grey Nurse Shark is at dire risk of extinction, they stated responsibility to act lies with the NSW Department of Primary Industries. NPA~Marine continues to campaign for sanctuary protection for the Grey Nurse Shark with NCC and other conservation groups.

Finning industry continues to threaten - October 2007
Following NPA~Marine breaking this story to the press, media continues on this controversial issue on the NSW mid north coast. In NSW catches of large sharks have doubled in the past three years with concerns mounting over its impact on shark species, including the critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark. NSW Department of Primary Industries has stated that the commercial harvest of large shark species will be kept under ongoing review.

Cod Grounds Management Plan - September 2007
The Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve was declared on 10 May 2007 to protect important habitat of the critically endangered grey nurse shark. New management arrangements came into force from 28 May 2007 protecting it as a 1000m fully protected marine sanctuary.

NPA~Marine and other conservation groups working to protect the Grey Nurse Shark will be providing input into the development of the management plan for this reserve.

We hope that the NSW Government will follow the Commonwealth's lead in providing sanctuary protection for each of NSW's Grey Nurse Shark key habitat sites

Increased Shark Finning Killing Grey Nurse Sharks - August 2007
In August, NPA~Marine broke the news to the media about a dramatic increase in shark fishing operating out of Coffs Harbour that we understood to be inadvertently killing Grey Nurse Sharks

Shark fishing can generate up to $100 a kilo for the fins which are used in Asia for shark fin soup. Whilst these boats are legally allowed to catch up to one tonne of sharks per day the increase in intensity is not believed to be sustainable.

The long-line fishing methods used can unintentionally catch threatened species such as the 'critically endangered' Grey Nurse Shark and the 'vulnerable' Great White Shark.. With less than 500 Grey Nurse Sharks left along the east Australian coast, and their extinction predicted within our lifetimes, the death of any individual is serious.

NPA~Marine called on the Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald to stop looking at the short term dollar signs and to better regulate the industry for its, and our oceans, future.

Grey Nurse Shark Presentation - June 2007
The Grey Nurse Shark population on the east coast of Australia is critically endangered (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) with fewer than 500 individuals remaining. They are an inconic species whose loss would be a tragedy with unforeseen consequences to NSW's marine ecosystems.

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) presented NPA~Marine supporters with an overview of past, current and future research on the east coast population of Grey Nurse Sharks for NPA members and volunteers.

The presentation provided a general overview of the biology, reproduction and population status of the grey nurse shark. It focussed on areas where past research has been conducted including distribution, abundance & population size. It additionally examined migratory movements, threats, population trajectories and genetics as well as discussing the current SEACAMS, pop-up archival tagging program and artificial breeding program.

Answers to the questions on notice can be viewed by clicking here

Bogus Grey Nurse Shark Claims quashed
Claims of bogus population counts for Grey Nurse Sharks have been labelled as unsubstantiated by the National Parks Association of NSW (NPA).

Claims on March 25's SUNDAY program on Channel Nine of cover ups, fraud and buried scientific findings make for interesting viewing. However, the reality is less 'X files' than this

Population counts and modelling for this harmless shark have been conducted using credible scientific practice and support that less than 500 sharks remain

Click here for NPA's full response

Grey Nurse Shark - One step closer to extinction
In late January NSW Fisheries Scientific Committee has recommended increasing the listing of the Grey Nurse Shark from endangered to critically endangered under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

The Australian Government has already listed the Grey Nurse Shark as Critically Endangered under their Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

This proposal by the NSW committee indicates the severity of the situation of the Grey Nurse Shark's survival. NPA~Marine hopes this recommended new listing is followed by immediate action from the NSW Government to protect the sharks' key habitat sites.

Baby Grey Nurse Shark born
On February 6th a male Grey Nurse Shark was born at Manly Oceanworld aquarium.

It is very rare for baby Grey Nurse Sharks to be born in captivity. Oceanworld Manly is one of only three aquariums worldwide that have successfully bred the endangered species. This is only the second baby to be born to the aquarium, with last pup born 5 years ago.

'Test Tube' Babies for the Grey Nurse Shark?
In early 2007 submissions were called for on the NSW Government's proposed breeding program for Grey Nurse Sharks.

The NSW DPI is proposing to undertake a largely experimental and invasive research program. The idea is to create artificial shark uteri, remove embryos from females, and grow 'test tube' sharks within these uteri. If successful, any young will then be released to repopulate Australia's east coast population of Grey Nurses.

However, NPA~Marine and other conservation groups are opposing this elaborate proposal for reasons including the following:

- The program is largely experimental and invasive and could therefore harm the remaining shark population. The National Recovery Plan states 'With the low number of animals of this species on the east coast and their slow reproductive rate, any killing, taking or injuring of a Grey Nurse Shark would be likely to have a significant impact on the population.' The program would include shark capture, ultrasound, insertion of internal acoustic tags, and surgical techniques involving anaesthesia .

- The program, if successful, will take at least 10 years to work. However, recent DPI research has found the time to quasi-extinction (less than 50 breeding females remaining) for the Grey Nurse is likely within 10 - 15 years. Therefore the population will be so low by the time the program could even work, that experimental techniques would not be suitable.

- The program, if successful, would involve captive bred sharks being released into a critically endangered wild population. This would create a risk of disease transmission and negative population effects associated with a reduced genetic diversity.

- There seems little point in breeding new sharks if the key problem to Grey Nurse Shark survival - that of accidental hookings at their key habitat sites - is not addresses. Any new sharks bred and released would face the same hooking and mortality problems as the wild population.

Instead of this complex and uncertain program, NPA~Marine and other conservation groups recommend the immediate sanctuary protection of all 16 key habitat sites in NSW. This has been recommended by leading scientists and will help eliminate the key threat to the sharks survival - accidental hooking at their key habitat sites.