Shark Spy

What is Shark Spy?

In New Zealand we are missing some key pieces of information on shark species including but not limited to diversity, seasonality, coastal movements, residency, and population structure (age, sex, size). Shark Spy is a citizen science project with the dual aim of (1) collecting baseline data on sharks local to New Zealand coasts (particularly Otago) to fill these gaps and (2) connecting schools and the local community to their coastal environment via contribution and collaboration in the project. It is a project funded by the Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform and co-ordinated by the Otago University Marine Studies Centre.

The seas adjacent to the Otago region are very productive owing to a combination of the Southland current and deep-water canyons creating an upwelling of nutrient rich waters close to the coastline. Thanks to this the Otago region has a plethora of marine biodiversity, including shark species that would normally only be encountered further off-shore (e.g. blue sharks, porbeagle sharks). This unique marine situation makes Otago an ideal location to collect data on sharks. Most of the information that is available on sharks in New Zealand is generated from commercial fisheries catch data. While this does at least give some indication of the species in the area and their abundances commercial fishing is biased as they are fishing at certain times of the year for a particular species with specific gear. This means there is likely many species that go unseen, unrecorded, or are ignored.

Recreational catch information is almost entirely unavailable, and if it could be quantified it would most certainly add a wealth of understanding to the shark species in the Otago region. Shark Spy both actively collects information on sharks using baited underwater video systems (BUVs), as well as collecting sightings information

Why do we need the data? Why do we care at all?

Sharks are important parts of local food-webs acting as meso/apex predators. They are crucial in maintaining balance in coastal eco-systems by adjusting the abundance and behaviour of their prey species. They are also just incredible and impressive animals, whose ancestors have spanned back as far as 450 million years. In order to conserve sharks, it is imperative to have a good understanding of their population demographics, and how they are changing over time. From a scientific perspective, the reasons the data collected by shark spy is important is because it could potentially answer many of the questions about the above-mentioned missing information.

The data submitted by the community will be part of long-term monitoring of shark species for the next few years. As this is the onset of the project the data collected would be a snap-shot of a longer ranging data set. The sightings from over this summer alone would be very valuable, but the longer the monitoring continues the more powerful the data becomes.

It should be noted that the incidental sightings that would be reported by the community would be one of two sets of data that we are collecting. We also collaborate with local schools and groups who aid us in collecting data using baited underwater video cameras. The overall output of this research would combine both the incidental sightings reported to us by the community, along with the directed searching for sharks conducted via the BUVs.

From a community perspective it’s a way for people to connect with what is in their own back yards and learn more about these amazing animals. Sharks have always captured people’s attention, and we often get questions from community water user groups. A big part of this project is to be able to help answer any questions community members may have, as well as inform them of what we’ve found. The way that the submission of sightings is set up allows for two-way communication, so that the community always have a direct link to us if they have any questions or concerns. We also have a small team of scientists studying sharks that are happy to give talks to clubs or groups if people are interested, and they can get in touch with us for that via either the facebook page or the email address.

Are you seeking information on any sharks?

We are seeking information on all sharks, rays, skates and chimeras no matter the species or size. The more information we can gather the better.

How much detail are you looking for when people report back to you?
At minimum we are looking for a photo with a date and a location. Any further information is more than welcome but that is the minimum required for entry into the database. We are happy to take anecdotal reports as well as they can help us narrow down shark hotspots. Historic sightings are welcome as well.

A major bit of information we want the public to have is how to get the data to us. This can be submitted to us in three ways:
• Go to www.inaturalist.org, search for Shark Spy. Then simply upload your encounter to our database.
• Upload your encounter to our Facebook page, simply search for Shark Spy Otago.
• Email your encounter to: shark.spy.otago@gmail.com