Background

Much research has been conducted on white sharks at the Neptune Islands over the last 10 years, incorporating operators log book data, photographic identification, genetic sampling, fine scale movement studies and acoustic and satellite tagging. However, since this data collection has been limited to the Neptune Islands, there is limited understanding as to how such data relates to the behaviour and habitat use of the overall population. This has ramifications for using sites such as the Neptunes for monitoring trends in population size and status. The North Neptune Island group is one of several significant seal colonies in South Australian waters, and is clearly an important habitat to which some white sharks show high degree of site fidelity. But it is not known if these sharks spend periods of residency at other islands, nor how important other seal colonies are sharks that may not visit the Neptune Islands group.

Aims and Objectives

The overall aim of the project is to define other important habitat areas for white sharks and the pathways between them. Specific objectives are to:

1. Establish the frequency and duration of visitation of sharks tagged at North Neptune Island to other seal colonies.
2. Determine residence times and site fidelity to these specified sites
3. Examine the fidelity of sharks tagged at alternative sites to the Neptune Islands
4. Determine the timing and rates of movement of white sharks between these areas
5. Test the corridor theory by placing stations at island groups within this corridor
6. Build on existing knowledge on site fidelity and population dynamics by integrating with the current Australia-wide CSIRO program on white sharks
7. Provide data to management agencies to enhance protection for the species from commercial fisheries in key habitat areas.