Underwater shark surveillance
Shark-diving operators often use bait to attract sharks for tourists. Jeremy wants to know if this affects how sharks behave and what they eat. Using underwater cameras and tissue biopsies, he is finding the answers.
Jeremy Kiszka
I am a biology professor at Florida International University and the director of the Marine Conservation Ecology Lab. Originally from France, I obtained my PhD from the University of La Rochelle in 2010, focusing on the ecological and behavioural relationships of several dolphin species around the tropical island of Mayotte in the Mozambique Channel. I study marine mammals (whales, dolphins and sirenians) and other large marine vertebrates (sea turtles and sharks) around the globe to understand how the marine ecosystem and human activities affect their behaviour and populations, and how they...
Impact of shark provisioning on the ecology of lemon sharks at Moorea (French Polynesia)
This project aims to investigate the effect of provisioning on the feeding ecology, abundance and habitat use patterns of sicklefin lemon sharks in the waters surrounding Moorea, French Polynesia. Methods will combine stable isotope analyses and passive video camera recordings.
There is a need to understand the effects of shark provisioning, an activity that generates US$5.4-million annually (2005-2009) as part of the shark-diving industry in French Polynesia.
Provisioning sharks and rays in their natural environment leads to increased population densities and allows for sustainable tourism. Shark diving provides a significant economic alternative to shark fishing with revenues benefiting several sectors of the economy, while ensuring the conservation of sharks. However, recent studies have highlighted that shark provisioning can significantly alter shark behaviour and local population characteristics, resulting in increased population densities and site fidelity, decreased body condition and shifts in trophic interactions, among other things.
In French Polynesia, sharks are provisioned daily during recreational diving operations around several islands. Between 2005 and 2009, the total annual shark-diving revenue was about US$5.4-million. However, significant behavioural changes have been observed in lemon sharks. In spite of movements in and out of the shark-diving (provisioning) area and maintenance of reproductive migrations, residency increased during the study, particularly among males, potentially increasing the risk of inbreeding due to reduced mobility.
The aims and objectives of this project are to:
- Determine if shark provisioning has an effect on the dietary composition of sicklefin lemon sharks.
- Gather abundance, behavioural and individual data on lemon sharks using video cameras.