31/07/2025
๐๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐? ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป!
Shark depredation (when a shark consumes a fish caught on fishing gear) is a hot topic! For several years now, AFANT along with fishing representatives and managers from around the country have listed shark depredation as a top investment priority for research and development.
Right now, there is an important research project underway, but to get it right, they really need to hear from you and to learn from your experiences on the water.
๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐: https://src.ecu.edu.au/SE/1/SHARK25A/?&urlimport=1&questlist=org&org=2972
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐?
While there have been lots of reports, stories and social media posts about losing fish to sharks. Yet, while groups like AFANT, Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation, Australian Fishing Trade Association, GFAA - The Game Fishing Association of Australia and the Northern Territory Seafood Council have been raising the issue for long while, unfortunately, little information about your first-hand experiences has been formally captured for use by fisheries scientists and managers. So, they really do need better data.
By taking 10 mins to do the survey, you will help ensure that researchers can actually learn from your experiences on the water and help inform research and possible improvements on this hot issue.
๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐:
The survey is part of a project funded by the FRDC called "reviewing solutions to reduce unwanted fisher interactions with elasmobranchs" - While the title might be a bit of a mouthful (c'mon at least just call them sharks!), the research is actually really important, and the scientists and managers involved are both highly qualified and eager to hear from you.
The project is led by Queensland Department of Primary Industries with the study undertaken by researchers from the Edith Cowan University. Fisheries NT, WA Fisheries and NSW Fisheries are also involved.
Once the project team has better understood what is happening on the water, and what can be trialled to mitigate the shark depredation, they will be making recommendations suited for application in the Northern Territory and other jurisdictions.
Find out even more here: https://www.frdc.com.au/project/2023-012
