Migrating Bull Sharks in Australia - Paper!

Read this!

Very interesting!

If I compare what is happening on the East coast of Australia with our observations, I would not at all be surprised if our Bulls displayed the same behavior! 

We know that they are not resident, and although overall, they spend more than half of the time inside of the Fiji Shark Corridor, individual differences are very pronounced and sometimes, certain individuals disappear for weeks if not months which could very well be due to the fact that they may be engaging in prolonged and wide ranging migrations - certainly within Fiji and quite possibly, albeit much more rarely, even further as documented by that genetic analysis from 2012 . 

And then, there's that mysterious regular dip in numbers in April which leads me to believe that something attractive is going on elsewhere, possibly some irresistible spawning aggregation or the like.

Alas, it doesn't look like we're gonna find out anytime soon.

Our Bull Sharks are our pals, and we will neither fish them in order to screw on SPOT tags or insert tags into their abdominal cavity, nor will we tag them conventionally as long as the process will condemn them to a life carrying those anchors that keep irritating the muscle tissue.  

Years ago, I was hoping that somebody would develop a less invasive attachment - but I've resigned myself that most Sharks are not tame like ours that can be tagged on the fly underwater but that instead, they need to first get caught. And then, the new SPOT tags with single bolts and/or the insertion of the acoustic tags are perfectly OK, meaning that realistically, nobody is gonna bother developing something specifically for an obscure micro-project in Fiji.

C'est la vie.

All our research has always been conducted on a need-to-know basis, i.e. initially in order to investigate the effectiveness of the SRMR and later, the Fiji Shark Corridor in protecting our Sharks, with the result being that it ranges from excellent for e.g. the Reef Whitetips to satisfactory for e.g. the Bulls to poor for the Tigers. 

And now that the SRMR is cemented into law, the next challenge will be to determine the most efficient and effective way to optimize that protection by enacting Fiji-wide conservation and/or management measures. No I'm pretty much certain that it will not be a Sanctuary so you guys out there, please don't bother as all you will achieve is to piss everybody off and likely make matters even more difficult than they already are. If at all, there will be a Fijian solution - something that will take time and patience, and require that all stakeholders get something and nobody everything.

And I will certainly leave it at that.

But I'm obviously digressing.

To be continued no doubt!

What we do

Awesome pic by Klaus Jost! The pregnant Shark is very probably Kinky.

From our website.

We often describe ourselves as a conservation project masquerading as a dive shop.
Yes we take people out to the world famous reefs and wrecks of Beqa Lagoon and above all, to our flagship product, the Fiji Shark Dive. But that, and the related commercial activity are merely a means to our ultimate aim which is to protect the Sharks of Fiji.

What started in 2003 with the Fiji Shark Project and resulted in the establishment of Shark Reef Marine Reserve, Fiji's first MPA dedicated to researching and preserving a local Shark population, has since expanded into a local and global Shark conservation and Shark research venture.

The cornerstone of our efforts remains the hands-on protection of reef environments.
Although our primary goal is to protect Sharks, we know that species protection is only successful if coupled with Habitat Conservation. We also strongly believe in the ethical imperative that we need to assume the stewardship of the areas we dive in and from which we derive our sustenance, not only because we really do love the Ocean but also, because this is nothing more than good, sustainable business.

We are lucky insofar as the indigenous Fijian population has a traditional cultural respect of Sharks and that as a consequence, coastal Shark population are relatively intact.
Our approach has been that to involve and to compensate the local stakeholders and we thus very much enjoy the support of the local community and notably, of the local fishermen who have witnessed a miraculous recovery of their fishing yields outside of the reserve.
Despite of the obvious challenges of dealing with various villages and the different personalities and interests within, we have been able to expand the Shark protected area to encompass all of the reefs along approx. 30 miles of the southern coast of Viti Levu. Dubbed the Fiji Shark Corridor, this area comprises the MPAs of Shark Reef, Lake Reef and Combe Reef.

In line with our ultimate goal, we are currently lobbying the Government of Fiji to have them enact wide-ranging Shark protection legislation and we cooperate with various international agencies aiming to achieve the same on a global scale.

Obviously, declaring an area to be a no-fishing zone is just the start.
What then has to happen is effective enforcement and obtaining the consensus and the solidarity of the local community goes a long way to achieving that aim. But with Fish stocks increasing, so does the temptation of poachers and alas, also of game fishermen wanting to bag a record Giant Trevally.
As of this year, all of our staff have been certified as Fish Wardens and we conduct regular patrols keeping any such activities within acceptable limits.

All of what we do is based on sound scientific insights and we are fortunate in being able to avail ourselves of the help of one of the leading Bull Shark experts, Dr. Juerg Brunnschweiler who has been supporting us since the inception of the Project. We also cooperate closely with Fish Taxonomists John Earle and Robert Whitton of Hawaii's Bishop Museum.
Most of the research is sponsored by the Shark Foundation, the Save our Seas Foundation and PADI Project AWARE.

All research we conduct and sponsor has to meet two prerequisites:
- its immediate aim has to be Conservation-oriented
- it has to avail itself of the least invasive techniques
Current research projects comprise

• maintaining an exhaustive database about the Shark dives. This is the backbone of our research into population dynamics, life cycles, inter- and intra-specific interactions and questions pertaining to the Shark diving industry, namely the effects of our activities on the animals and the optimum procedures we ought to adopt in order to ensure a maximum of safety but also, of enjoyment for our clients
• the Fiji Bull Shark Tagging Programme to investigate the large- and small-scale movements of the Bull Sharks, for which we employ satellite and acoustic telemetry. Whereas the large-scale movement studies are principally aimed at identifying and eventually protecting the Bull Shark nurseries in the rivers, the small-scale movement research is aimed at determining the optimum size and geographical extension of the Shark protected area. Our most recent tagging sequence has the specific aim of testing several hypotheses linking the periodic disappearance of the Bull Sharks in September/October to their birthing and mating cycles.
  
• exploring TEK and LEK along all of Fiji's major rivers. Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Local Ecological Knowledge have the potential to improve community-based coastal resource management (CBCRM) by providing baseline data such as information about the presence, behavior and ecology of species inhabiting their environment. Our major aim is to explore the potential of LEK and TEK to identify Shark river habitats in Fiji, to learn how locals regard and use Sharks, and to capture ancestral legends and myths that shed light on the relationship between local people and these animals.
• collecting tissue samples with the aim of contributing to the mapping of the Bull Sharks' global genome and thus determine whether there are distinct local populations warranting distinct local Conservation measures. The tissue samples are also used in toxicological studies linking the consumption of Shark to dementia and mercury poisoning. We also collect discarded teeth which are being analyzed for exposure of the animals to fresh water.
• direct observation of the animals' behavior. This research is principally aimed at deciphering dominance and aggression patterns and determining whether Bull Sharks are territorial (probably not) or even social (maybe). It also plays a critical role in helping us better understand how to interact with the Sharks we feed.
• regular Fish counts aimed at recording any changes to the biodiversity within the Reserve and at improving our management of the area. Preliminary results indicate that as a consequence of changed feeding protocols, the Fish population of Shark Reef has evolved from being predator- and scavenger-dominated to one in line with what would be expected of a vibrant and rich reef ecosystem. We have also recorded several range extensions, some of which spectacular and have identified a few Fishes that may well turn out to be new species. The Shark Reef Fish List can be viewed online and is likely to develop into a proper Fiji Fish List that will be set up as a wiki with scientific moderation from Hawaii.
  
• questionnaires investigating different aspects of Ecotourism and the impressions and expectations of our customers.

The data collected will hopefully enable us to achieve more and better conservation, to better manage the reserve and to develop even better, more eco-friendly and safer procedures.

They also greatly assist us in our educational efforts.
We have developed a Shark Awareness Presentation as part of the Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project, Fiji's contribution to the International Year of the Shark. We regularly present it to our clients and anybody can download it from the web, together with all relevant notes and references. We will shortly roll it out to the local schools in order to complement our ongoing youth project whereby we train and hire local unemployed school leavers.
We also regularly host Shark Conservation studies for High School and College students that will be soon expanded into proper research internships.

Our Outreach hinges on various initiatives, first of which the Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project where we act as coordinators and were able to motivate the relevant Government agencies, along with the who's who of Fiji's Tourism industry and conservation NGOs to declare in favor of Sharks. This is the general vehicle under which we produced Fiji's first ever pro-Shark PSA and helped Stuart Gow of Matava make a remarkable contribution to the Shark Free Marinas Initiative.
We also actively encourage and support any pro-Shark media, be it articles or film productions, by contributing to the story lines and enabling, and even donating the required images whenever necessary.

Our principal vehicle for outreach is however our Blog.
Apart from its obvious purpose to inform about our activities and initiatives in Fiji and to serve as a proper marketing tool, the Blog features regular opinion pieces and pursues several industry- and conservation-related threads that are particularly important to us. Recurring topics include:

• the sensationalistic portrayal of Sharks by the media and how we, the Shark diving industry need to address that by changing the image of Sharks and refusing to enable and take part in Shark porn
  
• commercial Shark diving procedures and the need for stringent safety protocols
  
• our obligation to help preserve Sharks and their habitat
  
• the global battle against the anti-industry movements that aim at shutting us down
• the need to pursue pragmatic and consensual Shark conservation that focuses on sustainability
  
• the obligation of science to be conservation oriented and ethical
  
• new scientific insights and the consequences they have for what we do
• reforming game fishing to practice catch&release and to stop keeping records for dead Sharks that inevitably turn out to be pregnant females
  

and many, many more.

All very time consuming, and often highly frustrating - but equally exciting and personally rewarding!
But hey: that's what we do.

Shark Reef and the Fiji Shark Corridor

Great Pic: Klaus Jost and yes, that's Predator! Click on it!

From our new website.

Shark Reef Marine Reserve was established in April 2004 and is the first of its kind in Fiji, namely, a protected sanctuary for the Sharks.

We are however aware that modern Conservation guidelines dictate that instead of merely concentrating on trying to save individual species, one must instead focus efforts onto preserving the Ecosystems where they live. With that in mind, our Stewardship is not limited to the Sharks alone but extends to protecting the whole of Shark Reef with all of its inhabitants. Consequently, we have invested considerable resources in order to document its Fish life and the long-term effects of our Conservation efforts.

It is here, in these protected waters that divers can observe and interact with some of the oceans top predators and a multitude of Fish species on The Shark Dive.

Taking Shark diving to the extreme, the regular Shark population comprises 8 different species: Whitetip Reef Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Tawny Nurse Sharks, Sicklefin Lemon Sharks, Silvertip Sharks, Bull Sharks and Tiger Sharks.

If Shark diving is your thing, then Shark Reef Marine Reserve and The Shark Dive are for you!

Shark Reef Marine Reserve is however about much more than just The Shark Dive.

The cornerstone of Shark Reef Marine Reserve are the ongoing research studies in the effort to learn more about these often misunderstood animals and in turn assist in their long-running battle for survival.

Beqa Adventure Divers is proud to be associated with the establishment of Shark Reef Marine Reserve in 2004.

None of this would have been possible without the involvement of the Fiji Department of Fisheries and the traditional owners of the reef, the villages of Wainiyabia and Galoa to whom we extend our special thanks. Both villages have agreed to relinquish their respective fishing rights to Shark Reef and in exchange, every diver who participates on The Shark Dive pays a 'Shark Reef Marine Reserve Levy' of FJ$20. This money is collected by Beqa Adventure Divers and deposited monthly into each village's community bank account.

After 5 years, it is not anymore only a question of providing cash flow to the community: even the initially skeptical fishermen love us to death, as the Reserve has become saturated with big Fish and the resulting spillover has lead to substantially increased fishing yields on the neighboring unprotected reefs. It thus really looks like we've managed to create a win-win situation for everybody involved and that the local community has learned to respect and appreciate what we do.

Following the results of our telemetry studies, it became apparent that the relatively small area of Shark Reef would not be sufficient to provide for adequate protection for our larger Sharks that roam a much wider area.

It is thus that in 2007, we have decided to greatly expand the Shark protected area to comprise the complete fishing grounds, or Qoliqoli of the two original partnering villages and the village of Deuba, once again with the formal endorsement of Government.

The such established Fiji Shark Corridor stretches for approx. 30 miles on the southern coast of Viti Levu all the way from the Navua river to the limit with Waidroka and includes the MPAs of Shark Reef, Lake Reef and our upcoming Combe Reef Marine Reserve, along with all other fringing reefs in the area, all the way to the foreshore.

One of the toughest tasks facing Shark Reef Marine Reserve, or any protected area, is to stop illegal fishing.

In April 2004, Beqa Adventure Divers sponsored the training of 12 Fish Wardens from the local community: 2 each from Waniyabia, Galoa, Beqa Island, Yanuca Island, Waidroka, Navua and staff members of Beqa Adventure Divers. The training program, conducted by the Government of Fiji, has allowed the community to monitor their protected waters as the Fish Wardens are attached to the Fisheries Department and have police powers to stop any illegal activities. We have doubled up our efforts and as of March 2009, all of our staff are officially empowered to protect the waters around Pacific Harbour!

To carry the Fish Wardens out to patrol the protected waters, The Shark Foundation in Switzerland has donated a boat to Shark Reef Marine Reserve, Reef Warden, in 2004. Following the arrival of our second Bladerunner, MV Hunter, Reef Warden has been sold and the money re-directed to research.

The boat and crew are on call 24hrs a day and perform random patrols to ensure no fishing is taking place.

One more Threat!

This is a Shark Conservation Blog - so why this obsession with Global Warming?

The why is that Species Protection doesn't work: it needs to be Habitat Protection!
That's why we have established a Marine Protected Area, Shark Reef Marine Reserve, and that's why we have established the 30-mile long Fiji Shark Corridor once our data suggested that the area of the SRMR was too small for the Bulls and Tigers. Our present acoustic tagging exercise may well reveal that we may have to expand the area even further.

As if Coral Bleaching, Sea Level Rise and more Extreme Weather weren't enough in terms of threats to the South Pacific, here comes yet another one - and this one is bloody serious: Ocean Acidification.

In brief, the rise of CO2 levels is lowering the pH of the Oceans.
The consequence: increasingly, those organisms who precipitate Calcium Carbonate to build their shells will be unable to do so. Yes, that would mean the gradual disappearance of the reef-building Corals and of Sea Shells, Crustaceans and important planktonic components like the Foraminifera. It has happened before and we can observe the likely consequences around present-time carbon dioxide vents.
And Corals are already disappearing fast!

And on top of the demise of the Coral Reef Habitats, the Ocean would lose, and even reverse its present function as the most important Carbon Sink, obviously with further devastating consequences for the whole planet.

But to get back to what we really do: our Marine Reserve would die and the Fish and our Sharks would have no more place to live in.

Just scaremongering?
Just a Conspiracy by the Liberals and the Scientists (and I may add: the Reptilian Humanoids)? To rule the word, promote a socialist agenda and get more funding - and steal a Nobel Prize and an Oscar in the process?
Really!, who are those people who come up with this garbage?

But granted: may there be an element of hysteria and may some of the predictions be exaggerated?
Sure, most probably! As in all marketing!

But whatever the full Truth: can we really afford not to heed the warnings and continue to waste time by engaging in pointless discussions instead?