MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR FEARS

They partnered with scientists at the University of Western Australia and the Integrated Marine Observation System to better understand the Galapagos sharks in these waters.

The program has been running since 2018, using acoustic tracking and vessel monitoring system data to study movement patterns, residency, depth range, and overlap with fishing vessel activity. Thirty individual sharks were tagged in the first year, establishing baseline knowledge that continues to inform management as the animals reach maturity.

Their abundant population signals a functioning ecosystem — and because they can be encountered safely in-water without the use of bait or attractants, they also provide meaningful social and economic value for visitors, residents, and local businesses through diving and snorkelling experiences.

However, negative interactions do occur. Fishers report that depredation — where sharks consume hooked fish before they can be retrieved — has increased over the past decade. This has been linked to possible changes in shark behaviour, with the animals associating boat engine noise with the availability of food from bait, hooked fish, and discarded fish waste. Finding ways to reduce these interactions while supporting positive ones is critical to promoting coexistence and maintaining the environmental, social, and economic values of the marine parks.

Continuing the deepwater acoustic receiver array is recommended to further monitor this population long-term and to provide new insights into the movement ecology of adult Galapagos sharks, which remains limited worldwide. Maintaining the array will also provide vital ongoing benefits for investigating connectivity of marine megafauna across the broader Tasman Sea region. The research team has also recommended further testing of shark deterrent devices and ongoing education activities with the Lord Howe Island community to raise awareness and foster interest in Galapagos sharks and the marine parks.