Grey nurse shark

[CEO]

                                                     TV  FLASH:  ECOFISHERS,  "STATELINE"  &  GREY NURSE SHARKS.  Friday 13th April.
  ECOfishers and the Grey Nurse Shark (and Byron Bay) made the ABC's "Stateline" program with Quinton Dempster, on Friday evening 13th April 2007. ECOfishers NS, says the Grey Nurse Shark numbers may be greater than those estimated. The NPA says they are "on th edge of extinction!"
  Well, "Stateline" is one of those current affairs programs, that ALL NSW politicians watch! It is repeated again on Saturday, 14th at 12 o'clock midday. It's just a little grab at the end of the program. ("The Week," issues making news around the Regions.) It certainly helps raise the profile of the GNS issue....and ECOfishers. Now there's yet another reason to write a letter to the editor, if you haven't already done so, to keep the issue in front of the public. And all the relevant information you will ever need, is on these pages, especially Dr Phil's explanation of the "Laws of Probability" and the Petersen Mark/Recapture formula, at the bottom of page eight. So write it, publish it and post it......here!

[CEO]

ANSWER TO YOUR ENQUIRIES: What ECOfishers want is nothing short of a full, independent and scientific review of the whole Grey Nurse Shark Recovery Program. The evidence demands it. That's what we are campaigning for and is not at all unreasonable under the current circumstances. And when we talk about the enormous cost to the community, we are also focussing on the economic impacts of being locked-out of these "Critical Habitat Sites,"on the basis of what may very likely be, shonky science and rubbery data.  OK?

[Dennis The Menace]

Did anyone see the crap printed in yesterdays Telegraph on the Grey nurse? Megan Kessler was craping on with the usual "Labrador" spiel. I wrote a letter to the editor but alas, it wasn't printed.

[Dennis The Menace]

Err... um... maybe they did print it 

[Dr. Phil]

I discovered this on the 'net when looking for the Hermon (note spelling) Slade Foundation. 

http://www.hermonslade.org.au/projects/HSF_06_9/hsf_06_9.htm

This is one of the current projects underway.
NOTE the second paragraph, and the reference to NSW Fisheries

Determining the Australian east coast grey nurse population size and structure using archival and contemporary photographic images and visual surveys
A project undertaken at the Centre for Biomedical Sciences, Univeristy of Queensland, and supervised by C.Bansemer and M.Bennett

Background
The grey nurse shark, Carcharias taurus is listed globally under the IUCN Red List as vulnerable, with the Australian east coast population listed as critically endangered. A priority action in the 'Commonwealth Recovery Plan for the Grey Nurse Shark' (Recovery Plan) is to establish long-term monitoring of the east coast?s population status. This key action has not yet been fulfilled.

In 2002, NSW Fisheries intiated a fin-tagging program of grey nurse sharks (GNS) to facilitate population estimates and achieve the Recovery Plan?s priority action. Unfortunately, the physical tagging of grey nurse sharks was found to have undesirable side-effects due to chronic fouling of tags that lead to abrasion injuries and secondary infections and consequently was stopped.

We conducted a two year study of the patterning of grey nurse shark skin, on animals held at Underwater World Mooloolaba (Qld aquarium). This study has shown that spot patterns are stable through time, providing a means to reliably indentify sharks from photographic images. A collecton of images of wild grey nurse sharks has been amassed by encouraging the diving public, through free workshops and random monthly prizes, to supply images of grey nurse sharks from known locations on known dates. To date, over 300 individual grey nurse sharks have been identified by their skin markings. Many of these individuals have been photographed on numerous occasions at different sites and on different dates with the longest image 'capture-recapture' period spanning 14 years between photographs. This demonstrates the viability of this technique for long-term monitoring.

Objectives
To provide a scientifically valid, robust estimate for the east coast grey nurse shark population using 2006 - 2008 image capture-recapture data
To create a cost effective, non-invasive, long-term monitoring program
To determine important aspects of the population including ? size and sex ratios and segration, site fidelity and occupancy, proportion of the population with fishing tackle (hooking injuries, trailing line, etc.).
To increase public awareness about the plight of the grey nurse shark and to provide correct data for management purposes via an open and transparent mechanism that involves all interested parties.
Outcomes:
This project will refine the image capture-recapture technique and allow a rigorous, scientifically valid estimate of current grey nurse shark numbers ('minimum population size') to be calculated achieving a priority action of the Commonwealth Recovery Plan for the critically endangered east coast population of grey nurse sharks. Additionally, the methodology used in this project lends itself to the involvement of divers, dive operators and the media. Increased public participation, awareness and compassion will all help to further protect this iconic species.
   
Figure 1. A male grey nurse shark (Smiley) identified through images taken at Flat Rock in Queensland from 2004 for three consecutive years. The natural ?spot? markings, the sex, and the healed wound to the mouth are used to identify this shark.
 
Figure 2. Lasers provide a means to measure the total length of an individual grey nurse shark (without restraint). When the lasers are aligned parallel with the shark the distance between the two laser marks is 50 cm.

 

[sandfly]

           Megan Kesslers has appeared in print and on tv pushing saving the "ocean labradors" during last week. NCC want NSW government to set up 18 sanctary zones in popular fishing spots. She says"ocean trap and line fishing operations were affecting the sharks". Can't imagine a trap effecting a shark and a hook in the mouth would be no worse than a fish fin. More green nonsense. She still continues the unscientific nonsence that there are only 500 gn sharks on the East Coast. Doesn't she ever regard research that shows there is just as much evidence that there could be many more?
          One hopes the Administrative Appeals Tribunal will appreciate the facts rather than the fiction and castout this rediculous court appeal. How much public money is being used to present this challenge along with public money to fight the appeal? If only the NCC would spend this money on independant  ( note independent ) reseach to prove fact or fiction then they might achieve some credibility amoung fishers

[ACTAngler]

I discovered this on the 'net when looking for the Hermon (note spelling) Slade Foundation. 

http://www.hermonslade.org.au/projects/HSF_06_9/hsf_06_9.htm

This is one of the current projects underway.
NOTE the second paragraph, and the reference to NSW Fisheries

How are these guys funded, Dr Phil?

[CEO]

G'day Phil and thanks again mate for your diligence. As always, it's greatly appreciated. I've had a chat with Ms Carley Bansemer. It was November last year. (2006) She is a 28 yr old part time research assistant with the Qld Parks & Wildlife Service, doing a PhD on the GNS. In 2002, she managed the the National Recovery Program for the GNS in Qld and she co-authored the information paper. She was also instrumental in the implementation of the Qld government's, "no fishing zones," around a handful of sites, offshore, in South East Qld.
  Interestingly, her PhD studies to date, estimate the East Coast population of Grey Nurse Sharks, as at least 1000! Now this is the same East Coast population that NSW "scientists," are studying and the last time I spoke with Otway, he was unable to explain the difference! So I highlighted this fact too, in my ABC interview this morning. Interesting to note also, the "healed wound to the mouth," on the shark identified as "Smiley." He is obviously fully recovered, still feeding and apparently doing quite well thank you, despite the wound to his mouth. I wonded what happened to the hook?  It would be great to get a copy of a series of photos or even the one from  Fig 1. Then we could compare the dots she uses to identify the sharks and clearly establish once and for all, whether the photos the Greenies are using on the net, are old photos of Smiley, during his recovery phase.  We all know the Greenies won't let the truth get in the way of an emotional story!
                           PS Great letters from Ashley and Dave. The print media don't publish the NCC guff on the north coast anymore. And the No Credibility Council can't work out why!

[Dr. Phil]

The Narooma Port Committee demands a Judicial Inquiry into the Grey Nurse Shark.

The Chairman of the Narooma Port Committee, Dr. Philip Creagh, claimed that legal action, taken by the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) this week in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, to close down the New South Wales Ocean Trap and Line fishery because of the perceived threat to the Grey Nurse shark, may be based on flawed science and a gross under-estimation of population of the Grey Nurse Shark.

The Narooma Port Committee demands that a Judicial Inquiry be made into the actions of the Conservation section of the NSW Department of Fisheries, NSW Department of Conservation and the Nature Conservation Council (NSW). 
   
He went on to explain "The NCC's case hinges on a study done by the NSW Department of Fisheries, Conservation Research Section in 2003, which attempted to clarify the numbers of Grey Nurse Sharks off the NSW Coast.  This study produced an estimate of 410 to 461 GNS with an upper limit of 766."

"Documents released to The Hon. Jon Jenkins MLC by the Minister for Fisheries on the last sitting day of the NSW Parliament in 2006 have shown that this study may have serious flaws. 

It is important to understand the way the data was gathered and the statistical methods used behind the calculations.

In 2002, 24 Grey Nurse sharks were tagged with a cattle tag in the dorsal fin and released carefully back into the water.  A major potential for serious statistical error occurred at this point.  Only 4 sites were selected for the capture and tagging of the Sharks between Eden and Bundaberg, a distance of about 1500kms. 

The tagged sharks were given time to mix and migrate within the general population.  In June 2003 a "tag sighting survey" was performed.  Scuba divers and Freedivers dived on 44 known Grey Nurse habitat sites.
 
The numbers produced by the survey showed that a total of 313 GNS were seen.  Nineteen sharks were seen with tags.  This figure represents 80% of the total number of tagged Grey Nurse sharks.  From this number the calculation was made as to GNS in NSW waters and presented as a report to NSW Fisheries. 

However, it has been claimed that there were, in fact, two datasets done in the June 2003 Survey.  Scuba Divers, who dived on 27 sites, saw a total of 137 GNS ... remarkably they saw 18 tagged sharks.  Freedivers, who dived on 15 different sites, saw 176 GNS, however they only noted ONE tagged shark.  The disparity of these results should have alerted the researchers to the potential for a serious statistical anomaly.

A second survey was done in August 2003 to verify the results from the June survey.  This survey has never been made available to the public until now.  The results of this survey are chilling to anyone who understands population dynamics of wildlife.  There were 162 GNS seen at 27 sites.  NO tagged GNS were seen at this survey. 

Various excuses have been given by the Department of Fisheries as to why this second survey was NOT noted in the final calculation.  However, nothing can resile from the fact that if 162 GNS were seen, then the law of probability would be that about eight tagged sharks should have been seen."

Dr. Creagh concluded "the Narooma Port Committee remains gravely concerned at the nexus between the Conservation section of NSW Department of Fisheries, NSW Department of Conservation, the Nature Conservation Council and the Environmental Defender's Office in their vexatious litigation in the NSW Administrative Appeals Tribunal this week." 

"To effectively close down the NSW Ocean Trap and Line Fishery and recreational fishing at popular fishing spots is yet another unwarranted attack on the economic health of rural and regional New South Wales by State Government funded, Sydney based, extreme green Conservation groups."


END

[Diver]

Just passed the kids watching TV, they were watching Totally Wild on TEN (07:00 hrs). In line with the projected audience (8-14 year olds) its in the  KISS format

Opening story was on the almost extinct grey nurse sharks and how they were almost wiped out in the 60's and 70's by the spearos. No mention made of set lines, pollution or other causes of population decline made. Also the numbers were cited as as low as 500.

No references were made that I picked up on the dubious tag studies in estimating the population size. Only what a great job places like the aquarium in Sydney is doing by trying to breed them.

Heads up guys, the 'conservationists' are still at their games.

Diver

[Oly]

I have heard that DPi are gearing up to have talks with clubs (fishing spearfishing) in the next few months on their exciting work on GNS.

I am sure the talks will be enlightening.......( and i assume these talks will be recorded as consultation)

[Pi]

Oly,

You heard correctly. Below is part of an email received by Warringah Anglers from Querida Hutchinson of the Threatened Species Unit, DPI. They are giving a presentation on Thursday 10th May at Dee Why.

Phil

> >As discussed, the NSW Department of Primary Industries will be carrying
> >out presentations on research they have conducted as part of the grey
> >nurse shark education program. These presentations will be given to
> >conservation groups, recreational fishing clubs, spearfishing clubs and
> >scuba diving clubs.
> >
> >This provides the opportunity to become aware of past research, current
> >research, and future research directions concerning the grey nurse shark.
> >
> >The presentation will provide a general overview of the biology,
> >reproduction and population status of the grey nurse shark.  It will
> >particularly focus on the following areas where past research has been
> >conducted:
> >
> >Distribution, abundance & population size-structure
> >Migratory movements
> >Localised movements
> >Threats
> >Population trajectories; and
> >Genetics
> >
> >It will also discuss the current SEACAMS, pop-up archival tagging program
> >and artificial breeding program.
> >

[Oly]

Hmm   the threats part will be interesting........................

[ACTAngler]

Interesting indeed.

If anyone hears of any other meeting dates, please post details here.  I'd like to try and get to one (promise I won't heckle...)

[cap]

Supposedly a meeting at Shellharbour on either the 16th or 23rd May

but my fishing club hasn't been notified but the diving organisations have been invited