North West Island shark research project

The Department of Environment and Science has contracted Biopixel Oceans Foundation to conduct shark research at North West Island.

Photo credit: © Biopixel Oceans Foundation

Biopixel Oceans Foundation is conducting this research in a manner that does not increase the risk for water users and in accordance with marine parks and fisheries permits.

Photo credit: © Biopixel Oceans Foundation

Acoustic buoys (pictured) underwater allow us to monitor the movements and behaviour of tagged sharks.

Photo credit: © Biopixel Oceans Foundation

This important research will help inform the Queensland Government’s approach to SharkSmart education at North West Island (pictured),

Photo credit: © Biopixel Oceans Foundation

The Department of Environment and Science through the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has contracted Biopixel Oceans Foundation to conduct research into the prevalence, movements and behaviour of sharks around North West Island.

The research is conducted in a manner that does not increase the risk for water users.

The research involves a range of activities including shark tagging, drone surveys and underwater camera recordings.

Biopixel Oceans Foundation catches and tags sharks with acoustic tags and then releases them so we can monitor their movements and behaviour.

Biopixel Oceans Foundation is delivering this research in accordance with permits from our department, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

This important research helps scientists and government better understand the movements and behaviour of sharks and informs the Queensland Government’s approach to SharkSmart education at North West Island.

Additional details

• Sharks will be captured across four to six trips carried out over two years.
• Researchers actively avoid areas where people are participating in water activities and can adjust their field activities if required.
• Researchers do not chum/berley to attract sharks.
• Researchers use set lines to catch sharks that are passing through the area.
• The research is dependent on weather, tide and other conditions, so researchers move around to different locations and don’t have a set schedule each day.
• Some small semi-permanent floats may be visible to mark the position of research equipment including ‘listening stations’ for detecting tagged sharks.

Research trip dates

Weather pending, the following trips have been scheduled:

• 6–12 October 2022
• 25–30 November 2022 (no catching or tagging)
• 5–10 December 2022
• 15–20 February 2023

Future trip dates will be added as they are scheduled.

Enquiries

For enquiries, please email qpwsgbrmcigbrmpr.corro@des.qld.gov.au.

On the island

When there is a campground host/research team staying on the island and when research is underway:

• If you have any concerns or questions, please speak to your campground host and they can relay them to the research team.
• If rangers are on the island, feel free to speak with them regarding the research.
• If the research team are staying on the island or conducting research from the shore, you are more than welcome to have a chat about what they are doing.

Be SharkSmart

Learn more how to be SharkSmart, visit the Fisheries Queensland SharkSmart website.

For other safety information, see Visiting Capricornia Cays safely and camp with care on our website.

Sharks are present in our coastal waters in Queensland at all times of the year. Be SharkSmart when visiting our remote islands.

Photo credit: © Queensland Government