The Great Fiji Shark Count

Counting Fiji's sharks, rays and turtles

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You are here: Home / Results and data

Results and data

Using the data you have helped gather, we will not only be able to map Shark distribution and abundance in Fiji for the first time, but because Sharks are Apex Predators and vital to overall marine life balance, we can use the information to infer patterns of marine ecosystem health.

The results of this survey will be used to help design ways to protect sharks in Fiji  Repeating these surveys on a regular basis will help monitor the effectiveness of Shark protection measures.

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The results will be made available to all interested parties:

  • Local government, to assist in fisheries management policies in Fiji Waters.
  • International agencies and projects, to assist in shark management across the world
  • Local environmental managers, to develop better management plans for our reef system.
  • The scientific community, to assist them in the implementation of conservation strategies and management measures to improve the health of our reefs.
  • The tourism industry such as the resorts and dive operators, in order to raise awareness and assist them in designing better approaches towards caring for the marine environment.
  • The general public through this website and various publications such as local newspapers, in-flight magazines, local magazines, posters etc.
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A major country report will be compiled and released, to increase general awareness and to illustrate the positive outcome which your participation in The Great Fiji Shark Count has had on protecting Fiji’s marine ecosystems for generations ahead to enjoy.


Shark Research

  • Shark Reef Marine Reserve (SRMR) Benthic Biodiversity Assessments, Serua, Viti Levu, Fiji – September 2022

    Shark Reef Marine Reserve (SRMR) Benthic Biodiversity Assessments, Serua, Viti Levu, Fiji – September 2022

    Shark Reef Marine Reserve (SRMR) is a section of patch reef approximately 3 Km from the southern shore of Viti Levu in the Fiji Islands. In 2014 it was declared a statutory marine reserve under the Fisheries Act of 1942 (Cap 158) with the specific objective of protecting shark populations in the area. Shark feedingMore…


    June 4, 2025
  • Shark fishing bans double reef shark numbers – study

    Shark fishing bans double reef shark numbers – study

    Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly important in the fight for ocean conservation, but a new study has shown that to be most effective for sharks and rays, they need to be combined with a total ban on the take of vulnerable species.


    June 15, 2024
  • Great Shark Snapshot returns for 2024

    Great Shark Snapshot returns for 2024

    The Great Shark Snapshot, one of the Shark Trust’s citizen scientist initiatives, in which divers and snorkellers around the world are asked to record the sharks and rays they see is set to return in 2024 between 20 and 28 July 2024.


    June 1, 2024
  • Rays in the Shadows: Batoid Diversity, Occurrence, and Conservation Status in Fiji

    Rays in the Shadows: Batoid Diversity, Occurrence, and Conservation Status in Fiji

    This study compiled data from various sources, including a literature review, participatory science programs, and environmental DNA to assess the diversity and occurrence of batoids in Fiji’s waters.


    February 2, 2024
  • Research reveals high variability in shark presence in Fiji

    Research reveals high variability in shark presence in Fiji

    A new research published by the Pacific Conservation Biology, Community-driven shark monitoring for informed decision making: a case study from Fiji, reveals 146,304 sharks were observed in Fiji waters between 2012 and 2016.


    August 21, 2023
  • Fiji’s Bycatch Guidelines & Bycatch Mitigation Toolkits -A good start to the New Year

    Fiji’s Bycatch Guidelines & Bycatch Mitigation Toolkits -A good start to the New Year

    A good start to the New Year – Fiji’s Bycatch Guidelines & Bycatch Mitigation Toolkits


    January 22, 2021
  • Tourism-driven ocean science for sustainable use: A case study of sharks in Fiji

    Tourism-driven ocean science for sustainable use: A case study of sharks in Fiji

    Pre-print of new paper available, a case study of sharks in Fiji , based on the results of the Great Fiji Shark Count.


    February 20, 2020
  • Fisheries-independent surveys identify critical habitats for young scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in the Rewa Delta, Fiji

    Fisheries-independent surveys identify critical habitats for young scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in the Rewa Delta, Fiji

    Sharp declines in numerous shark populations around the world have generated considerable interest in better understanding and characterising their biology, ecology and critical habitats.


    March 1, 2018
  • Sharks and Rays of PNG

    Sharks and Rays of PNG

    We’d like to spread word on the newly published ‘Sharks and Rays of Papua New Guinea’, the first ever comprehensive reference of sharks, rays and chimaeras found in PNG waters – a number of which are found in close association with coral reefs. It has a user-friendly layout and contains information on identifying features, size,More…


    February 1, 2018
  • The Shark Reef Marine Reserve: a marine tourism project in Fiji involving local communities

    The Shark Reef Marine Reserve: a marine tourism project in Fiji involving local communities

    The Shark Reef Marine Reserve in Fiji is an ecotourism project designed to protect a small reef patch and its fauna while preserving the livelihood of local communities. It involves the local communities by using a participatory business planning approach to Marine Protected Area management, generating income through diver user fees, distributed to the local villages that have exchangedMore…


    January 23, 2018
  • Daku Resort

    Daku Resort is a delightful gem that glints from the hidden treasure trove that is Savusavu. Its combination of comfortable accommodation, good food, great setting and fabulous staff has made it Savusavu’s top rated choice on Trip Advisor.


    September 29, 2017
  • Explanation of shark count method and analysis

    Explanation of shark count method and analysis

    So we had a very good question in an email recently asking for an explanation of shark count method and analysis used in the Great Fiji Shark Count. Helen answered below.


    November 30, 2016
  • Onwards into Year #5!

    Onwards into Year #5!

    An exercise held across Fiji waters during the months of April and November to ascertain the shark and ray population enters its fifth year this month. The Great Fiji Shark Count, started by a group of scientists and tourism operators and led by Beqa Adventure Divers in Pacific Harbour and Marine Ecology Consulting in Lami,More…


    November 9, 2016
  • Paper – Elasmobranch captures in the Fijian pelagic longline fishery

    Paper – Elasmobranch captures in the Fijian pelagic longline fishery

    Good paper by Susanna about the shark fisheries by the Fijian pelagic longline industry, updated and revised early 2016.


    August 4, 2016
  • Sharks: Conservation, Governance and Management

    The Great Fiji Shark Count is quoted extensively in this 2014 book “Sharks: Conservation, Governance and Management” by Erika J. Techera and Natalie Klein.


    August 3, 2016
  • Barefoot Kuata

    Barefoot Kuata

    Discover our magical island hideaway, located between the end of the world and the beginning of paradise in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji. Barefoot Kuata Island is the smallest of the collection of islands known as the Waya collection and the ideal location to meet friendly reef sharks. Just a 2-hour boat ride from Port Denarau,More…


    November 25, 2015
  • Results of Three Years of the Great Fiji Shark Count, April 2015

    Results of Three Years of the Great Fiji Shark Count,  April 2015

    Over the past 3 years, dive operators across Fiji & their diving & snorkelling guests have been recording their Shark, Ray & Turtle sightings over the months of April & November. Thanks to those dedicated divers, we now have some interesting facts to share about Shark populations in Fiji.


    May 11, 2015
  • Results on Feeding (Baited) Dives ~ 3 years ~ 2012-2013-2014

    Results on Feeding (Baited) Dives ~ 3 years ~ 2012-2013-2014

    Average Numbers of animals seen per dive during each count   Shark numbers were ten times more than seen on non-feed dives. Overall populations appear to be increasing slightly. Many of the baited feeding dives in Fiji involve large numbers of Bull Sharks which are known to have seasonal breeding patterns, reflected in lower sharkMore…


    May 11, 2015
  • Results on Non-Feeding Dives ~ 3 years ~ 2012-2013-2014

    Results on Non-Feeding Dives ~ 3 years ~ 2012-2013-2014

    Average Numbers of animals per dive during each count Over the years, across Fiji, divers have seen an average of 1.22 to 2.03 Sharks on every dive, plus one Ray and one Turtle every 5 to 10 dives. Shark sightings varied year by year, but the general trend appears stable or slightly increasing. Ray andMore…


    May 11, 2015
  • South Pacific Adventure Divers

    South Pacific Adventure Divers

    South Pacific Adventure Divers has been serving divers since 1998 with a friendly staff, PADI resort standard of quality and a pristine safety record.


    January 11, 2015

Sign up for email updates

Welcome to The Great Fiji Shark Count !

Throughout the months of April and November every year, you have the opportunity to help celebrate and record Fiji’s amazing coral reef biodiversity, show you care about our world’s delicate coral reef systems, and have fun, by taking part in the FIJI-WIDE SHARK COUNT!

Easy to do, this is suitable for visitors and locals alike, whether you like to fish, snorkel, or SCUBA dive. We hope that tourists, school children, scientists and all people with an interest in the marine environment will take to the reefs with us to search for the Sharks of Fiji!

The Great Fiji Shark Count will be held across Fiji every April and November every year.

You can do a single count, or take part as many times as you like during that month, so that you cover different reefs. All data will be gratefully accepted!

So, see your resort, watersports operator or travel agent, get your Shark identification materials and dive into the beautiful blue waters of Fiji, to be a part of history!

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Recent News

  • Shark Reef Marine Reserve (SRMR) Benthic Biodiversity Assessments, Serua, Viti Levu, Fiji – September 2022
  • Shark fishing bans double reef shark numbers – study
  • Great Shark Snapshot returns for 2024
  • Rays in the Shadows: Batoid Diversity, Occurrence, and Conservation Status in Fiji
  • Research reveals high variability in shark presence in Fiji
  • Fiji’s Bycatch Guidelines & Bycatch Mitigation Toolkits -A good start to the New Year

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