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 shark numbers every November and higher numbers every April.

Ray and Turtle sightings on the feed sites are infrequent, and numbers generally low.

Average Numbers of each Shark Species seen per dive over 3 years

By far the most common sharks seen on feeding dives were Bull Sharks, followed by White-tip, Black-tip and Grey Reef Sharks.
Silvertip, Tawny Nurse and Indo-Pacific Lemon Sharks occasionally visit the feeds, and very occasionally a Tiger or a Leopard Shark.

Scalloped and Great Hammerheads and Guitarfish have never been recorded at a shark feed.

Patterns of each Shark Species per dive during each count

Bull Sharks show a very obvious pattern of higher numbers in April and lower numbers in November, reflecting the breeding season when female Bulls are known to leave the feeding grounds to give birth in river estuaries.

Bulla shark populations appear to be increasing at both times of year, while other species are remaining stable or in slight decline.
A slight but similar seasonal pattern is seen in White-tip Reef and Tawny Nurse Shark numbers, which was not seen in the data from non-feeding dives.

There appears to have been a slight decline in numbers of Black-Tip Reef Sharks, particularly in 2014.

There are no other patterns apparent.

Average Numbers of Rays and Turtles per dive during each count

Average Numbers of each Ray or Turtle Species per dive over 3 years

Average Numbers of each Turtle Species per dive over 3 years

Average Numbers of each Ray Species per dive over 3 years

Rays and Turtles were seen very uncommonly on Feeding Dives, and numbers are only around a tenth of those seen on Non-Feeds.

This may be due to the presence of large numbers of Sharks on Feeding Dives, or to the habitat types of the reefs selected for use as Feeds.

There is an overall suggestion that Ray numbers have declined and Turtle numbers increased over the past three years, but the sightings are so infrequent that these patterns are not reliable.

The most common Rays and Turtles seen on Feeding Dives were:

Hawsksbill Turtles
Green Turtles
Spotted Eagle Rays
Bluespotted Ribbontail Rays
Bluespotted Stingrays
Giant Reef Rays (uncommonly)

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

Number of Participants ~ Feeding (Baited) Dives

Feeding Dives	April 2012	Nov 2012	April 2013	Nov 2013	April 2014	Nov 2014
Numbers of Dive Operators participating	3	3	3	4	4	5
Number of Dives recorded	47	51	49	73	73	65
Number of total Observations (every diver taking part)	304	361	386	462	561	466

Total number of Species ~ Feeding (Baited) Dives

Feeding Dives	April 2012	Nov 2012	April 2013	Nov 2013	April 2014	Nov 2014
Number of Shark species	9	7	8	7	8	8
Number of Ray species	2	2	1	2	0	0
Number of Turtle species	1	2	1	2	2	2

Total Numbers of Animals ~ Feeding (Baited) Dives

Feeding Dives	April 2012	Nov 2012	April 2013	Nov 2013	April 2014	Nov 2014
Total number of Sharks	7,876	5,813	14,930	9,049	22,651	11,896
Total number of Rays	10	18	2	11	0	0
Total number of Turtles	3	17	10	15	24	45

Average Numbers of Animals per Observation (per diver per dive) ~ Feeding (Baited) Dives

Feeding Dives	April 2012	Nov 2012	April 2013	Nov 2013	April 2014	Nov 2014
Sharks seen per observation	25.91	16.10	38.68	19.59	40.38	25.53
Rays seen per observation	0.03	0.05	0.01	0.02	0.00	0.00
Turtles seen per observation	0.01	0.05	0.03	0.03	0.04	0.10

Commonness of Shark Species most commonly seen ~ Feeding (Baited) Dives
(Average numbers of animals per dive)

	White-tip Reef	Silvertip	Nurse (Tawny)	Lemon (Indo-Pac)	Leopard /Zebra	Black-tip Reef
Apr-12	4.372	0.230	1.382	0.480	0.020	3.003
Nov-12	4.360	0.227	0.374	0.374	0.000	3.321
Apr-13	6.355	0.041	1.267	0.409	0.003	4.684
Nov-13	4.100	0.119	0.489	0.195	0.000	4.922
Apr-14	6.310	0.221	1.857	0.152	0.000	2.772
Nov-14	3.412	0.088	0.964	0.232	0.000	2.062
Average	4.372	0.230	1.382	0.480	0.020	3.003

	Grey Reef	Bull	Tiger	Scalloped Hammerhead	Great Hammerhead	Guitarfish
Apr-12	2.559	13.862	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
Nov-12	3.064	4.382	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
Apr-13	3.632	22.288	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
Nov-13	3.457	6.305	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000
Apr-14	2.948	26.107	0.009	0.000	0.000	0.000
Nov-14	4.036	14.719	0.015	0.000	0.000	0.000
Average	2.559	13.862	0.000	0.000	0.000	0.000

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

Download pdf Full Report Results of Three Years of the Great Fiji Shark Count, April 2015

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!