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
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