The Great Fiji Shark Count

Counting Fiji's sharks, rays and turtles

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You are here: Home / News / 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

Average Numbers of animals per dive during each count

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 and Turtle sightings appear to be very stable.

Average Numbers of each Shark Species per dive over 3 years

Average Numbers of each Shark Species per dive over 3 years

Average Numbers of each Shark Species per dive over 3 years

The most common sharks seen on Non-Feeding dives are White-tip Reef and Grey Reef Sharks.

Large schools of Scalloped Hammerheads are regularly recorded in a single location, but are only occasionally seen elsewhere.

Other species seen uncommonly but reliably in certain locations are Black-tip Reef Sharks, Tawny Nurse Sharks, Leopard Sharks and Guitarfish.

Very occasionally encountered are Silvertip, Bull, Tiger and Lemon Sharks.

Great Hammerheads are very rarely confirmed.

Patterns of each Shark Species per dive during each count

Patterns of each Shark Species per dive during each count

Patterns of each Shark Species per dive during each count

Grey Reef Sharks (dark grey line) show a pattern of higher numbers every November and lower numbers every April, which may be related to seasonal breeding activities.

White-tip Reef Shark (orange line) numbers appear to be slightly declining over the time of the surveys, particularly in 2014.

No other obvious patterns can be seen. Scalloped Hammerhead (light blue line) sightings are greatly affected by the number of dives done in their schooling location during the survey period.

Grey Reef Sharks (dark grey line) show a pattern of higher numbers every November and lower numbers every April, which may be related to seasonal breeding activities.

White-tip Reef Shark (orange line) numbers appear to be slightly declining over the time of the surveys, particularly in 2014.

No other obvious patterns can be seen. Scalloped Hammerhead (light blue line) sightings are greatly affected by the number of dives done in their schooling location during the survey period.

Average Numbers of Rays and Turtles per dive during each count

Average Numbers of Rays and Turtles per dive during each count

Average Numbers of Rays and Turtles per dive during each count

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

Average Numbers of each Ray Species per dive over 3 years

Average Numbers of each Ray Species per dive over 3 years

Average Numbers of each Turtle Species per dive over 3 years

Average Numbers of each Turtle Species per dive over 3 years

No specific patterns or changes in species population over time were seen.

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

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

Three species not included in the survey lists were also recorded;

  • Mobula Rays
  • Tahitian Rays
  • Leatherback Turtle.

Results on Non-Feeding Dives

Number of Participants ~ Non-Feeding Dives

Non-Feeding Dives

April 2012

Nov 2012

April 2013

Nov 2013

April 2014

Nov 2014

Numbers of Dive Operators participating

23

14

15

17

11

11

Number of Dives recorded

808

491

512

740

373

719

Number of total Observations (every diver taking part)

3,388

1,982

2,642

3,816

1,798

3,505

Total number of Species ~ Non-Feeding Dives

Non-Feeding Dives

April 2012

Nov 2012

April 2013

Nov 2013

April 2014

Nov 2014

Number of Shark species

11

7

10

9

10

9

Number of Ray species

5

5

4

5

4

6

Number of Turtle species

2

2

2

2

2

3

Total Numbers of Animals ~ Non-Feeding Dives

Non-Feeding Dives

April 2012

Nov 2012

April 2013

Nov 2013

April 2014

Nov 2014

Total number of Sharks

4,197

3,642

2,731

4,650

3,646

5,591

Total number of Rays

821

320

420

793

176

778

Total number of Turtles

765

303

288

783

532

849

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

Non-Feeding Dives

April 2012

Nov 2012

April 2013

Nov 2013

April 2014

Nov 2014

Sharks seen per observation

1.24

1.84

1.03

1.22

2.03

1.60

Rays seen per observation

0.24

0.16

0.16

0.21

0.10

0.22

Turtles seen per observation

0.23

0.15

0.11

0.21

0.30

0.24

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

 

White-tip Reef

Silvertip

Nurse (Tawny)

Lemon (Indo-Pac)

Leopard /Zebra

Black-tip Reef

Apr-12

0.647

0.018

0.055

0.014

0.004

0.084

Nov-12

0.667

0.007

0.005

0.000

0.000

0.038

Apr-13

0.632

0.003

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.143

Nov-13

0.687

0.001

0.008

0.000

0.012

0.024

Apr-14

0.592

0.013

0.001

0.000

0.019

0.016

Nov-14

0.440

0.001

0.009

0.000

0.005

0.026

Average

0.611

0.007

0.013

0.003

0.007

0.055

 

 

Grey Reef

Bull

Tiger

Scalloped Hammerhead

Great Hammerhead

Guitarfish

Apr-12

0.192

0.061

0.001

0.161

0.000

0.001

Nov-12

0.801

0.001

0.000

0.319

0.000

0.000

Apr-13

0.211

0.026

0.005

0.006

0.000

0.000

Nov-13

0.468

0.001

0.000

0.018

0.000

0.001

Apr-14

0.224

0.000

0.001

1.159

0.001

0.002

Nov-14

0.648

0.017

0.000

0.442

0.000

0.008

Average

0.424

0.018

0.001

0.351

0.000

0.002

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

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

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

 

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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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