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

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

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

Yes

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 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

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!