Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project

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Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project – International Year of the Shark 2009

1. Fiji Shark Awareness and Conservation Program
2. Sharks Marine Carnivores: Predators, Filter Feeders and Scavengers Cartilaginous Skeleton Body compressed laterally 5-7 lateral Gills
3. Taxonomy Vertebrates Chondrichthyes Sharks among many: – Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks) – Orectolobiformes (Carpet Sharks) – Lamniformes (Mackerel Sharks) Approx. 400 Species Records
4. Morphology
5. Physiology Senses – Smell – Vision – Electroreception – Lateral Line Osmoregulation – Freshwater Tolerance Buoyancy Body Temperature
6. Reproduction Internal Fertilization Birth – Ovipary – Vivipary Aplacental Viviparity (Ovoviviparity) Placental Viviparity Vulnerabilities – Late Maturity – Small Litter Size
7. Sharks most likely seen by Divers in Fiji Bull Shark Blacktip Reef Shark Grey Reef Shark Hammerhead Sharks Leopard Shark Silvertip Shark Sicklefin Lemon Shark Tawny Nurse Shark Tiger Shark Whale Shark Whitetip Reef Shark
8. Huge, Ridges, white Spots, homocercal caudal Fin Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
9. Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) Stripes, caudal Keel, pupil “inverted teardrop”
10. Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) Wide-shouldered, falcate 1 st dorsal Fin, small Eyes
11. Sicklefin Lemon Shark ( Negaprion acutidens ) Falcate dorsal fins of similar size, swims with open mouth displaying teeth
12. Silvertip Shark (Carharhinus albimarginatus) All fins rimmed in bright white
13. Tawny Nurse Shark (Nebrius ferrugineus) Equal size of dorsal fins, small lower Lobe of caudal Fin, Barbels
14. Zebra Shark ( Stegostoma fasciatum ) Ridges, black Spots, no lower lobe of caudal fin
15. Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) 1 st dorsal Fin with black tip and white band underneath
16. Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) White Tips to dorsal and caudal Fins
17. Hammerhead Sharks Nine Species, among which – Scalloped H. ( Sphyrna lewini ) . edge of Hammer wavy . Often in Schools – Great H. ( Sphyrna mokarran ) . Edge of Hammer straight . Huge, falcate 1 st dorsal Fin
18. Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) Trailing Edge of caudal Fin black
19. Ecology Many Ecological Niches The Role of predatory Sharks – Essential Thread in Web of their Habitat – Often, Apex Predators – Maintain Health & Structure of Marine Ecosystems, by: – weeding out the Sick and the Weak – controlling the Population Size of their Prey The Value of Sharks
20. Sharks in Peril IUCN: 79 Species critically imperiled: 80%-99% of oceanic Stocks have been wiped out Main Threats – Habitat Destruction – Overfishing . 80-100 Million Sharks are killed each Year . Shark Fin Soup – Bycatch Devastating Techniques – Longlines – Driftnets – Shark Net and Drumlines – Finning
21. What can be done? Abrogating/Replacing Shark Fin Soup Conducting Shark Awareness Courses Obtaining Protection for threatened species Solving the problem of the Drumlines and Shark Nets Total Allowable Catch (TAC) – no more BC Promote Marine Protected Areas Practice Tag and Release

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!