Scientists to Save our Sharks

BY TYLER FARDELL


Sharks are a very polarizing animal. Many are afraid of them and avoid swimming at the beach, while others love the impressive creatures and do all they can to protect them.

Dr Vincent Raoult from the University of Newcastle is one of the latter and along with 72 other similar minded scientists from all over the world, they recently undertook a study trying to determine where different types of sharks mainly feed.

"If we know where sharks get their food from, we know which areas may be useful to protect", Mr Raoult said.

Shark numbers have steadily declined for hundreds of years, with an estimated 10 percent of shark numbers remaining.

The main reasons behind the saddening decline include hunting, recreational fishing, sharks getting caught up in nets or rubbish and overfishing.

"We have already seen the impacts of overfishing on the sea-food industry and the livliehoods of many fishermen and now we're seeing it on sharks", Mr Raoult said.

"Many sharks have been unable to find any food or having to travel longer and longer distances to find a food supply".

The scientists are hoping the results of this study will go a long way to ensure areas where sharks regularly feed are left alone by commercial fishermen.

Fears over marine seismic test

BY RACHEL STORER

Bar Beach (Image: Newcastle Council)

An application to conduct marine seismic tests off the coast of Newcastle has sparked concern from local fishing associations and environmental advocates. 

Advent Energy's subsidiary Asset Energy has resubmitted a plan to send acoustic pulses into a 12.25 square-kilometre area of the ocean floor. 

The previous application was rejected by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) because it was "not reasonably satisfied that the environment plan meets the criteria."

Asset Energy said its the smallest application NOPSEMA have considered and poses an extremely low risk to commercial fishing and the environment.

NSW Greens marine and fisheries spokesperson Justin Field disagrees with Asset Energy's application and said that any exploration disrupts fish stock and marine life, including the migration patterns of whales. 

"At the end of the day, oil and gas drilling off the Sydney and Newcastle coastline is never going to be acceptable for the community and we should put an end to this project once and for all," Mr Field said.