Priority 2: Action provide a more informed basis for the long-term management and recovery of the grey nurse shark. Priority 3: Action is desirable, but not critical to the recovery of the grey nurse shark or assessment of trends in that recovery. Objective 1: Develop and quantitative monitoring of the population status (distribution and abundance) and potential recovery of the grey nurse shark in Australian waters. Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible agencies and potential partners Indicative costing Only priority 1 actions are costed 1.1 Monitor and re-survey grey nurse shark populations to assess population trends and dynamics, including estimates of population growth and mortality. 1 • A monitoring program to assess population trends and dynamics has been developed (including identifying appropriate techniques) and appropriate timeframe between surveys established (link to Action 1.2, Objective 9). • Annual monitoring and reporting of available mortality data. • Links to adaptive management response established as required. DoE, state governments and research agencies Core government business 1.2 Develop monitoring protocols and establish a national database to record data collected on grey sharks, to assist with population monitoring. 1 • Monitoring protocols developed (including testing different monitoring techniques) and database established. • Annual reporting/ consolidation of monitoring data undertaken and ongoing. • Database maintained and updated annually. DoE, state governments and research agencies Core government business 1.3 Evaluate the use of and develop new population models, reliable data sets as they are collected, to reassess changes in extinction risks. 2 • Population Viability Analysis (PVA) evaluated and if appropriate, utilised following the acquisition of essential population data. • population models also considered and utilised where considered more appropriate than PVA. • Population modelling available to assist management decision making. State governments and research agencies, DoE Objective 2: Quantify and reduce the impact of commercial fishing on the grey nurse shark through incidental (accidental and/or illegal) take, throughout its range. trial
Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible agencies and potential partners Indicative costing Only priority 1 actions are costed 2.1 Monitor the bycatch and mortality of grey sharks in relevant fisheries (all interactions are recorded) and report annually to DoE. 1 • Bycatch and mortality numbers (including post-release mortality possible) are monitored by Commonwealth and state government agencies and reported annually to DoE. • Non-lethal interactions recorded and reported annually to DoE. • Observer programs collect data on grey nurse shark interactions. DoE, DoA, AFMA and state governments, research agencies Core government business 2.2 Ensure that fisheries management plans/strategies or other documentation reviewed for accreditation under the EPBC Act contain actions consistent with the recovery of the grey nurse shark (where relevant), including reduction of bycatch and recording of all interactions. 1 • Fisheries management plans/strategies include measures to reduce bycatch (including developing best handling practices and gear modifications) and appropriate mechanisms to record all interactions with grey nurse sharks, where relevant. • Bycatch management arrangements assessed and approved by DoE. DoE and governments Core government business 2.3 Conduct research to quantify post-release mortality rates of grey nurse sharks caught incidentally in commercial fisheries. 1 • Research into hook related injuries and post-release mortality undertaken. State governments, industry, research agencies, DoE Approximately 2.4 Ensure appropriate controls are implemented in important habitat sites to reduce the risk of grey nurse shark interaction with commercial fishing gear. 1 • Changes introduced which modify or remove fishing gear that pose a high risk of incidental capture of grey nurse sharks from key aggregation sites and/or adjacent areas. DoE and governments Core government business 2.5 Identify and classify commercial fishing gear that has, or could potentially, interact with grey nurse sharks to inform the development of management arrangements to mitigate interactions. 2 • Commercial fishing gear reviewed in consultation with industry and modified or removed where necessary. DoE, state governments and research agencies
3.4 Quantify (through monitoring, reports and, where necessary, estimations of grey nurse shark bycatch) mortality and non-lethal interactions in recreational fishing sectors and report annually to DoE. 2 • Bycatch and mortality of grey nurse sharks from recreational fishing are monitored and reported annually. DoE and state governments Objective 4: Where practicable, minimise the impact of shark control activities on the grey nurse shark. Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible agencies and potential partners Indicative costing Only priority 1 actions are costed 4.1 Shark control programs to continue to report catches annually to the state governments. 1 • Ongoing collection and assessment of meshing and drumlining data (link to Action 4.3). DoE and state governments Core government business 4.2 Maintain review processes by state governments of the effect of shark control programs on the grey nurse shark. 1 • Levels of grey nurse shark mortality/interaction during shark control activities are quantified. • In where there is regular mortality/interaction with grey nurse sharks during shark control activities, seasonal trends in interactions are monitored. • Options that may facilitate a reduction in grey shark captures at locations where there is regular interaction/mortality of grey nurse sharks during shark control activities are identified. State governments Core government business 4.3 Continue to evaluate alternatives to shark meshing/drumlining, where bycatch levels are high, including the use of non-lethal methods or alternate strategies. 1 • Alternatives are evaluated and implemented if effective. • The use of beach meshing nets and drumlines to decline as alternatives become available. governments and relevant research agencies Core government business 4.4 Establish and implement uniform minimum standards for the continued biological, pathological, genetic, toxicological and other post-mortem data 2 • Minimum standards for data collection developed and agreed. • Contracts with shark meshing and drum line contractors modified to require retention and delivery to governments governments and relevant research agencies
recording and sampling of grey nurse sharks caught in shark control programs, using well established protocols. Develop a national database to collect this information (link to action 4.1). and research agencies of all grey nurse sharks killed in beach safety mesh nets and on drum lines. 4.5 Develop a program for grey nurse sharks caught and released in shark control programs, in conjunction with existing programs. 2 • Photo-tagging program developed. • Released sharks • Post-release survival of released sharks monitored. State governments and relevant research agencies Objective 5: Investigate and manage the impact of ecotourism on the grey nurse shark. Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible agencies and potential partners Indicative costing Only priority 1 actions are costed 5.1 Review and assess the effectiveness of voluntary and regulated diving arrangements, in relation to viewing grey sharks in their natural habitat, to ensure associated impacts continue to be minimised. Promote a consistent approach, where possible, among sites and across jurisdictions. 3 • Code of conduct fully implemented and adopted by industry. • An assessment undertaken of the use and effectiveness of the code of conduct by dive operators. DoE, state governments, and stakeholders 5.2 Ensure that any new, diving related tourist operations aimed at viewing grey nurse sharks have effective management arrangements to minimise impacts. 3 • Majority of grey nurse shark sightings by tour groups reported. • Standard operating procedures for non-scuba tour operators developed and in place. DoE, governments, research agencies and tourism industry Objective 6: Manage the impact of aquarium collection on the grey nurse shark. scuba tagged.
sites. Objective 9: Continue to develop and implement research programs to support the conservation of the grey nurse shark. Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible agencies and potential partners Indicative costing Only priority 1 actions are costed 9.1 Collect, analyse and disseminate age, growth, reproduction, survival, mortality and diet information to further improve understanding of the population dynamics and habitat requirements of the grey nurse shark. 2 • Knowledge of reproductive biology of grey sharks improved. • Standardised methodology for measurement of grey nurse sharks identified and shark measurements undertaken at selected sites. • Ages estimated for the majority of incidentally caught and killed grey nurse sharks. • Dietary preferences established. DoE, state governments and research agencies 9.2 Continue to collect and analyse biological material for toxicology research and genetic analysis (for example to determine the stock structure, inbreeding depression, population boundaries and abundance), improve coordination of reporting and sampling programs and coordinate the collation of results and the storage of collected genetic, biological and toxicological material (Link to Action 7.1). 2 • Genetic and biological material collected and processed. • Population genetics clarified by analysis of data. • The use of close-kin genetics is explored to determine survival and abundance (Link to Objective 1). DoE, governments and research agencies 9.3 Examine habitat use, ontogeny and regional connectivity across life history stages through the use of tagging technologies, including acoustic listening station networks, satellite 2 • Tagging program developed and implemented. • Monitoring program established to assess abundance of adult grey nurse sharks and pups DoE, state governments and research agencies
tagging and photo identification. at key aggregation sites (Link to Action 1.1). Objective 10: Promote community education and awareness in relation to grey shark conservation and management. Action Description Priority Performance Criteria Responsible agencies and potential partners Indicative costing Only priority 1 actions are costed 10.1 Update DoE’s grey nurse shark recovery plan web page to reflect the most current information on the grey nurse shark. Ensure the web page is presented in a form that is easily understood by the public and is linked to the relevant website(s) of other jurisdictions with an interest in conservation of grey nurse sharks. 1 • DoE’s grey nurse shark web page is up-to-date and linked to available information on relevant websites. DoE Core government business 10.2 Strengthen awareness of, and encourage compliance with, the requirement to report grey nurse shark bycatch and mortality in commercial fisheries and recreational and charter fishing operations. 1 • Grey nurse shark educational material provided to commercial fishers and recreational fishers and published in recreational fishing media. • Targeted grey shark law enforcement actions carried out by relevant agencies. DoE, state governments, commercial and recreational fishing groups Approximately $10,000-50,000 10.3 Assess and evaluate effectiveness of or current education and awareness programs to identify alternative methods or improve efficacy. 2 • Advisory materials on successful methods prepared and distributed. • Research into community awareness undertaken and showing evidence of increased community awareness. DoE, state governments, commercial and recreational fishing groups and aquaria 10.4 Encourage community involvement in collaborative research, monitoring and education. 2 • Community education strategy and initiatives developed and implemented. • Continuation of volunteer dive surveys. DoE, state governments, aquaria, community science groups and organisations
these codes. E.2. Sites that are declared as habitat protected areas adopt the scuba diving code of conduct as part of the management plans. • Management include scuba diving code of conduct for declared sites. Action completed. E.3. Tour operators encouraged to report all grey nurse shark sightings to NSW Fisheries and QPWS. • Sightings recorded and data provided to Recovery Team. Action completed. E.4. Research is conducted to determine the impacts of scuba diving. • Data recorded and report on scuba diving impacts presented. Action partially completed. E.5. Ban on night diving at sites identified as habitat critical to the survival of grey nurse sharks. • No reports of diving on sites identified as habitat critical to the survival of grey nurse sharks. Action completed. E.6. Ban on the use of shark deterrent devices at sites identified as habitat critical to the survival of grey nurse sharks. • No reports of deterrent devices being used at sites identified as habitat critical to the survival of grey nurse sharks. Action completed. F. Reduce the impact of aquaria on grey nurse sharks. Prescribed Action Criteria for Success 2009 Review of Actions F.1. Moratorium on the taking of grey nurse from the wild for aquaria in all jurisdictions. • The taking of grey nurse sharks from the wild for aquaria banned in all relevant jurisdictions. • Moratorium reviewed after two years. Action completed. F.2. Aquariums to develop management plans for the keeping of grey nurse sharks. • Management plans for grey nurse sharks in aquariums developed and reviewed • Identification of grey nurse sharks currently in aquaria. Action partially completed. F.3. Develop and contribute to a conservation orientated education programs in those commercial aquaria with captive grey nurse sharks on display. • Appropriate education programs and displays implemented in commercial aquaria currently displaying grey sharks. Action mostly completed and ongoing. G. Identify and establish protected areas to protect grey nurse sharks at key locations. Prescribed Action Criteria for Success 2009 Review of Actions G.1. NSW and Qld to develop appropriate mechanisms to • Appropriate protection mechanisms implemented. Action partially completed. All but one of the 17 critical habitat sites in