Richard Peirce Shark Conservation: 2005 Expedition

Volunteer researchers - Mark Boothman, Steve Brigg, Andy Currie, Vanessa Evans, Mark Flight, Gary Gardner, Tom Hird, Naomi Julien, Wendy Mauchline, Stuart Nicholls, Bob Pennington, Sanja Peterka, Andy Sweeney, Claire Watterson.

Documentary Film Company - Monaco Films

- Our thanks to Alen Soldo for help and advice.
- Our thanks to God for giving us sharks.
- Our annoyance and disgust at mans greed and stupidity in killing them in unsustainable numbers.
- Our thanks to Boris, Denis, Vlado, Hrvoje, Gernot, Georges, Jorg-Dieter
and Neda.

The general objective was to obtain a credible indication of the health of predatory shark populations on the Croatian side of the central Adriatic sea. Had a white shark been encountered a P.A. tag set for 90 days would have been deployed, tissue samples were to be taken from any white sharks, porbeagles, makos or threshers encountered and return tags were to be fitted to as many animals as possible.

Two reconnaissance visits to Murter island by Richard and Jacqui Peirce, conversations with sports anglers, local artisanal fishermen, and commercial fishermen led to the selection of six sites to be assessed/investigated by 24 hour chumming and observation over 21 days. Sites were chosen for various reasons and whilst it was expected that all the sites should produce sharks, some were expected to yield higher numbers and different species than others. We expected during the expedition to get reports of sightings and sharks caught and decided not to react to these and play “chase the shark” unless information of special interest was received e.g. reports of GWS. It was felt that by reacting to reports and thereby modifying our plans we would at least in part reduce the validity of our findings.

Sardines were the main material used and chum stations were sited at various depths at various times. Two blue fin tuna were caught by our skippers and tuna blood, heads, tails, and guts were all used as chum.

Richard Peirce and Craig Ferreira each led a team of four volunteers and alternated working 24 hour shifts. Two pairs each worked 3 hour watches from 0800 – 2000 and then 2 hour watches through the night. During darkness the area astern of the main boat was illuminated.

Two boats were chartered each with a Croatian skipper. Baracuda our main vessel had six berths and was 15 metres in length and was supported by the 8.5 metre Lucia with three berths.

On the basis of a 20/21 day at sea expedition a total of between 400 and 425 hours chumming should have been possible spread over the six sites chosen, in fact only 308.5 hours were achieved. This reduction was caused by the loss of three days due to bad weather and mechanical failure. The site worst affected was Jabuka where we only chummed for three hours before bad weather forced us to run for shelter at Vis Island.

This loss was particularly unfortunate as we had expected the Jabuka/Svetac area to be among the most productive, and to present the best chance of encountering GWS (Carcharodon carcharias) and short fin makos (Isurus oxyrinchus). It is hoped in the future to do 4 days in this area as a stand alone exercise to complete the project.