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Themes
| Theme 1 |
Sharks are an important part of marine ecosystems. |
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| Theme 2 |
There are a wide variety of different types of sharks, and their relatives the rays and chimaeras, in Australia. |
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| Theme 3 |
Sharks are generally long-lived, late maturing, have low fecundity and often have small population sizes. Subsequently, such species are particularly susceptible to overfishing and are slow to recover if overfished. |
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| Theme 4 |
Some shark species are threatened by human
activities, notably the great white, grey nurse and whale shark. |
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| Theme 5 |
While most sharks and their relatives are not
aggressive towards humans there are some strategies you can
adopt to reduce the risk of shark attack when swimming or diving. |
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| Theme 6 |
Sharks and their relatives are important to many
cultures including to Indigenous Australians. |
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Background
- There is worldwide concern over the increase of shark catches and the consequences this has for some shark species in several areas of the world’s oceans.
- Sharks are generally slow growing, late maturing, long-lived, have low fecundity and often have small population sizes. Subsequently, sharks are particularly susceptible to overfishing and are slow to recover if overfished.
- In response to this concern, the international community, through the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations, developed an International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks.
- As a member nation to the UN FAO, Australia developed its own National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (Shark-plan) through the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
- The Shark-plan was launched on 26 May 2004 by Senator Ian Macdonald, the Australian Government Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation.
- One of the 43 key actions identified in the Shark-plan is to undertake education and awareness raising activities to increase awareness and attitudinal change in relation to shark conservation and management issues. Specific objectives are listed under theme 5, page 24 of the Shark-plan which can be viewed at http://www.daff.gov.au/sharkplan.
- MESA is pleased to contribute to this education and awareness raising campaign through Seaweek 2005.
| Seaweek 2005 will contribute to the ‘National Shark Education and Awareness Raising Project’ which is administered by Marine Industries Environment Branch within the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Seaweek 2005 is largely funded by the Natural Heritage Trust, and the Fisheries Resources Research Fund. The Bureau of Rural Sciences is working with MESA to help coordinate the development of Seaweek educational materials. |
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