Over 20 years ago scientists started using the unique shapes and patterning on white sharks’ dorsal fins to recognize individuals and help them catalogue and re-identify sharks. However, in many cases there are hundreds of photos to go through and doing this by eye alone is extremely time-consuming and open to errors. Fast forward to 2008 where Mike Meyer, representing the Department of Environmental Affairs, Branch: Oceans and Coasts, approached Dr. Tilo Burghardt from the University of Bristol to develop software that will automatically recognize individual white sharks by the shape of their dorsal fins through the use of digital photographs. The project’s vision is to foster collaboration between scientists researching white sharks from around the globe, and create a programme whereby tourists on cage diving boats or anyone else that manages to take a photograph of a white shark can contribute to the project. Read more about the project in a UK Telegraph article and local South African paper.
Individual white sharks can be reliably recognised by their dorsal fins
Effective conservation of wildlife populations is best managed from a strong ecological foundation. As human awareness of environmental issues grows and the need to understand ecosystems intensifies, there is an increasing need for further research into population demographics and life history of organisms.
Filming sevengill sharks at Millers Point, False Bay
Last year saw the initialization of the Save Our Seas Sevengill Research Project, looking into the population demography and behavioural ecology of the broadnose sevengill shark, Notorynchus cepedianus. The study aims to investigate aspects of the biology of the sevengill shark using in-water observations made by SCUBA divers. The project will form the basis of my MSc thesis, and is being supervised by Prof. Charles Griffiths (UCT) and Alison Kock (SOSSC). The project is being made possible through support and funding of SOSSC and Shark Explorers, and supported by diving companies Animal Ocean and Pisces Divers. (more…)
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It’s been a very busy year at the Save Our Seas Shark Centre (SOSSC). We welcomed Meg Ledeboer as the new manager, Kevin Baker as logistics officer, Paul Miller as educator, Adrian Hewitt and Robert Raw, two Masters Students conducting shark research, and Candice Brittain, a full time intern. Michael, Zanele, Matheus and myself are still at the SOSSC, and Cheryl-Samantha Owen, SOSF’s Ocean Correspondent, has also joined us. Together we have created a formidable force under one roof to bring together research, education and awareness to make a significant contribution to ocean (particularly shark) conservation and awareness in Southern Africa.
Leslie Iwerks, Eugenie Clarke, Dan Beecham, Alison Kock in Kalk Bay
I was fortunate to be able to present some of our white shark research results in Hawaii and Australia earlier this year, while renovations were made to the SOSSC. We had to suspend most educational lessons at the centre during the renovations, but we were still able to host legendary shark research pioneer Dr. Eugenie Clarke and her daughter Aya in June. It was Dr. Clarke’s first visit to South Africa and during their stay we conducted white shark fieldwork and went sevengill shark diving. Diving with sevengills was another first for Dr. Clarke and even though the water was surgy and cold, Dr. Clarke enjoyed the experience of seeing sevengills up close. We also partnered with academy nominated film director, Leslie Iwerks, on a project, which we will be working on for the next few months. In July we welcomed Dr. Charlie Huveneers from the South Australian Research and Development Institute for the start of a specialized project on sharks and safety, but we’ll have more information for you soon as things progress on that front. (more…)
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It’s always been a dream of mine to see Orcas (killer whales) and yesterday that dream came true, better than I ever could have imagined. Orcas are not commonly seen in False Bay, but over the last year there have been at least two other sightings of a small pod hunting common dolphin. We missed both sightings, but yesterday our luck changed in a big way!
I got a call from Alison Towner of Marine Dynamics asking whether the Orcas in False Bay were affecting our shark activity. Well, I had no idea because I was stuck working behind the computer on my thesis and wasn’t at sea. However, within 15 minutes Morne, Adrian, Brocq and I were all loaded into the car on our way to the boat. As we drove along the coast we saw the pod of Orca chasing a large pod of hundreds of common dolphin. Needless to say we couldn’t contain our excitement and Morne pushed down on the accelerator!
Our first sighting of the Orcas
Less than 30 minutes later we were in the boat racing towards the action. I couldn’t believe how far the pod had traveled and by the time we caught up to them they were near Seal Island, over 10 kilometres away from where we first saw them. I can’t begin to describe the joy and exhilaration I felt when I saw that first Orca break the surface. No pictures or documentaries could have prepared me for how majestic and beautiful they were in real life. I had been dreaming of this moment for years. (more…)
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