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.

A major aspect of this project is the use of photographic identification (photo-ID) as an alternative to tagging, for the identification of individuals. Photo-ID allows for individual animals to be identified using natural spot patterns, without the need for invasive artificial tagging. This also allows us to record, on an individual level, almost every shark that we encounter on a dive; something that is not generally possible using conventional tagging practices. The viability of photo-ID as a reliable means of identification was validated last year, and is now being used as the basic means of individual identification for the project.

The black and white spots on the dorsal fin are used to identify individual sharks

This year we are furthering this study, looking at the demographics and behavior of a population of sevengill sharks around an aggregation site in False Bay, South Africa. So many questions about these animals remain unanswered, land we’ll be investigating population size and sex structure, as well as determining how these sharks are using the habitat, where and when are they feeding and aspects of reproduction, in particular where and when are they breeding and giving birth.

A large female sevengill with fresh bites, possibly indicating recent mating behaviour

Recent discussions within the SOSSC team have yielded some interesting ideas and some exciting developments to the project, which we will be sure to share with you as they progress. For now the team is continuing to dive with these ancient creatures on a regular basis, observing, studying and recording every detail we can. Any person can contribute by sending their photo-ID to: research.shark@gmail.com. Visit our Facebook page for all the details at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=131021003605004&ref=ts

Until next time, keep caring for our oceans,

Robert Raw

MSc student, University of Cape Town

On behalf of the Save Our Seas Shark Centre Team

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.

Robert Raw is conducting a MSc project on sevengill sharks

Adrian Hewitt will be completing his degree on reproductive biology of white sharks and assisting me with the ongoing genetic, tagging and photo-ID aspects of the project, while Robert Raw will be working on population demographics and habitat preferences of sevengill sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus). Adrian, Rob and myself will be keeping you updated on our shark research projects from the field, while Paul, Kevin, Meg and Sam will be updating you on exciting education and awareness campaigns. Other exciting projects lined up include more manual tracking of sharks in False Bay, attaching improved HD Crittercams to white sharks, beach clean-ups and participation in surfing and filming events.

Warm regards from all of us at the SOSSC

Adrian Hewitt is conducting a MSc on white shark reproductive biology

Bafana Bafana shark outside the SOSSC (Photo: Cheryl-Samantha Owen / SOSF)

HANGING AROUND: If only Bafana Bafana had selected a couple of these guys as the defenders in their squad, they’d have had no trouble swimming into the second round. Opposition strikers would have been, well, easy meat. But while Great Whites are apex predators in the marine environment, they do not naturally target people. In fact, their undeserved reputation has seen them become an endangered species. The Save Our Seas Foundation, which has decorated this model shark outside its Cape Town headquarters with 2010 gear, is one of the conservation organisations trying to save Great Whites and other shark species, and to emphasise their critical role in the marine ecosystem.

Bafana Bafana shark (Photo: Cheryl-Samantha Owen / SOSF)

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.

Nothing can prepare you for the incredible beauty of these animals

The Orcas were following behind the pod of common dolphin when we got near them. After gaining some focus again we started to take notes of what was happening. The Orca pod seemed to consist of 4 possibly 5 individuals: two larger ones, one with a distinct hump on it’s back, and two, possibly 3 smaller individuals (will need to check the video footage to make sure).  They started to move away from the dolphin pod when all of a sudden I saw the largest Orca breach completely out of the water while knocking a common dolphin into the air like it was a beach ball. Looking back I think the Orcas managed to isolate a single dolphin from the main group and hunted it down.

The tail end of the breach that knocked the dolphin into the air more than likely stunning it

We kept our distance so we wouldn’t disturb them while they were hunting and feeding, but we did manage to see the dead dolphin being carried by various members in the pod. It took a few minutes, but we got glimpses of the dolphin being passed on and slowly being fed upon. The Orcas seemed to feed under the water a lot. After a while the Orcas started to swim in a directional pattern again.

Orca carrying the dead dolphin in it's mouth

Orca swimming in False Bay. Simonstown in the background.

Once they had moved away we noticed they had left part of the carcass and we went to investigate. Adrian lifted the carcass out of the water and we examined it thoroughly. The Orcas had eaten all the good bits and left the skull, rib cage and internal organs, even going so far as to skin the head. A friend of mine Dr. Ingrid Visser studies Orcas in New Zealand has recorded them doing similar things with stingrays. They just eat the wings of the stingray and leave the head and organs. She calls the stingray wings, Orca chocolate. I was impressed by the precision of their feeding.

The Orcas ate only the good bits and left the skull, rib cage and internal organs

After we had finished examining the carcass we attempted to follow the Orcas again. They were swimming very fast towards the mouth of the bay, perhaps trying to catch up with the dolphins again, but we caught up to them and spent a few more minutes taking photographic ID of their dorsal fins and we were so lucky to have the largest individual approach us where we got a close-up view. It came to investigate us and spent a short time in our wake. After this we had to turn back to base as we only had enough fuel to get back home again. We were sad to leave them, but it will be an experience we will never forget and we hope that they visit us soon again.

The Orcas swam in our wake for a short while and came to investigate us

Using large props of a shark, whale and octopus, all made from recycled plastic picked up on the beaches, the Jungle Theatre crew, accompanied by eager participants dancing to the beat of the djembe drummers moved down the beach encouraging everybody to pick up the litter.

Save our Seas Shark Centre took part in this unique festival in partnership with the KELP project. Using the kelp 2010 Vuvuzelas, Terry and Michael, both from the SOSSC Education department held an impromptu ‘Vuvuzela blowing competition’ which attracted throngs of youngsters to the SOS stall.

These SeaSmartKidz programmes build on environmental knowledge by introducing young children to sharks and the marine environment in fun and innovative ways, including intertidal studies, shark lessons, arts and crafts and learning to dive.

Head of Education of SOSSC Terry Corr says that ‘teaching children how to be Sea Smart means to instill a strong environmental ethic at a young age, which is a priority for the Save our Seas Shark Centre’.

Studying white sharks along the False Bay coast. Hours of surveying is required to spot the sharks swimming inshore.

Following reports from the Shark Spotters of shark sightings close to shore within the last two weeks in False Bay, the Save Our Seas Foundation white shark research team headed out to survey the coast for sharks and attempt to tag one of them. They found a white shark at 12h42 on Tuesday 8^th December swimming along the surface between Seal Island and Strandfontein. After monitoring the shark’s behaviour for a few minutes the research boat slowly approached the shark to get a photographic identification of its dorsal fin, assign a catalogue number and determine the shark’s size and sex. After closer inspection it was determined that the shark was a 3-meter female, subsequently named Deepblue.

Collecting the dorsal ID of the 3-meter female white shark subsequently named Deepblue. Naming the sharks makes recording re-sighting information much easier in the field than remembering the complicated catalogue number.

Alison Kock, the white shark project leader with the SOSF and Shark Spotters, then tagged the animal at the base of her dorsal fin. The tag allowed the researchers to follow the shark in real time using specialized equipment mounted on the boat. “It is important to asses the shark’s behaviour while doing a track such as this in order to maintain the correct tracking distance; too far and the shark could swim out of range, too close and the boat disturbs her behaviour,” said Alison.

Alison tags Deepblue with a Vemco continuous pinger at the base of her dorsal fin. The tag emits a continuous signal which is used to track in real time.

Although the research team was prepared to track her across False Bay, Deepblue remained in the general area between Strandfontein and Seal Island. She was in no hurry to swim anywhere and her swimming speed varied between 2 – 4 km / hour. Deepblue spent a considerable amount of time at the surface and sometimes it appeared as though she was just drifting in the current and not actively swimming at all. Occasionally she swam within 200 meters from the coast before swimming as far as 4 kilometers offshore again.

Morne and Brocq (aka Maverick and Goose) take the first shift tracking Deepblue.

The team recorded interesting behaviour like this where a large yellowtail, Seriola lalandi, was seen swimming alongside the shark. PS. Look carefully between the pectoral fin and caudal fin to see the fish.

During the daylight track the team observed Deepblue approach another white shark of similar size at the surface. She slowly followed the second shark within 5 meters for a few seconds before breaking off the encounter and swimming in the opposite direction. Deepblue’s night behaviour was similar to her daytime behaviour, except that she went further offshore and also made some excursions in the direction of Gordon’s Bay and then towards Muizenberg, but always returning to Strandfontein.

“We did, however get an unforgettable surprise during the night, when bioluminescent plankton lit up both the ocean and the shark in a sparkling green glow,” said Alison.

A magical sunset in False Bay in the company of a white shark named Deepblue

No wind, calm waters, a sunset to take your breath away. This is what it's all about.

The research has previously documented the inshore behaviour of white sharks during summer. However, it is still unclear why exactly the sharks are present close to shore. Three predominant theories exist, namely 1) the sharks are predating on summer fish and smaller species of shark prevalent in the bay during summer time 2) environmental conditions such as warmer water or oxygen rich water may be what’s attracting them and 3) the inshore behaviour may be related to reproduction. Tracking the sharks in this way is a step towards determining the factors involved in inshore white shark activity.

The team would like to thank Dave Hurwitz of Simonstown Boat Company for assisting with the logistics of the track. Keep track of the team yourself when the next weather gap lets them track white sharks again at www.saveourseas.com.

Adrian and Brocq in good spirits even though we were all cold and starving during the night time track. Note to scientist - put food and coffee higher up on priority list next time around.

A spectacular sunrise in False Bay.

Additional information

The Save Our Seas Foundation White Shark Project was initiated in 2003 and is a dedicated research programme focusing on the ecology and behaviour of white sharks in False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. It is collaboration between the Save Our Seas Shark Center, University of Cape Town, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marine and Coastal Management Branch and Shark Spotters.

Latest shark sightings

Muizenberg 10 December

St James 8 December

Muizenberg 8 December

Noordhoek 8 December

St James 7 December

Muizenberg 7 December

Muizenberg 5 December

St James 28 November

Muizenberg x 2 28 November

Muizenberg 25 November

Media contact

Alison Kock

White Shark Project Leader

Save Our Seas Foundation and Shark Spotters

Email: alison@saveourseas.com

Website: www.saveourseas.com & www.sharkspotters.org.za

On Wednesday, 2 December 2009, 430 learners from 14 high schools and junior schools from the South Peninsula, including 30 learners from COSAT in Khayelitsha, walked 8km in howling South Easter winds along a stretch of the coast from Muizenberg to Glencairn.

This AOCA initiative  brought together the support of a number of governmental and non governmental organizations including SOS Shark Centre, SANCCOB, Dolphin Action Protection Group, Centre for Conservation Education, Kelp Environmental Learning Project, Seal Alert SA, Table Mountain National Park, City of Cape Town (YES programme), Jungle Theatre, Baboon Matters, Metrorail, NSRI, Western Cape Education Department, Science Education Resources Initiative, SA Navy, KEAG, Whale of a Heritage Route, REEF, Bright Weights, Pisces Divers, and Shark Lady Adventures.

The hike began with a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony at Surfers Corner at Muizenberg to set off 100 learners dressed in the resplendent sea blue AfriOceans Warriors T-shirts and caps. The blustery South Easter could not dampen the enthusiasm of the long line of learners as they chanted ‘Save the Oceans, Save the Sharks!’ while displaying their hand painted banners.

After a tiring but exhilarating hike walking through the historic coastal villages of St. James, Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek, the hikers arrived at the seaside village of Glencairn for the closing ceremony and the symbolic handing over of the AfriOceans Warriors Scrolls, by the two lead schools, Muizenberg High and Muizenberg Junior.

In closing Lesley Rochat thanked everyone for their exceptional efforts and shared some of the highlighted environmental issues, including climate change, overfishing, and poaching and poor fisheries management, contained in the hugely symbolic scrolls that were then handed over to the invited dignitaries by the learners. Thereafter, and thanks to the fantastic generosity and commitment of Metrorail, a free ride home by train was a welcome relief for the weary hikers, as they chatted and shared photos on their cell phones and swapped stories about their historic adventure as young AfriOceans Warriors.

The Save Our Seas Shark Centre was proud to be associated with such a well organized and well supported initiative and we look forward to playing a significant part in the extended AfriOceans Campaign in 2010.

Terry Corr, Save our Seas Shark Centre