A tiger shark was recently caught along Bronte Beach and was released into the ocean after tagging, as part of the NSW shark management program.
Read: Bronte, Tamarama Beach Found to Have Very Low Levels of Microplastics
Drone photographer Jason Iggleden, who’s also the founder of shark-spotting app Drone Shark, posted on Instagram that he was shocked by his first sighting of the tiger shark.
Iggleden, who is known for regularly posting footage captured on his drone, revealed he was not sure if the particular shark he captured was still alive once released because he noticed it was motionless whilst sinking below the surface.
The contractors from NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) confirmed the shark, which reportedly measured 2.45-meter, was released in “good health.” It was then tagged with GPS as part of the state’s SMART drumlines program.
‘SMART’ stands for Shark-Management-Alert-In-RealTime. The drumlines consist of an anchor, two buoys and a satellite-linked GPS communications unit attached to a hook baited with one sea mullet.
Although the shark was untagged when it entered the water off Bronte beach, DPI contractors were alerted after it was drawn to bait attached to one of the buoys.
When a shark takes the bait, it puts pressure on the line, releasing the magnet attached to the communications unit. It will then alert the boat crew and DPI scientists that there is an animal on the line. Once alerted, the team responds immediately, ideally within 30 minutes to tag and release the shark or other marine animal.
About Tiger Sharks
Tiger sharks are often found in tropical and warmer temperature waters of all the world’s oceans. In Australia, their distribution includes all northern Australia, extending south to Perth in the west and Bass Strait in the East. At maturity, males measure at about 3 metres whilst females grow between 2 to 3.3m.
These large sharks prey on large marine mammals such as seals, sea-lions, dolphins as well as large fishes, turtles and even seabirds. Tiger sharks are among the several species of shark known to be dangerous to humans, aside from white sharks and bull sharks.
Published 1-June-2022
