Shark collection and live feeding experiments were carried out at Weipa, far north Queensland.

From April 2007 to June 2009, six field trips were undertaken to investigate the elasmobranch faunal composition of the Ningaloo Marine Park (NMP), determine the distribution and abundance of species, and examine the habitat utilisation, movement patterns and activity space of selected key species. Dive and longline surveys, passive acoustic telemetry and satellite tracking were used to collect data. Of interest to management, was whether existing sanctuary zones were effective for elasmobranchs as well as the location and timing of aggregation sites reported for some species. Satellite tagging data: Two types of platform transmitter terminals (PTTs) were used, Wildlife Computers (Redmond, USA) smart position or temperature transmitting tag (SPOT4 or SPOT5) and SPLASH tags. Longline survey data Longline fishing was used to survey elasmobranchs outside the reef and was carried out from the Western Australia Fishery Department vessel RV 'Naturaliste'. A total of 111 longline sets were made between Three Mile Camp towards the southern extremity of the Marine Park, to northeast of the Muiron Islands outside the northern limits of the Park; the distribution of these sets are shown in the thumbnail. Of these 111 sets, 17 were in sanctuary zones and 94 in non-sanctuary zones (in the thumbnail picture the hatched areas are sanctuary zones). Lagoon and reef edge dive survey data Snorkel and SCUBA underwater visual surveys were conducted as part of four field trips to Ningaloo in April and June 2007 and August and December 2008. The June and August surveys were restricted to the reef edge on SCUBA, while the April and December surveys were mainly on snorkel and in the lagoon. While the original intention was to provide coverage through the different seasons, poor weather conditions coincided with most of the planned fieldwork (including cyclone 'Nicholas') resulting in re-scheduling of some trips. A total of 137 sites were surveyed between Vlaming Head on the northeast of the Cape to Gnaraloo in the southern part of the Marine Park (see thumbnail picture). Of these surveys, 89 were in sanctuary zones and 48 in non-sanctuary zones (sanctuary zones are shown as hatched in the picture). Acoustic data Elasmobranchs were tagged with acoustic tags and subsequently monitored with acoustic receivers (Vemco VR2, VR2W and VR3) moored on the seabed that constitute the Ningaloo Reef Ecosystem Tracking Array (NRETA). This array is part of the nationwide network of marine acoustic monitoring, the Australian Acoustic Tagging and Monitoring System (AATAMS). A total of 96 acoustic receivers are deployed at Ningaloo Reef between Coral Bay and Tantabiddi. A total of 56 acoustic tags were deployed on six species of sharks and three species of rays in the Ningaloo Marine Park in February 2008. Data is accessible through the IMOS AATAMS website 11 Nervous Sharks (Carcharhinus cautus) 10 Giant Shovelnose Rays (Glaucostegus typus) 9 Blacktip Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) 9 Grey Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) 8 Cowtail Stingrays (Pastinachus atrus) 4 Porcupine Rays (Urogymnus asperrimus) 4 Lemon Sharks (Negaprion acutidens) 1 Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) 1 Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus)

Whaler collection records have been collated for use in conservation assessments. This MarLIN record refers specifically to a customised dataset that was created for delivery to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DEW). The dataset comprises distribution records of the freshwater speartooth shark, Glyphis sp. A, and the northern river shark, Glyphis sp. C, in northern Australia.

Between 1991-1997 a study of school and gummy shark nursery areas in Tasmania, lead by John Stevens, resulted in 404 school shark and 1254 gummy shark being tagged. Up to 1997, 50 school shark and 160 gummy shark had been recaptured. Small numbers of other shark species were also tagged.

Information was collected on the movement patterns of fish and elasmobranchs in Logan, and Albert River as well as southern Moreton Bay, using an underwater sensor array. Data were collected to assess the long term movement of fish and sharks in the Logan and Albert River with a primary focus on the influence of water flows. Project objectives included: - Establish an array of acoustic receivers in the Logan and Albert River. - Determine the spatial and temporal habitat usage and movement of teleosts and elasmobranchs as important predatory species. - Use spatial and temporal habitat usage and movement patterns to assess the influence of water quality, urbanisation and freshwater flows. Acoustic tags with individually unique sound signatures were implanted into 80 teleost fish and elasmobranchs. A network of acoustic receivers recorded and stored the date and time of individual animals, which was used to monitor their movements. The majority of the receivers were based in the Logan and Albert River system, but a smaller number were also deployed within Moreton Bay.

Between 1947 and 1956 a study lead by Mick Olsen resulted in 6502 school and 587 gummy sharks being tagged in south-east Australia. Most of the school shark were tagged in inshore bays and estuaries, notably Port Phillip Bay, Port Sorell, Georges Bay and Pittwater. Most of the gummy shark were tagged in inshore areas around Flinders Island and the north coast of Tasmania. A total of 594 school shark and 60 gummy shark were recaptured. This data set includes field sheets and the tags returned to CSIRO. These records are cataloged in the TRIM Records database, as follows: AB2008/1038: CMAR - School and Gummy Shark Tagging by CSIRO in Southern Australia 1947-1956 - Mick Olsen and Grant West - MarLIN record 8218 This Archive Box number incorporates 2 containers: "C2008/6921-01: CMAR - School and Gummy Shark Tagging by CSIRO in Southern Australia 1947-1956 - Mick Olsen and Grant West - MarLIN record 8218 - Part 1 - Tag Data Field Sheets" [associated files lodged within as separate objects]; and "C2008/6921-02: CMAR - School and Gummy Shark Tagging by CSIRO in Southern Australia 1947-1956 - Mick Olsen and Grant West - MarLIN record 8218 - Part 2 - Tags and Olsen Card Index [in metal filing cabinet]"

46 school shark were tagged with archival tags during 1997-98, in South Australian and Tasmanian waters. 19 tags were recovered. The tags yielded 15.3 years of data on light level, depth and temperature collected at 4 minute intervals. The basic release-recapture data has been entered into the CSIRO pelagic tag data base but not the actual electronic data. The electronic data for the Lotek tags is in a different format to that of the Wildlife Computer tags, and may require dedicated geolocation software to process. Wildlife Computers provides geolocation software for their tags free of charge. While longitudinal movements have been described, there was no analysis of corresponding latitudes, as light-based latitude estimation was unreliable. There is scope for additional research into latitudinal movements based on the depth data. The depth pattern shown by the sharks can be used to examine if the fish was close to the bottom, and combined with a longitude estimate for a particular day, latitude can be estimated as across much of southern Australia where depth increases with latitude. However, there is a software development challenge associated with this, as there may be more than one depth fit for a particular longitude, especially towards eastern Australia. In this eastern region the restricted depth of Bass Strait can provide additional information on the latitude, as fish data at >86m indicates that it was too deep for Bass Strait. An additional factor that was not examined was the temperature data from the tags. In pelagic species surface water temperature is used to estimate latitude and at times school shark do come close to the surface. Some of the tags were set up to record internal as well as external temperatures but this data was not examined. There have been 2 recaptures of Wildlife Computers tags since West & Stevens (1996) published the results. There have also been two Lotek tags returned since this publication but the data for these tags was corrupted.