We have been using and continue to use acoustic telemetry methods to monitor the movement behavior and define habitat use of groundfish species in and out of Puget Sound waters. Detections of individual fishes has been collected at small and large scales over short and long term periods. We have data on sixgill and sevengill sharks, spiny dogfish, lingcod, copper, quillback, yellowtail and black rockfish, and spotted ratfish. These data are being used to describe the spatio-temporal patterns of behaviors expressed by top predators and other important members of the groundfish community in Puget Sound and along the West Coast. We intend for this information to inform the strength of inter- and intra-specific interactions quantified by ecosystem-scale models as well as the development of models used to determine the efficacy of spatial management strategies such as Marine Protected Areas. This has been a research topic since 2003, and will continue with work on listed species such as yelloweye and canary rockfish. Acoustic telemetry data for sixgill sharks.

We have been using and continue to use acoustic telemetry methods to monitor the movement behavior and define habitat use of groundfish species in and out of Puget Sound waters. Detections of individual fishes has been collected at small and large scales over short and long term periods. We have data on sixgill and sevengill sharks, spiny dogfish, lingcod, copper, quillback, yellowtail and black rockfish, and spotted ratfish. These data are being used to describe the spatio-temporal patterns of behaviors expressed by top predators and other important members of the groundfish community in Puget Sound and along the West Coast. We intend for this information to inform the strength of inter- and intra-specific interactions quantified by ecosystem-scale models as well as the development of models used to determine the efficacy of spatial management strategies such as Marine Protected Areas. This has been a research topic since 2003, and will continue with work on listed species such as yelloweye and canary rockfish. Acoustic telemetry data for whitespotted ratfish.

We have been using and continue to use acoustic telemetry methods to monitor the movement behavior and define habitat use of groundfish species in and out of Puget Sound waters. Detections of individual fishes has been collected at small and large scales over short and long term periods. We have data on sixgill and sevengill sharks, spiny dogfish, lingcod, copper, quillback, yellowtail and black rockfish, and spotted ratfish. These data are being used to describe the spatio-temporal patterns of behaviors expressed by top predators and other important members of the groundfish community in Puget Sound and along the West Coast. We intend for this information to inform the strength of inter- and intra-specific interactions quantified by ecosystem-scale models as well as the development of models used to determine the efficacy of spatial management strategies such as Marine Protected Areas. This has been a research topic since 2003, and will continue with work on listed species such as yelloweye and canary rockfish. Acoustic telemetry data for lingcod.

This work uses white muscle tissues collected from sixgill and sevengill sharks to characterize the diet of each species. Tissues from prey species have also been prepared in order to initialize the models. We used mixing models to determine the probabilities of each prey species being in the diet of these top predators. These data will be used to predict which prey groups are impacted by these species, and then used in conjunction with patterns of daily, seasonal, and annual movement patterns to examine the variation in predatory impact across space and time among the various prey groups. Shark tissue stable isotope signatures from Northeast Pacific coastal habitats.

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 listed below.

Scientists collected acoustic fisheries data in mid-water depths approximately 30 to 1000 meters. Fishery acoustics data will be used to characterize broad-scale fish abundance, biomass, and utilization patterns, as well as to locate and document fish spawning aggregations.

Scientists collected acoustic fisheries data in mid-water depths approximately 30 to 1000 meters. Fishery acoustics data will be used to characterize broad-scale fish abundance, biomass, and utilization patterns, as well as to locate and document fish spawning aggregations.

The broad scope of the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) mandate requires an efficient process for describing and mapping the habitat needs of federally managed species. For example, research indicates surficial sediments affect the distribution and abundance of many groundfish species, yet traditional sampling with grabs and cores is impractical over areas as large as the Bering Sea shelf. Acoustic tools are suitable for large-scale surveying and show great promise as a substitute for direct-sampling methods, but they have not been proven useful for EFH purposes.

Photos of fish, marine mammals, turtles, ships, and other related subjects for use by students, educators, scientists, media, etc.

White sharks are listed as vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and actions to assist their recovery and long-term viability are prescribed in a national recovery plan for the species. A priority action is to develop an effective means of estimating the size of white shark populations and monitor their status (population trend). This would provide a scientific basis for assessing recovery actions, and for local policies governing human-shark interactions: an issue of significant public concern. NESP Project A3 provides a national assessment of the southern-western adult white shark population abundance and an update of the total eastern Australasian white shark population abundance and status in order to establish the efficacy of existing recovery actions and provide a scientifically sound and rational basis from which to inform policies that aim to balance conservation objectives and public safety. This record describes white shark distribution and movement through the use of acoustic and electronic tags fitted to approx. 70 animals. Tag detection data are continually uploaded to the IMOS Animal Tracking Facility (ATF) database. This data collection has been granted Protected Species Status and access to the data is currently restricted. Refer to the Point of Contact listed in this record for further information regarding access to data.