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Project Tiger Shark | Oceans Research
Project Tiger shark is based in the Umkomass region of South Africa. The project is starting with the need to gather baseline scientific information on tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) and blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) in the area.
Of all the marine predators, sharks, such at the tiger shark, are in a uniquely perilous position, as they face unprecedented consumptive demand by Asia for their fins. Over 100 million sharks are killed annually; the majority to supply the culinary demand for shark fin soup that utilises less than 3 percent of a sharks' biomass. Sharks, as the pinnacle of the marine food chain, have also become the greatest draw card to marine tourism, surpassing marine mammals in many instances. Thus, whilst there is unprecedented consumptive pressure on sharks, there is also hope for their survival through non-consumptive eco-tourism. Project tiger shark aims to help in addressing this emotive issue through producing the scientific information required for informed management and conservation.
Project Tiger Shark:
Population Research Projects
Population composition and abundance
Photo-identification is a technique mainly used on species that bear distinctive features, such as natural markings, which can be used to identify individuals. The photo-identification project aims to determine the local abundance and population composition of tiger sharks and black tip sharks using mark-recapture techniques. This project will build up on an already existing 15 year not analysed database.
Project Tiger Shark:
Behavioural Research Projects
Bevaioural Research projects coming soon
Project Tiger Shark:
Physiological Research Projects
Physiological Research projects coming soon
Project Tiger Shark:
Ecological Research Projects
Reef Monitoring
Using standardised coral reef monitoring protocols which include video transect survey, the project aims at monitoring the long term impact of diver presence on reef structure and create baseline information to future management.
Diver-Tiger Shark Impacts
Use of direct observation and standardized techniques to collect divers impacts in the presence and absence of Tiger Sharks.
Project Tiger Shark:
Socioeconomics Research Projects
Economic evaluation of shark diving tourism
This project aims to use surveys of user groups in the Aliwal Shoal region to determine the economic value of non-consumptive shark diving and fishing eco-tourism as opposed to the consumptive use of sharks for subsistence or to supply the shark fin trade.
Project Tiger Shark:
Past Research Projects
No previous research projects.