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Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) abundance and growth in a subtropical embayment: evidence from 7 years of standardized fishing effort

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Abstract

The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier Peron and Lesueur 1822) is a widely distributed predator with a broad diet and the potential to affect marine community structure, yet information on local patterns of abundance for this species is lacking. Tiger shark catch data were gathered over 7 years of tag and release research fishing (1991–2000, 2002–2004) in Shark Bay, Western Australia (25°45′S, 113°44′E). Sharks were caught using drumlines deployed in six permanent zones (~3 km2 in area). Fishing effort was standardized across days and months, and catch rates on hooks were expressed as the number of sharks caught h−1. A total of 449 individual tiger sharks was captured; 29 were recaptured. Tiger shark catch rate showed seasonal periodicity, being higher during the warm season (Sep–May) than during the cold season (Jun–Aug), and was marked by inter-annual variability. The most striking feature of the catch data was a consistent pattern of slow, continuous variation within each year from a peak during the height of the warm season (February) to a trough in the cold season (July). Annual growth rates of recaptured individuals were generally consistent with estimates from other regions, but exceeded those for populations elsewhere for sharks >275 cm fork length (FL), perhaps because mature sharks in the study area rely heavily on large prey. The data suggest that (1) the threat of predation faced by animals consumed by tiger sharks fluctuates dramatically within and between years, and (2) efforts to monitor large shark abundance should be extensive enough to detect inter-annual variation and sufficiently intensive to account for intra-annual trends.

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Acknowledgements

We thank C. Lowe, R. McAuley, C. Simpfendorfer, and the crew of the Fisheries Western Australia R/V Flinders for their aid in initiating this project by providing bait, fishing gear, and advice. Field assistance was provided by R. Abernethy, V. Alla, L. Barre, L. Bejder, F. Bretos, S. Buchannan, T. Bujas, J. Burghardt, S. Burghardt, D. Charles, C. Chow, M. Davis, H. Finn, A. Frid, C. Genrich, P. Green, A. Greenley, K. Harper, L. Heithaus, M. Kerford, S. Kowalewsky, A. Krickan, J. Laski, L. Marshall, K. Martin, J. McLash, R. McPhie, B. Stalvey, J. Wilder, and K. Wirsing. Grants and support were provided by Australian Geographic, the Burghardt family, Eurocom Computers, Green Cape Wildlife Films, Humminbird, Mercury Marine Australia, the Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Monkey Mia Wildsights (Shotover), National Geographic Society Expeditions Council research grants to M. R. Heithaus and A. J. Wirsing, National Geographic Remote Imaging, the National Science Foundation, NSERC Canada grant A6869 to L.M. Dill, PADI Foundation, Shakespeare Electronics, the Shark Bay Fish Factory, Singapore Airlines, Tradewinds Supermarket, the University of Western Australia, and public donations. We are grateful to I. Anderson, B. Barton, C. Beck, K. Crane, A. Fraser, I. Gordon, D. Rose, R. Swann, and D. Witt for providing logistical support throughout the project’s duration. Special thanks go to D. Charles for providing mechanical help and advice, to D. Massey for providing extra field accommodation, to H. Raven for daily water temperature data, and to B. Black, J. Heyman, and R. Holst for their generosity and hospitality. This manuscript benefited from helpful reviews by J. Baum, E. Elle, B. Sargeant, R. Ydenberg, and an anonymous referee. This study was performed under a Simon Fraser University Animal Care permit (639B), and under the authority of Fisheries Western Australia permits 69/97 and 08/01, and Western Australia Department of Conservation and Land Management permits SF002347, NE001808, SF003818, SF004228, and SF004542 and renewals, and therefore was in compliance with the current laws of the country in which it was conducted. This is contribution #21 of the Shark Bay Ecosystem Research Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, BC V5A 1S6, Burnaby, Canada

    Aaron J. Wirsing & Lawrence M. Dill

  2. Honorary Research Associate, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, 6009, Crawley, WA, Australia

    Aaron J. Wirsing

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Marine Biology Program, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus AC1, 3000 NE 151 St, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA

    Michael R. Heithaus

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 300 NE 151 St, North Miami, FL, 33181, USA

    Aaron J. Wirsing

Authors
  1. Aaron J. Wirsing
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  2. Michael R. Heithaus
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  3. Lawrence M. Dill
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Correspondence to Aaron J. Wirsing.

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Communicated by J.P. Grassle, New Brunswick

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Wirsing, A.J., Heithaus, M.R. & Dill, L.M. Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) abundance and growth in a subtropical embayment: evidence from 7 years of standardized fishing effort. Mar Biol 149, 961–968 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0278-4

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