Help wanted to locate shark tag

7 May 2021

Wollongong and Shellharbour residents – we need your help! Someone has picked up a state of the art shark tag that has washed up on a beach and is currently enjoying a tour of Wollongong.

Department of Primary Industries Director of Fisheries Research, Dr Natalie Moltschaniwskyi said the pop-off satellite tag was tagged onto a 1.95 m male bull shark in Evans Head on 22 January 2021 and has been tracked via satellite for the last four months.

“The tag successfully popped off the shark and washed ashore on Wednesday morning. From there, via GPS satellite tracking, we can see that the tag is most likely in a vehicle,” Dr Moltschaniwskyj said.

“This person hasn’t done anything wrong but we are very keen to get the tag back as it contains crucial information about the shark such as where it has been, its swimming depth and feeding behaviour.

“These tags are a great way to get a treasure trove of information without needing to catch the shark again.

This research forms part of the NSW Shark Management Strategy which helps us keep people safe in the water.

“If you have it, or know someone who has it – we are keen for you to get in touch!”

The state-of-the-art pop-off tags are fitted below the dorsal fin of the shark enabling the animal to be tracked via satellite for 120 days. The tags are self-releasing – and wash up on shorelines anywhere along the coast, depending on tides and currents where they are retrieved by NSW Fisheries Officers.

“The tag only has a week left of battery so we are very keen to get the tag back before we lose track of it.

“Please – if you’ve found an object on the beach that looks like it might be our tag – let us know,” Dr Moltschaniwskyj said.

Approximately 850 white, tiger and bull sharks have been tagged since 2015. Currently there are three bull sharks tagged with pop-up satellite tags.

Anyone who suspects they may have the shark tag are encouraged to contact DPI Fisheries on nsw.sharkprogram@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Check out @NSW_Sharksmart on Instagram to see GPS maps of where the tag has been tracked to.

For more information: www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: (02) 6391 3686