Spot A Shark remains a volunteer-powered initiative. Sarah personally covers many of the project’s expenses, alongside a small group of dedicated collaborators. The project was originally launched in 2006 with grants from Valerie and Ron Taylor and support from organisations including PADI. It uses technology originally developed by NASA to map stars, now adapted to identify individual greynurse sharks based on their unique spot patterns. These markings, along with scars, injuries, and fin shapes, form the foundation of shark identification.

The growing dataset tells compelling stories. One shark, Kim, has travelled more than 1,500 kilometres between Montague Island and Rainbow Beach. Others, such as Marcus Aurelius, reappear year after year in familiar waters. Bushrangers Bay has become a particularly well-documented site, with approximately 120 individual sharks recorded there since 2018.

Many of the sharks show clear signs of human impact. Fishing hooks, lines, and entanglement injuries are common. While some wounds heal—sometimes remarkably well—others are permanent or fatal. Legal and safety constraints often prevent intervention, and rescue attempts can sometimes cause additional harm. Even so, Sarah remains hopeful for changes such as biodegradable fishing hooks and more responsible fishing practices.

More Information

https://spotashark.com/

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